2 Kings 20
In this chapter, King Hezekiah becomes terminally ill, and the prophet Isaiah informs him that he will die. However, Hezekiah prays earnestly to God, and God extends his life by fifteen years. The chapter also records the miraculous sign of the sun's shadow going backward and Hezekiah's foolish decision to show all of Judah's treasures to the envoys from Babylon, leading to Isaiah's prophecy about Babylonian captivity.
2 Kings 20:1-5 (NKJV)
1 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’”
2 Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying,
3 “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying,
5 “Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord.”
Hezekiah receives devastating news from Isaiah that his illness will result in death. In his distress, Hezekiah turns to God in prayer, asking God to remember his faithfulness and righteous deeds. He expresses deep sorrow, which moves God to respond with compassion. Before Isaiah even leaves the palace, God instructs him to return with a message of hope—Hezekiah’s life will be extended, and he will recover from his illness in three days, showing the power of heartfelt prayer.
2 Kings 20:6-7 (NKJV)
6 “And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David.”
7 Then Isaiah said, “Take a lump of figs.” So they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
God promises not only to heal Hezekiah but also to extend his life by fifteen years. Additionally, God will protect Jerusalem from the Assyrians, reaffirming His commitment to the city and His covenant with David. Isaiah prescribes a natural remedy—a fig poultice, which is applied to Hezekiah’s boil, leading to his recovery. This shows that God can work through both supernatural means and practical methods in His healing.
2 Kings 20:8-11 (NKJV)
8 And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What is the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the Lord the third day?”
9 Then Isaiah said, “This is the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing which He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees or go backward ten degrees?”
10 And Hezekiah answered, “It is an easy thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees; no, but let the shadow go backward ten degrees.”
11 So Isaiah the prophet cried out to the Lord, and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz.
Hezekiah, seeking confirmation of his healing, asks for a sign. Isaiah presents him with a miraculous option: the movement of a shadow on the sundial of Ahaz. Hezekiah chooses the more difficult option of making the shadow move backward, and God grants this request. This extraordinary sign demonstrates God’s control over time and nature, giving Hezekiah assurance of his healing and the fulfillment of God’s promise.
2 Kings 20:12-15 (NKJV)
12 At that time Berodach-Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
13 And Hezekiah was attentive to them, and showed them all the house of his treasures—the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armory—all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.
14 Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?” So Hezekiah said, “They came from a far country, from Babylon.”
15 And he said, “What have they seen in your house?” So Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.”
Hezekiah’s recovery gains the attention of the king of Babylon, who sends envoys with gifts. Hezekiah, perhaps flattered by their attention, makes the unwise decision to show them all the treasures of Judah. This act of pride and carelessness exposes the kingdom’s wealth to foreign eyes. When questioned by Isaiah, Hezekiah admits to showing everything, setting the stage for a dire prophecy about Babylon’s future conquest.
2 Kings 20:16-19 (NKJV)
16 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord:
17 ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord.
18 ‘And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’”
19 So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good!” For he said, “Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?”
Isaiah delivers a sobering prophecy to Hezekiah, predicting that the treasures of Judah and even some of Hezekiah’s descendants will be taken captive to Babylon. Although this is a severe judgment, Hezekiah accepts it with resignation, seemingly relieved that this devastation will not occur during his lifetime. His response reflects a short-sighted attitude, valuing temporary peace over the long-term consequences for his kingdom.
2 Kings 20:20-21 (NKJV)
20 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah—all his might, and how he made a pool and a tunnel and brought water into the city—are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
21 So Hezekiah rested with his fathers. Then Manasseh his son reigned in his place.
Hezekiah's reign is notable not only for his faith and his miraculous healing but also for his significant engineering projects, such as the construction of a water tunnel to ensure Jerusalem's water supply. After his death, Hezekiah is succeeded by his son Manasseh, whose rule will be marked by a stark contrast to his father's godliness. This final note hints at the lasting impact Hezekiah had on Judah’s infrastructure, though his legacy in terms of spiritual leadership would be more complex due to Manasseh’s future actions.