Hezekiah’s Illness and Recovery
(2 Chronicles 32:24–31; Isaiah 38:1–8)

1In those days Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength) became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah (YHWH has saved) son of Amoz (strong) came to him and said, “This is what the LORD {YHWH} says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’”

2Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD {YHWH}, saying, 3“Please, O LORD {YHWH}, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength) wept bitterly.

4Before Isaiah (YHWH has saved) had left the middle courtyard [the middle of the city],a the word of the LORD {YHWH} came to him, saying, 5“Go back and tell Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength) the leader of My people that this is what the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of your father David (beloved), says: ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. I will surely heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the house of the LORD. 6I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria (a step). I will defend this city for My sake and for the sake of My servant David (beloved).’”

7Then Isaiah (YHWH has saved) said, “Prepare a poultice of figs.” So they brought it and applied it to the boil, and Hezekiah recovered.

8Now Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength) had asked Isaiah (YHWH has saved), “What will be the sign that the LORD {YHWH} will heal me and that I will go up to the house of the LORD on the third day?”

9And Isaiah (YHWH has saved) had replied, “This will be a sign to you from the LORD {YHWH} that He will do what He has promised: Would you like the shadow to go forward ten steps, or back ten steps?”

10“It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps,” answered Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength), “but not for it to go back ten steps.”

11So Isaiah (YHWH has saved) the prophet called out to the LORD {YHWH}, and He brought the shadow back the ten steps it had descended on the stairway of Ahaz (he has grasped).

Hezekiah Shows His Treasures
(Isaiah 39:1–8)

12At that time Merodach-baladan [Berodach-baladan]b son of Baladan (Bel is his lord) king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength), for he had heard about Hezekiah’s illness. 13And Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength) received the envoys and showed them all that was in his treasure house—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, as well as his armory—all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.

14Then the prophet Isaiah (YHWH has saved) went to King Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength) and asked, “Where did those men come from, and what did they say to you?”

“They came from a distant land,” Hezekiah replied, “from Babylon (confusion by mixing).”

15“What have they seen in your palace?” Isaiah asked.

“They have seen everything in my palace,” answered Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength). “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”

16Then Isaiah (YHWH has saved) said to Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength), “Hear the word of the LORD {YHWH}: 17The time will surely come when everything in your palace and all that your fathers have stored up until this day will be carried off to Babylon (confusion by mixing). Nothing will be left, says the LORD {YHWH}. 18And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, will be taken away to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing).”

19But Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength) said to Isaiah (YHWH has saved), “The word of the LORD {YHWH} that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Will there not at least be peace and security in my lifetime?”

Manasseh Succeeds Hezekiah

20As for the rest of the acts of Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength), along with all his might and how he constructed the pool and the tunnel (watercourse)c to bring water into the city, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah (praised)?

21And Hezekiah (YHWH is my strength) rested with his fathers, and his son Manasseh (causing to forget) reigned in his place.