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. (2 Kings 20:1-6 KJV)
Hezekiah’s Illness
The historian, having shown Sennacherib blaspheming and then destroyed at the height of his power, now shows Hezekiah praying and delivered in the face of death—the life of the one cut short, the other extended.
Hezekiah’s sickness occurred in those days (2 Kings 20:1), meaning the same year the Assyrian army besieged Jerusalem (2 Kings 18:13). Since Hezekiah reigned twenty-nine years and lived fifteen years after this event, this was in his fourteenth year. Some think he was sick during the siege because of the promise in 2 Kings 20:6: “I will defend this city.” Others believe it happened afterward, emphasizing how uncertain earthly comforts are.
Hezekiah, even while enjoying God’s favor and victory over enemies, became gravely ill and faced death. We must always rejoice with trembling (Psalm 2:11). His sickness seems to have been the plague, as shown by the mention of a boil (2 Kings 20:7). The same disease that struck the Assyrians afflicted him. No one, however great or godly, is exempt from serious illness. Hezekiah, still under forty and newly triumphant, was suddenly facing death. He may have feared death more because his father had died at a similar age. “In the midst of life we are in death” (cf. Job 14:1-2).
Isaiah the prophet brought a message from God, warning Hezekiah to prepare for death: “Set your house in order, for you will die and not recover” (2 Kings 20:1). We must always be ready, but illness is a strong reminder. Set your heart in order by repentance and faith; settle your affairs for those who will come after. Isaiah, unlike David, speaks only of Hezekiah’s house, not his kingdom—kings could not pass on crowns as personal property.
Hezekiah responded by praying (2 Kings 20:2). As James 5:13 says, “Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.” Having experienced God’s answer to prayer before (2 Kings 19:14-20), he now turned to God again. He turned his face to the wall, probably for privacy, or possibly facing the temple (cf. 1 Kings 8:29-30), remembering that God hears those who pray toward His house. Christ is now our temple (John 2:19-21), and to Him we must direct our prayers.
He wept bitterly. Some think this showed a fear of death. While New Testament saints had more clarity about the afterlife (Philippians 1:23), Old Testament believers had a dimmer view. Hezekiah was in the midst of reforms (2 Kings 18:4-6) and may have feared they would fail if he died. If this happened before the Assyrian defeat, he may also have feared for his nation’s survival. He had no son yet—Manasseh was born three years later—so both his dynasty and God’s promise to David (2 Samuel 7:12-16) seemed at risk. His tears likely reflected deep emotion and urgency, not despair. Like Jacob (Hosea 12:4) and Jesus (Hebrews 5:7), Hezekiah prayed with tears.
His prayer was: “Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes” (2 Kings 20:3). He doesn’t demand healing but appeals to God’s covenant mercy. He doesn’t ask directly to live or die, but to be remembered and accepted. His integrity gave him peace in facing death (2 Corinthians 1:12). He speaks humbly, not as one seeking reward, but as one asking God to acknowledge His own work in him.
Before Isaiah left the middle court, God told him to return with a new message: Hezekiah would recover (2 Kings 20:4-5). God had already known Hezekiah’s prayer and determined to respond. He is called “the leader of my people” to show his value, especially in wartime, and “the God of your father David” to remind of the covenant (2 Samuel 7:13-15).
God said, “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears” (2 Kings 20:5). God honors heartfelt prayer. He promised:
- “I will heal you” (2 Kings 20:5). God controls sickness and healing (Exodus 15:26; Matthew 8:8-9).
- Hezekiah would return to the temple on the third day, a sign of his devotion and God’s grace.
- God would add fifteen years to his life—a rare gift and a specific timeline (2 Kings 20:6).
- God would defend Jerusalem from Assyria—again repeating a promise close to Hezekiah’s heart (2 Kings 20:6, cf. 2 Kings 19:34).