2 Kings20

King Hezekiah, facing death, prayed earnestly, and the prophet Isaiah was sent by the LORD to announce his healing and an addition of fifteen years to his life, confirmed by the miraculous reversal of the sundial's shadow. Later, Hezekiah unwisely displayed all his treasures to Babylonian envoys, prompting Isaiah to prophesy that these riches and even his descendants would be carried away to Babylon. Hezekiah accepted the prophecy, finding solace that peace would endure in his own time.
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Hezekiah’s Illness and Prayer

1
In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. ​
2
Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,
3
I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. ​
4
And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, ​
5
Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. ​
6
And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. ​
7
And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered. ​
8
And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?
9
And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees? ​
10
And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.
11
And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz. ​

Hezekiah Shows Treasures to Babylon

12
At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. ​
13
And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not. ​
14
Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.
15
And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.
16
And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD.
17
Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. ​
18
And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. ​
19
Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days? ​

Conclusion of Hezekiah’s Reign

20
And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? ​
21
And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead. ​

Study Notes for 2 Kings 20

Verse 1

Hezekiah’s sickness likely occurred shortly after the Assyrian siege (c. 701 BC). Isaiah’s command, “Set thine house in order,” was a final, unconditional decree of death, setting the stage for a powerful demonstration of God’s willingness to respond to prayer.

Verse 3

Hezekiah appeals not to his covenant status, but to the integrity of his devotion ('perfect heart') and his loyalty to God’s commands, referencing his extensive religious reforms documented earlier in the book.

Verse 4

The immediate reversal of the prophetic word—before Isaiah left the courtyard—underscores the swiftness and efficacy of genuine, heartfelt prayer in altering even divine decrees.

Verse 5

God identifies Himself as 'the God of David thy father,' grounding the promise of healing and deliverance in the eternal Davidic Covenant, ensuring the continuation of the promised lineage.

Verse 6

The addition of fifteen years is linked directly to the promise of continued protection of Jerusalem from Assyria. This highlights the theological connection between the king’s vitality and the nation's security.

Verse 7

The use of the fig poultice demonstrates that divine healing often works through natural means or remedies, indicating that faith and physical action are not mutually exclusive.

Verse 9

Hezekiah requests a sign not out of doubt, but to confirm the extraordinary nature of the promise. Isaiah offers a choice of two miracles involving the movement of the sun’s shadow.

Verse 11

The sign, an astronomical miracle reversing the shadow’s course on the ‘dial of Ahaz,’ confirms God’s absolute power over time and creation, solidifying the promise of healing and deliverance.

Verse 12

Berodachbaladan (Marduk-apal-iddina II) was a historical Chaldean prince attempting to forge anti-Assyrian alliances. This embassy marks the first appearance of Babylon, the future conqueror, in the narrative of Judah’s decline.

Verse 13

Hezekiah’s action was a display of pride and a strategic blunder. By showing his treasures, he sought an alliance based on wealth rather than relying on the LORD, simultaneously exposing Judah’s riches to a powerful, ambitious nation.

Verse 17

This is the first explicit prophecy in 2 Kings identifying Babylon, not Assyria, as the ultimate instrument of God’s judgment against Judah. This foreshadows the exile that would occur about a century later (586 BC).

Verse 18

The prophecy specifies that Hezekiah's descendants would be taken and forced into servitude as eunuchs in the Babylonian palace, signifying the total subjugation and humiliation of the Davidic line.

Verse 19

Hezekiah’s response shows a tragic failure of leadership; he accepts the judgment because it will not impact his personal lifetime, prioritizing immediate comfort and peace over the long-term fate of his dynasty and people.

Verse 20

Hezekiah is credited with significant civic engineering projects. The 'pool and conduit' refers to the famous Siloam Tunnel, which brought water from the Gihon Spring inside the city walls, an essential defensive measure.

Verse 21

The transition to Manasseh is crucial, as his reign would undo Hezekiah's reforms and lead Judah further toward irreversible judgment.

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