2 Kings Chapter 20 — Hezekiah’s Healing and the Babylonian Envoys
King Hezekiah is miraculously healed of a terminal illness and given fifteen more years of life, but his later display of wealth to Babylonian visitors leads to a prophecy of exile.
1In those days Hezekiah was sick and dying. Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “The LORD says, ‘Set your house in order; for you will die, and not live.’ ”
2Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the LORD, saying,
3“Remember now, LORD, 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, the LORD’s word came to him, saying,
5“Turn back, and tell Hezekiah the prince of my people, ‘The LORD, 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 the LORD’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.”
8Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I will go up to the LORD’s house the third day?”
9Isaiah said, “This will be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD 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 the LORD; 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?”
15He said, “What have they seen in your house?”
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.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
2 Kings 20:5
“Turn back, and tell Hezekiah the prince of my people, ‘The LORD, the God of David your father, says, “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you.” ’”
This verse demonstrates God's compassion and responsiveness to sincere prayer and humility.
2 Kings 20:11
“Isaiah the prophet cried to the LORD; and he brought the shadow ten steps backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz.”
This miraculous event serves as a supernatural confirmation of God's word to Hezekiah.
2 Kings 20:17
“‘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.”
This prophecy accurately foretells the eventual Babylonian captivity that would occur years later.
Chapter Summary
In 2 Kings Chapter 20, King Hezekiah falls dangerously ill, and the prophet Isaiah delivers a message that he will soon die. In response, Hezekiah prays fervently and weeps before God. Before Isaiah can even leave the palace grounds, God instructs him to return and tell Hezekiah that fifteen years have been added to his life. To confirm this promise, God performs a miraculous sign by making the shadow on the sundial move backward ten steps. Following his recovery, envoys from Babylon visit Hezekiah to offer well-wishes. Hezekiah shows them all the riches and treasures of his kingdom. Isaiah later confronts the king, prophesying that because of this, all the treasures and even Hezekiah's descendants will eventually be carried off to Babylon. The chapter concludes with the mention of Hezekiah's engineering achievements, including the construction of a water conduit, before his death and the succession of his son Manasseh.
Frequently Asked Questions
After Isaiah told Hezekiah he would die, the king turned his face to the wall and prayed with tears, reminding God of his faithful walk. God heard his prayer and saw his tears, choosing to grant him an extension of life and a promise to defend Jerusalem from Assyria.
To prove that the Lord would heal him, Isaiah gave Hezekiah a choice for a sign. Hezekiah asked for the shadow on the sundial of Ahaz to move backward ten steps instead of forward, which God then performed as a miracle.
Hezekiah showed the visitors everything in his storehouses, including gold, silver, spices, precious oils, and his entire armory. Isaiah later rebuked him because this display of wealth would eventually tempt the Babylonians to seize those very treasures.
Study Note
The conduit mentioned in the final verses refers to Hezekiah's Tunnel, which was carved through solid rock to secure Jerusalem's water supply from the Gihon Spring during the Assyrian siege.
Related Chapters
Isaiah 38
This chapter provides a parallel prophetic account of Hezekiah’s illness and the song of praise he wrote after his healing.
2 Chronicles 32
This passage offers more detail on Hezekiah's reign, his pride regarding the envoys, and his famous engineering projects.
2 Kings 24
This chapter describes the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy when the Babylonians eventually take the treasures and captives from Judah.
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