What is the meaning of 2 Kings 20:20? As for the rest of the acts of Hezekiah 2 Kings 20:20 opens by reminding us that Hezekiah’s story is much larger than the miracle of his healing and the extension of his life. • He removed the high places, smashed the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles (2 Kings 18:4). • He trusted in the LORD more than any king of Judah before or after him (2 Kings 18:5–7). • He reopened and purified the temple, reinstituted worship, and led Judah in a nationwide Passover celebration (2 Chronicles 29–30). • He stood firm while Sennacherib of Assyria threatened Jerusalem, seeking God in prayer and seeing the angel of the LORD strike down 185,000 enemy soldiers (2 Kings 19:14–37). This phrase signals that these works are the fruit of a life lived in covenant faithfulness. along with all his might The verse continues, “along with all his might,” highlighting both his personal vigor and the strength God supplied. • Administrative might: he organized priests and Levites, set up courses of service, and established contributions for worship (2 Chronicles 31:2–10). • Military might: he fortified Jerusalem, repaired the broken wall, and built towers (2 Chronicles 32:5). • Spiritual might: he exhorted the people, “Be strong and courageous…with us is the LORD our God” (2 Chronicles 32:7–8). • Relational might: he humbled himself when confronted by pride after the Babylonian delegation visited (2 Chronicles 32:26). His power was real, but it always depended on the greater power of the LORD who “upheld him on every side” (2 Chronicles 32:22). and how he constructed the pool and the tunnel to bring water into the city The chronicler singles out one feat: “how he constructed the pool and the tunnel to bring water into the city.” • Engineering wisdom: Hezekiah redirected the waters of the Gihon Spring through a 1,750-foot tunnel, ending at the Pool of Siloam (2 Chronicles 32:30); modern archaeologists have confirmed this work. • Foresight under pressure: anticipating siege, he secured Jerusalem’s water supply while denying it to the Assyrians (2 Kings 20:20; 2 Kings 18:13–17). • Partnership of faith and planning: Isaiah notes that the people “made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool” (Isaiah 22:11), yet rebuked them for not first looking to the LORD. Hezekiah, however, combined prudent preparation with dependent prayer (2 Kings 19:14–19). The tunnel stands as a tangible reminder that God’s people can be diligent and resourceful without sacrificing reliance on Him. are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? The verse closes by pointing readers to an external historical record. • This official annal (also referenced in 1 Kings 14:29; 15:7) preserved political and civic details beyond the scope of Kings. • God ensured that essential truths were included in Scripture, while still affirming that more could be learned elsewhere (2 Chronicles 32:32 speaks of “the Vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz”). • The citation underscores the historical reliability of the biblical account; the inspired writer invites verification because the events actually occurred. Even though the original royal records are lost, their witness is echoed and completed in the canonical books we still possess. summary 2 Kings 20:20 packages Hezekiah’s life into four snapshots: his broader deeds, his God-empowered strength, his remarkable water-works project, and the acknowledgment of further documentation. Together they paint a portrait of a king who trusted the LORD, acted courageously, planned wisely, and left a legacy so significant it was recorded twice—once on earth’s scrolls and forever in God’s Word. |
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