Who is King Hezekiah in the Bible?

Quick Facts

Father: King Ahaz, 2Ki 16:20
Mother: Abijah, 2Ch 29:1
Predecessor: King Ahaz, 2Ki 16:20
Succession: 13th king
Length of reign: 29 years, 2Ch 29:1
Successor: King Manasseh, 2Ch 32:33
Age when made king: 25 years, 2Ch 29:1
Kingdom: Kingdom of Judah
Reign: 716 BC – 687 BC
Age when he died: 54 years, 2Ch 29:1
Morality: good, 2Ch 29:2
Biblical history: 2Ch 29, 30, 31, 32; 2Ki 18, 19, 20

Hezekiah becomes king of Judah

The name Hezekiah means ‘strengthened by God’. Hezekiah, son of King Ahaz, became the king of Judah at the age of 20 years and reigned in Jerusalem for 29 years. Unlike his father, he did what was right in the sight of God and God was with him. In the first year of his reign, during the first month, he set out to cleanse the temple and reinstate proper worship practices.

Hezekiah cleanses the temple

Under Hezekiah’s leadership, the temple was restored to its former glory. The king ordered the removal of all idols and pagan altars, purifying the sacred space. Hezekiah also reinstated the observance of the Passover (2Ch 30), a crucial religious festival that had been neglected for many years. This act of devotion and obedience to God’s commands brought about a renewed sense of spiritual fervor among the people. (2 Chronicles 29:3-19)

Sennacherib invades Judah

At the time Hezekiah became a king, the Kingdom of Judah had already been vassalized to Assyria by his father. Hezekiah rebelled against Assyria during his reign. In the 14th year of his reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah, besieged them, and captured them them (2Ki 18:13). To shoo the Assyrians away, Hezekiah agreed and paid 300 talents of silver and 30 talents of gold to Sennacherib by taking all the silver in the temple of God and the treasuries of his palace and stripping the gold from the doors and the doorposts of the temple of God. However, even after paying the tribute, Sennacherib continued harassing Judah. (2 Kings 18:13-16)

Sennacherib, in his arrogance, sent his Tartan, his Rab-saris, and his Rabshakeh with a great army from Lachish to Jerusalem to deliver a blasphemous message to Hezekiah. In the face of this imminent threat, Hezekiah sought the counsel of the prophet Isaiah, who assured him that God would deliver Jerusalem from the hands of the Assyrians. (2 Kings 18:17-37;2 Chronicles 32:9-19)

True to Isaiah’s prophecy, Sennacherib’s fall came swiftly. Having blasphemed against God, God sent a powerful angel who decimated the Assyrian army, resulting in Sennacherib’s retreat and the deliverance of Jerusalem. Soon after, as he was worshiping in the temple of Nisroch, Sennacherib was killed by his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer. And Esarhaddon his son succeeded him. (2 Kings 19:35-37; 2 Chronicles 32:20-23)

Hezekiah’s sickness and recovery

Despite these triumphs, Hezekiah’s later years were marred by illness. The king fell gravely ill, and Isaiah delivered a message from God, informing Hezekiah that his time on earth was coming to an end. However, in response to Hezekiah’s fervent prayers, God granted him an additional 15 years of life. (2 Kings 20:1-11)

The Babylonian envoy

During this extended period, envoys from Babylon visited Hezekiah, drawn by rumors of his great wealth and miraculous recovery. Unfortunately, Hezekiah’s pride got the better of him, as he showed off his treasures to the Babylonians. Isaiah prophesied that as a consequence, Babylon would eventually conquer Judah and exile its people. (2 Kings 20:12-19)

Hezekiah’s death

Indeed, Hezekiah’s death marked the beginning of a tumultuous period for Judah, as Babylon eventually fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy. Nevertheless, Hezekiah’s reign remains a testament to his dedication to God and his efforts to restore true worship in Judah. His commitment to cleansing the temple, reinstating the Passover, and seeking God’s guidance in times of trouble serve as an inspiration for believers today. (2 Kings 20:21)

Achievements of Hezekiah

  • He made treasuries for his silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields, and all kinds of valuables. (2Ch 32:27)
  • He built storehouses to store grain, new wine, and olive oil. He made stalls for various kinds of cattle and pens for the flocks. (2Ch 32:28)
  • He built cities. (2Ch 32:28)
  • He blocked the upper outlet of the Gihon spring and channeled the water down to the west side of Jerusalem. (2Ch 32:30)
  • He also fortified Jerusalem, constructing a massive wall to protect the city from external threats. (2Ch 32:5)
  • His religious reforms were equally noteworthy, as he removed idols and reinstated the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel. (2Ch 29:3-19; 2Ch 29:20-36; 2Ch 31:1-21)
  • Under his leadership, Judah experienced a period of prosperity and stability, marked by economic growth and cultural development. (2Ch 32:27-30)

Major events during Hezekiah’s reign

  • Hezekiah’s religious reforms. (2Ch 29:3-19; 2Ch 29:20-36; 2Ch 31:1-21)
  • The celebration of the Passover. (2 Chronicles 30:1-27)
  • Sennacherib invaded Judah, besieging the cities of Judah to capture them. (2 Chronicles 32:1-18)
  • Hezekiah pays tribute to Sennacherib. (2 Kings 18:13-16)
  • The death of Sennacherib and the enthronement of Esarhaddon. (2 Kings 19:37)
  • Babylonian envoy came to visit Hezekiah. (2 Kings 20:12-19)

Contemporaries of Hezekiah

  • King Hoshea of Israel had reigned for 3 years when Hezekiah became a king. (2Ki 18:1)
  • King Sennacherib of Assyria – he invaded Judah in the 14th year of Hezekiah’s reign. (2 Kings 18:13)
  • King Esarhaddon of Assyria, son of Sennacherib, who succeeded his father. (2 Kings 19:37)
  • Berodachbaladan king of Babylon sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick. (2 Kings 20:12)
  • Prophet Isaiah – God sent Isaiah to Hezekiah to prophesy about Sennacherib’s fall. (2 Kings 19:20-34)

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