Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall
This phrase indicates a moment of deep personal reflection and desperation. Hezekiah, the king of Judah, is facing a terminal illness as prophesied by the prophet Isaiah. Turning his face to the wall signifies a withdrawal from the world around him, seeking privacy and solitude in his communication with God. This act can be seen as a symbolic gesture of turning away from human help and focusing solely on divine intervention. In the cultural context of the ancient Near East, turning to the wall could also imply a posture of humility and earnestness in prayer.

and prayed to the LORD,
Hezekiah's immediate response to his dire situation is to pray, demonstrating his faith and reliance on God. This reflects the biblical principle of seeking God in times of trouble, as seen in other scriptures such as Psalm 50:15, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me." Hezekiah's prayer is a model of sincere and heartfelt communication with God, emphasizing the importance of prayer in the believer's life. His action aligns with the teachings of other biblical figures who turned to God in prayer during crises, such as Daniel and David.

saying,
The introduction of Hezekiah's prayer highlights the personal and direct nature of his communication with God. It sets the stage for the content of his prayer, which is a plea for mercy and a reminder of his faithfulness and devotion to God. This moment underscores the biblical theme that God is attentive to the prayers of the righteous, as echoed in James 5:16, "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." Hezekiah's prayer is not only a request for healing but also an expression of his relationship with God, rooted in trust and covenant faithfulness.

1. Hezekiah
The king of Judah, known for his faithfulness to God and his efforts to restore proper worship in the temple. He is facing a terminal illness at this point in the account.

2. The Wall
A physical structure in Hezekiah's room, symbolizing a private and intimate space for prayer. Turning to the wall indicates a turning away from distractions to focus solely on God.

3. The LORD
The covenant name of God, Yahweh, to whom Hezekiah directs his prayer. This highlights the personal relationship between Hezekiah and God.

4. Prayer
The act of communicating with God, which Hezekiah engages in as a response to the dire news of his impending death.

5. Isaiah the Prophet
Although not mentioned in this specific verse, Isaiah plays a crucial role in the surrounding account as the messenger of God's word to Hezekiah.The Power of Prayer
Hezekiah's immediate response to his dire situation was to pray. This teaches us the importance of turning to God in times of crisis, trusting in His power and willingness to intervene.

Intimacy with God
By turning his face to the wall, Hezekiah sought a private moment with God. This illustrates the need for personal and undistracted time with God in prayer.

Faith in Action
Hezekiah's prayer was an act of faith, demonstrating his belief in God's ability to change his circumstances. We are encouraged to approach God with the same faith and trust.

God's Sovereignty and Mercy
Hezekiah's account reminds us of God's sovereignty over life and death and His mercy in responding to the prayers of His people.

The Role of Prophets
Isaiah's involvement highlights the importance of God's messengers in delivering His word and guiding His people.1. What is the meaning of 2 Kings 20:2?

2. How does Hezekiah's prayer in 2 Kings 20:2 demonstrate faith in God's power?

3. What can we learn from Hezekiah's response to his illness in 2 Kings 20:2?

4. How does Hezekiah's prayer life compare to other biblical figures like Daniel?

5. How can Hezekiah's example in 2 Kings 20:2 inspire our personal prayer habits?

6. What role does humility play in Hezekiah's prayer in 2 Kings 20:2?

7. Why did Hezekiah turn his face to the wall in 2 Kings 20:2?

8. What does Hezekiah's prayer in 2 Kings 20:2 reveal about his faith?

9. How does 2 Kings 20:2 challenge our understanding of prayer's power?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 20?

11. 2 Kings 20:7: Why was a simple poultice of figs sufficient to cure a fatal illness if it was truly life-threatening?

12. Why would Asa ignore divine help and rely solely on physicians in 2 Chronicles 16:12, seemingly contradicting biblical teachings on faith in God?

13. 2 Kings 20:9-11: How could the shadow on the sundial move backward without violating the laws of physics?

14. 2 Kings 18:5-6 - How can we verify Hezekiah's unprecedented devotion when other kings are also praised elsewhere?Then Hezekiah

• The word “Then” links directly to Isaiah’s sobering message, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Set your house in order, for you will die; you will not recover’ ” (2 Kings 20:1). Hezekiah does not argue with the prophet; instead, he responds immediately.

• Earlier Scripture paints Hezekiah as a man of steadfast trust: “Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. No king of Judah either before him or after him was like him” (2 Kings 18:5). His character explains why his first instinct when crisis strikes is to seek God rather than human help.

• This swift turn toward the LORD mirrors his earlier action during Assyria’s siege (2 Kings 19:1). Consistency in crisis reveals genuine faith.

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Turned his face to the wall

• He physically shifts position, likely to avoid distraction and fix his thoughts solely on God. Privacy matters when pouring out the heart (see Matthew 6:6, where Jesus commends secret prayer).

• Turning away from people—Isaiah, attendants, even the open room—symbolizes turning away from earthly resources. Like Ahab who “turned his face toward the wall” in sulking (1 Kings 21:4), Hezekiah turns, but with a godly purpose.

• The gesture speaks of determination: “Search for Him with all your heart and all your soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29). Concentrated attention signals earnestness to heaven.

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And prayed to the LORD

• Prayer is Hezekiah’s reflex, not a last resort. The same king had already laid Sennacherib’s blasphemous letter before the LORD (2 Kings 19:14-19). He knows God hears.

• He petitions the covenant Name—“the LORD” (YHWH)—reminding us that prayer rests on relationship, not ritual. Psalm 34:4 echoes his experience: “I sought the LORD, and He answered me.”

• Scripture ties effective prayer to righteousness: “The prayer of a righteous person has great power to prevail” (James 5:16). Hezekiah approaches with a clear conscience, expecting real help.

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Saying

• The verb introduces the specific words recorded in verse 3, but even here we glimpse a principle: articulate requests matter to God. Hezekiah will pray, “O LORD, please remember how I have walked before You faithfully...” (2 Kings 20:3).

• By framing his plea around “remember,” he echoes saints like Nehemiah: “Remember me for this, O my God” (Nehemiah 13:14). He appeals to God’s covenant faithfulness and his own sincere walk.

• The openness of “saying” affirms that God invites candid speech. No formula is required—just truth spoken from the heart (Psalm 62:8).

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summary

Hezekiah’s response to impending death is swift, focused, and faith-filled. He deliberately turns from human distraction, fixes his gaze on the wall—and thereby on God alone—then pours out a direct, heartfelt petition. The verse showcases how a life rooted in trust reacts under pressure: by seeking the LORD immediately, privately, and confidently, expecting the living God to hear and act.

(2) Then he turned his face.--And he turned his face round (1Kings 21:4). Hezekiah did so to avoid being disturbed in his prayer; and perhaps because grief instinctively seeks a hiding-place.

Verse 2. - Then he turned his face to the wall - i.e., away from those who were standing beside his bed, and might have distracted his attention, to pray with more concentration and earnestness - and prayed unto the Lord, saying (comp. 2 Kings 19:15). It was natural to Hezekiah, in every kind of affliction and distress, to take his trouble direct to God.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Then Hezekiah turned
וַיַּסֵּ֥ב (way·yas·sêḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5437: To turn about, go around, surround

his face
פָּנָ֖יו (pā·nāw)
Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the wall
הַקִּ֑יר (haq·qîr)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7023: A wall

and prayed
וַיִּ֨תְפַּלֵּ֔ל (way·yiṯ·pal·lêl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6419: To judge, to intercede, pray

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the LORD,
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT History: 2 Kings 20:2 Then he turned his face to (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)