2 Kgs 20:12-21 · Read 10 min · think and write 15 min
In the last lesson, Hezekiah was sick and dying, and the LORD said, “I will add to your days fifteen years” (2 Kgs 20:6).
Second Chronicles records this too, in only a few lines: “In those days Hezekiah was terminally ill, and he prayed to the LORD; and he spoke to him, and gave him a sign” (2 Chr 32:24). It goes on: “But Hezekiah didn’t reciprocate appropriate to the benefit done for him, because his heart was lifted up. Therefore there was wrath on him, Judah, and Jerusalem” (2 Chr 32:25). “However, Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the LORD’s wrath didn’t come on them in the days of Hezekiah” (2 Chr 32:26).
This lesson goes back to Second Kings, to read about one thing that happened after Hezekiah recovered.
12At that time Berodach Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
13Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all the storehouse of his precious things—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures. There was nothing in his house, or in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn’t show them.
14Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? From where did they come to you?” Hezekiah said, “They have come from a far country, even from Babylon.”
15He said, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.”
16Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the LORD’s word.
17‘Behold, the days come that all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have laid up in store to this day, will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says the LORD.
18‘They will take away some of your sons who will issue from you, whom you will father; and they will be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’”
19Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The LORD’s word which you have spoken is good.” He said moreover, “Isn’t it so, if peace and truth will be in my days?”
20Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made the pool, and the conduit, and brought water into the city, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
21Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his son reigned in his place.
Letters and a present. “At that time Berodach Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick” (v. 12).
Nothing he didn’t show them. “Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all the storehouse of his precious things—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures” (v. 13). The passage says it again: “There was nothing in his house, or in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn’t show them” (v. 13).
What have they seen? The prophet Isaiah came and asked: “What did these men say? From where did they come to you?” (v. 14). Then: “What have they seen in your house?” (v. 15). Hezekiah answered plainly: “They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them” (v. 15).
The days come. Isaiah said: “Behold, the days come that all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have laid up in store to this day, will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will be left” (v. 17). “They will take away some of your sons who will issue from you, whom you will father; and they will be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon” (v. 18).
Good. “Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, ‘The LORD’s word which you have spoken is good.’ He said moreover, ‘Isn’t it so, if peace and truth will be in my days?’” (v. 19). The passage records only his words; it does not say what he was thinking.
A line from Second Chronicles. Second Chronicles tells this in another way: “However, concerning the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him to test him, that he might know all that was in his heart” (2 Chr 32:31).
He slept with his fathers. “Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made the pool, and the conduit, and brought water into the city, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?” (v. 20). “Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his son reigned in his place” (v. 21). Second Chronicles says: “All Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death” (2 Chr 32:33).
Later, Second Kings records of the king of Babylon: “He carried out from there all the treasures of the LORD’s house and the treasures of the king’s house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the LORD’s temple, as the LORD had said” (2 Kgs 24:13).
Readers can see this: what Isaiah told Hezekiah — “Behold, the days come” (v. 17) — Second Kings records further on.
Perhaps you, too, have known times like this: the hard stretch is over, the illness is gone, life is going well, people come, and praise comes with them.
This lesson does not pass a verdict on Hezekiah. Second Chronicles records that “his heart was lifted up” (2 Chr 32:25); it also records that he “humbled himself for the pride of his heart” (2 Chr 32:26); and that at his death, “All Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him” (2 Chr 32:33). What it shows you is a real person: given great mercy, and weak too; and God tested him, “that he might know all that was in his heart” (2 Chr 32:31). The Psalms have this line: “So teach us to count our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Ps 90:12).
This week: Think back over these six lessons and write down one thing God has done in your life. This week, tell it to someone younger than you — your child, a student, or a young person at church.
Scripture: World English Bible.