The Bible — World English Bible
2 Kings 20
In brief
2 Kings 20 tells of the illness of Hezekiah, king of Judah. The prophet Isaiah tells him he is going to die. The king turns his face to the wall, prays and weeps. God hears his prayer, adds fifteen years to his life, promises to protect Jerusalem and confirms his word with a sign. But the chapter does not end on that relief: envoys from Babylon arrive, and Hezekiah shows them all his treasures. Isaiah then announces that one day everything will be carried off to Babylon.
The chapter in 6 parts
- v. 1-3The announcement of death and Hezekiah's prayer
- v. 4-7God answers: fifteen years added and Jerusalem protected
- v. 8-11The sign requested: the shadow goes back on the sundial
- v. 12-15The envoys from Babylon see all the treasures
- v. 16-19Isaiah announces the exile and Hezekiah thinks of his own peace
- v. 20-21The end of Hezekiah's reign
1In those days Hezekiah was sick and dying. Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Yahweh says, ‘Set your house in order; for you will die, and not live.’ ”
2Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed to Yahweh, saying,
3“Remember now, Yahweh, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4Before Isaiah had gone out into the middle part of the city, Yahweh’s word came to him, saying,
5“Turn back, and tell Hezekiah the prince of my people, ‘Yahweh, the God of David your father, says, “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day, you will go up to Yahweh’s house.
6I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.” ’ ”
7Isaiah said, “Take a cake of figs.” They took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
8Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What will be the sign that Yahweh will heal me, and that I will go up to Yahweh’s house the third day?”
9Isaiah said, “This will be the sign to you from Yahweh, that Yahweh will do the thing that he has spoken: should the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?”
10Hezekiah answered, “It is a light thing for the shadow to go forward ten steps. No, but let the shadow return backward ten steps.”
11Isaiah the prophet cried to Yahweh; and he brought the shadow ten steps backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz.
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 Yahweh’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 Yahweh.
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, “Yahweh’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.
Key verses
In those days Hezekiah was sick and dying. Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Yahweh says, ‘Set your house in order; for you will die, and not live.’ ”
Isaiah tells Hezekiah to set his house in order, because he is going to die. The word is direct and leaves no room for comfort.
“Remember now, Yahweh, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
Hezekiah reminds God of his faithfulness and weeps bitterly. His prayer is sincere and frank: he asks God to remember him.
“Turn back, and tell Hezekiah the prince of my people, ‘Yahweh, the God of David your father, says, “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you. On the third day, you will go up to Yahweh’s house. I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.” ’ ”
God answers that he has heard the prayer and seen the tears. He adds fifteen years to the king's life and promises to defend the city for his own sake and for David's. The initiative in the answer comes from God.
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. There was nothing in his house, or in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn’t show them.
Hezekiah shows the envoys from Babylon all his wealth, hiding nothing. The gesture reveals a heart that takes pride in what it owns.
Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “Yahweh’s word which you have spoken is good.” He said moreover, “Isn’t it so, if peace and truth will be in my days?”
Hezekiah finds Isaiah's word good because there will be peace and security in his own days. His reaction shows a king concerned with his own comfort.
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Frequently asked questions about 2 Kings 20
Why does God add fifteen years to Hezekiah's life?
Hezekiah prays, weeps and reminds God of his faithfulness. God answers that he has heard his prayer and seen his tears, and he adds fifteen years to his life. The account shows that prayer truly matters to God. It should not be read as a rule for every illness, though: the text tells of a specific answer to a specific king.
What does the shadow going back in 2 Kings 20 mean?
Hezekiah asks for a sign to know that God will heal him. God makes the shadow go back on the sundial of Ahaz, a visible sign that the prophetic word can be trusted. The text gives no scientific explanation: it presents the event as a sign given by God to the king.
What was Hezekiah's mistake with Babylon?
After his recovery, Hezekiah shows all his wealth to the envoys from Babylon. Isaiah tells him that one day everything will be carried off to that land, and even some of his descendants. Hezekiah is content to rejoice in peace during his own lifetime. The text shows a pride that prefers immediate comfort to the future of his people.
Articles quoting 2 Kings 20
World English Bible translation — public domain.