Hezekiah, a name meaning "Yahweh is my strength," is a significant figure in the history of Judah, known primarily for his role as a king who led religious reforms and for his interactions with the Assyrian empire. However, the title "One of the Exiles" refers to a lesser-known aspect of his legacy, which is his connection to the Babylonian exile that would follow his reign.

Historical Context

Hezekiah reigned as the king of Judah from approximately 715 to 686 BC. His reign is documented in the books of 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles, and Isaiah. Hezekiah is celebrated for his faithfulness to God, his efforts to purify the worship practices of Judah, and his resistance against Assyrian domination. His account is set against the backdrop of a turbulent period in the Near East, marked by the rise of the Assyrian empire and the eventual threat of Babylon.

Religious Reforms

Hezekiah is renowned for his religious reforms, which aimed to restore the worship of Yahweh and eliminate idolatry in Judah. He removed high places, shattered sacred stones, and cut down Asherah poles (2 Kings 18:4). He also reopened the Temple in Jerusalem, which had been neglected, and reinstituted the Passover celebration (2 Chronicles 30:1-5). These actions were in accordance with the covenantal laws given to Israel and were intended to bring the nation back to a pure and undivided worship of God.

Assyrian Threat and Deliverance

During Hezekiah's reign, the Assyrian empire, under King Sennacherib, posed a significant threat to Judah. The Assyrians had already conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and were advancing towards Jerusalem. Hezekiah's response to this threat was marked by both strategic preparation and deep reliance on God. He fortified Jerusalem, secured the city's water supply by constructing the Siloam Tunnel, and sought divine intervention through prayer.

The prophet Isaiah played a crucial role during this time, providing counsel and assurance of God's deliverance. In 2 Kings 19:32-34 , Isaiah prophesied that the Assyrians would not enter Jerusalem, and indeed, the angel of the Lord struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, leading to Sennacherib's withdrawal.

Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery

Hezekiah's life was also marked by a personal trial when he fell gravely ill. In response to his fervent prayer, God granted him an additional fifteen years of life (2 Kings 20:1-6). This miraculous recovery was accompanied by a sign from God: the shadow on the sundial of Ahaz moved backward ten steps (2 Kings 20:9-11).

The Babylonian Envoys

One of the most significant events linking Hezekiah to the future exile was his interaction with envoys from Babylon. After his recovery, Hezekiah received envoys from Merodach-Baladan, the king of Babylon, and showed them all the treasures of his kingdom (2 Kings 20:12-13). This act of pride and lack of discernment led to a prophetic warning from Isaiah. He foretold that all the treasures of Judah, along with Hezekiah's descendants, would be carried off to Babylon (2 Kings 20:16-18).

Legacy and Prophetic Fulfillment

Hezekiah's reign is often viewed as a high point in the history of Judah, characterized by faithfulness and divine favor. However, the prophecy concerning the Babylonian exile, which was fulfilled over a century later, casts a shadow over his legacy. The exile was a pivotal event in Israel's history, leading to a period of reflection, repentance, and eventual restoration.

Hezekiah's life and reign serve as a testament to the importance of faithfulness to God, the consequences of pride, and the enduring hope of divine deliverance. His account is a reminder of the complex interplay between human actions and divine sovereignty in the unfolding of biblical history.Ezra 2:16
The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
Nave's Topical Index

Nehemiah 7:21
The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
Nave's Topical Index

The Apocalypse of Baruch.
... month writes two letters, one to the exiles in Babylon ... of the host of Sennacherib
in Hezekiah's reign. ... has Jeremiel in most MSS., but in one (Turicensis) Huriel ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the apocalypse of baruch.htm

The New Temple and Its Worship
... of ritual is easy religion, especially if one's position is ... But from the time of
Hezekiah the Levites seem to ... tells that not only the returned exiles, but also ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the new temple and its.htm

The Earlier Hebrew Histories.
... these writings was Ezra, one of the returning exiles. ... King Ahaz, according to one
authority, lived twenty years ... he was succeeded by his son Hezekiah, who was ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter iv the earlier hebrew.htm

Micah
... he prophesied during the reign of Hezekiah; whether also ... Micah's prophecy, which
was certainly one of threatening ... But there are exiles not only in Babylon, but ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/micah.htm

Palestine Eighteen Centuries Ago
... meant to do with the land what Hezekiah had done ... and with no definite spot to which
one could with ... A comparatively small number of the exiles had returned to ...
/.../sketches of jewish social life/chapter 1 palestine eighteen centuries.htm

Reformation
... must decide whether we will suffer the one or enjoy ... reform carried on by the returned
exiles, under the ... Like King Hezekiah, Nehemiah "clave to the Lord, and ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 57 reformation.htm

The Historical Books.
... monarch that occupied the throne after Hezekiah, could not ... beginning of Rehoboam's
reign, and one hundred and ... reference to the wants of the returning exiles. ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xx the historical books.htm

Isaiah
... to point to the return of the exiles from Babylon ... 1-4. Further, the minute prediction
that Hezekiah's life would ... the message of Isaiah had been one of judgment. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/isaiah.htm

In Judaea
... To the far exiles of the Dispersion, this was the one ... for beverage, supposed to be
mixed with one-third of ... In Sanh.94 b, we read that Hezekiah had suspended a ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 5 in judaea.htm

The Poetical Books.
... the Old Testament saints; it refers to Hezekiah and the ... 89; this book, as well as
the one that precedes ... the fourth, the joy of the returning exiles; the fifth ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter vii the poetical books.htm

Who was Hezekiah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Sennacherib in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What was Nehushtan? | GotQuestions.org

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