The divided kingdom · 2 Kings 20
Hezekiah’s Illness and the Shadow That Went Back
In those days, Hezekiah is sick unto death. The prophet Isaiah brings him the word of the LORD: “Set your house in order, for you shall die.” The king turns his face to the wall, prays, and weeps bitterly. Isaiah has barely left, not even out of the middle court, when God answers: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears.” He will add fifteen years to the king’s life and defend Jerusalem from Assyria. A lump of figs is laid on the boil, and Hezekiah recovers. As a sign, the shadow goes back ten steps on the steps of Ahaz. About that same time, envoys from the king of Babylon come to visit: Hezekiah shows them all his treasures. Isaiah then announces that everything will be carried off to Babylon. The king replies, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good,” since there will be peace in his lifetime.
What happens
- “You shall die”: Isaiah delivers the news to the sick king 2 Kings 20:1
- Hezekiah prays with his face to the wall and weeps bitterly 2 Kings 20:2–3
- “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears”: fifteen more years 2 Kings 20:5–6
- The shadow goes back ten steps on the steps of Ahaz 2 Kings 20:9–11
- Hezekiah shows all his treasures to the envoys from Babylon 2 Kings 20:12–13
- Isaiah announces that everything will be carried off to Babylon 2 Kings 20:16–18
Who is in this story
The lesson
God hears sincere prayer and can add days to a life that was doomed: we can bring him everything, with tears and trust. But blessings call for vigilance: by displaying all his treasures to the envoys from Babylon, Hezekiah did not see what he was setting up for his sons.
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.
Quick quiz on this story
How many years does God add to Hezekiah’s life?
The LORD answers Hezekiah’s prayer: “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.” 2 Kings 20:6
What does Hezekiah do when Isaiah tells him he is going to die?
Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD: “Remember now how I have walked before thee in truth,” and he wept bitterly. 2 Kings 20:2–3
What is used to treat Hezekiah’s boil?
At Isaiah’s command, they took a lump of figs and laid it on the boil: “and he recovered.” 2 Kings 20:7
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