Hezekiah, the son of Ahaz, was the 13th king of Judah and is noted for his religious reforms and trust in the LORD. His reign is detailed in the books of 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Isaiah. One of the most significant events during his reign was his severe illness and subsequent miraculous recovery, which is recorded in 2 Kings 20:1-11, 2 Chronicles 32:24-26, and Isaiah 38:1-22.

Sickness

In the fourteenth year of his reign, Hezekiah became critically ill. The prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, visited him with a grave message from the LORD: "Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover" (2 Kings 20:1). This pronouncement was a test of Hezekiah's faith and reliance on God.

Upon hearing this, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed earnestly to the LORD, reminding God of his faithful service and wholehearted devotion. He wept bitterly, demonstrating his deep distress and earnest plea for divine intervention (2 Kings 20:2-3).

Restoration

God, in His mercy, responded swiftly to Hezekiah's prayer. Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him again, instructing him to return to Hezekiah with a message of hope and healing. The LORD said, "I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the house of the LORD" (2 Kings 20:5). Furthermore, God promised to add fifteen years to Hezekiah's life and deliver Jerusalem from the hand of the Assyrian king (2 Kings 20:6).

As a sign of this promise, the LORD caused the shadow on the sundial of Ahaz to go back ten steps, a miraculous event that confirmed the certainty of God's word to Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:9-11).

Hezekiah's Response

Hezekiah's response to his healing was one of gratitude and praise. In Isaiah 38, he composed a writing expressing his thankfulness and reflection on the experience of facing death and receiving God's deliverance. He acknowledged the LORD's faithfulness and the importance of living a life of righteousness and devotion (Isaiah 38:9-20).

Aftermath

Despite his recovery, Hezekiah's pride led to a moment of weakness when he showed the envoys from Babylon all the treasures of his kingdom. This act of pride and lack of discernment was rebuked by Isaiah, who prophesied that all these treasures would eventually be carried off to Babylon (2 Kings 20:12-18).

Hezekiah's illness and restoration serve as a powerful testament to the efficacy of prayer, the compassion of God, and the importance of humility and faithfulness in leadership. His life and reign continue to be a source of inspiration and instruction for believers seeking to understand the dynamics of divine intervention and human response.2 Kings 20:1-11
In those days was Hezekiah sick to death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, Thus said the LORD, Set your house in order; for you shall die, and not live.
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2 Chronicles 32:24
In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed to the LORD: and he spoke to him, and he gave him a sign.
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Isaiah 38:1-8
In those days was Hezekiah sick to death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, Thus said the LORD, Set your house in order: for you shall die, and not live.
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The Assyrian Captivity
... "When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound ... In the third year of Hoshea's
reign, good King Hezekiah began to rule in Judah and as speedily as ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 23 the assyrian captivity.htm

Book 9 Footnotes
... in the days of Uzziah king of Judah;" so that ... says here, how Isaiah the prophet assured
Hezekiah that "at ... time he should not be besieged by the king of Assyria ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 9 footnotes.htm

The Apocalypse of Baruch.
... There is a strange opinion about Manasses, king of Judah (chap ... lxiii.) that he was
the agent in the destruction of the host of Sennacherib in Hezekiah's reign ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the apocalypse of baruch.htm

Isaiah
... story of Sennacherib's invasion of Judah, his insulting ... contains Isaiah's prophecy
to Hezekiah of his recovery from sickness, with the king's song of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/isaiah.htm

The Greater Prophets.
... in Hezekiah's reign by Sennacherib, king of Assyria ... upon Ephraim and then upon Judah
and Jerusalem ... invasion and overthrow; of Hezekiah's sickness and miraculous ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxii the greater prophets.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... genealogy at the beginning of his prophecy (i.1), though, it is true, he does not
add the title "King of Judah" after the name of his ancestor Hezekiah. ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... Esarhaddon was obliged to interfere to ensure its restoration, and as their king,
Shamash-ibni, was not inclined to comply with the order, Esarhaddon removed ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm

The Iranian Conquest
... Drawn by Faucher-Gudin, from a coin of King Huvishka, published by Percy Gardner ...
is neither night nor darkness, no wind of cold or heat, no sickness leading to ...
/.../chapter ithe iranian conquest.htm

What is the Ascension of Isaiah? | GotQuestions.org

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What is the significance of Assyria in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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