Topical Bible: Kings: Who Reigned Over Judah: Hezekiah

◄ Kings: Who Reigned Over Judah: Hezekiah ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, was the 13th king of Judah and reigned from approximately 715 to 686 BC. His reign is noted for significant religious reforms and a strong reliance on the God of Israel, distinguishing him as one of the most faithful kings in Judah's history. Hezekiah's account is primarily recorded in 2 Kings 18-20, 2 Chronicles 29-32, and Isaiah 36-39.

Background and Ascension to the Throne

Hezekiah ascended to the throne at the age of 25, following the reign of his father, Ahaz, who had led Judah into idolatry and pagan practices. Unlike his father, Hezekiah was committed to restoring the worship of Yahweh. His mother, Abijah, daughter of Zechariah, is believed to have played a significant role in his spiritual upbringing.

Religious Reforms

Hezekiah's reign is marked by a fervent return to the worship of the Lord. He initiated comprehensive religious reforms, which included the removal of high places, breaking of sacred pillars, cutting down Asherah poles, and destroying the bronze serpent that Moses had made, which had become an object of idolatrous worship (2 Kings 18:4). Hezekiah reopened the doors of the Temple, which his father had closed, and repaired them. He reinstituted the Levitical priesthood and restored the observance of the Passover, inviting all Israel and Judah to participate (2 Chronicles 30:1-5).

Military and Political Challenges

Hezekiah's reign was also marked by significant political and military challenges. The most notable was the Assyrian threat under King Sennacherib. In 701 BC, Sennacherib invaded Judah, capturing many fortified cities. Hezekiah initially attempted to appease the Assyrian king by paying a substantial tribute (2 Kings 18:14-16). However, Sennacherib's forces besieged Jerusalem, leading Hezekiah to seek divine intervention.

In response to Hezekiah's prayer and the counsel of the prophet Isaiah, God delivered Judah by sending an angel who struck down 185,000 Assyrian soldiers, forcing Sennacherib to withdraw (2 Kings 19:35-36). This miraculous deliverance underscored Hezekiah's reliance on God and affirmed the power of prayer and faith.

Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery

Hezekiah's life was also marked by a personal crisis when he fell gravely ill. The prophet Isaiah informed him that he would not recover, but Hezekiah prayed earnestly to the Lord. God heard his prayer and granted him an additional 15 years of life, confirmed by the miraculous sign of the sun's shadow moving backward on the steps of Ahaz (2 Kings 20:1-11).

Legacy and Death

Hezekiah's reign is remembered for his unwavering faith and dedication to God. Despite his successes, he showed human frailty when he displayed his wealth to envoys from Babylon, an act that Isaiah warned would lead to future consequences for Judah (2 Kings 20:12-19). Hezekiah died after a 29-year reign and was succeeded by his son Manasseh, who unfortunately reversed many of his father's reforms.

Hezekiah's legacy is one of faithfulness and reform, serving as a model of godly leadership in times of national crisis. His account is a testament to the power of prayer, the importance of religious purity, and the sovereignty of God over the affairs of nations.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Kings 18:1-20:21
Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

2 Chronicles 29:1-32:33
Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Two Boy Kings.
... soon after Solomon's death, and a king reigned in Jerusalem ... of Judah, and another
in Samaria over the kingdom ... There were a few good kings of Judah, such as Asa ...
/.../lathbury/childs story of the bible/chapter xxx the two boy.htm

Manasseh
... Of all the kings that reigned in Jerusalem, this man's ... the portraits of all the doges
or kings who ruled ... They hurry over the fifty-five years; they crowd them ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/milligan/men of the bible some lesser-known/manasseh.htm

The Antiquities of the Jews
... Wife Became More Wicked Than All The Kings That Had ... How Jotham, The Son Of Uzziah
Reigned Over The Tribe Of ... How Upon The Death Of Jotham, Ahaz Reigned In His ...
//christianbookshelf.org/josephus/the antiquities of the jews/

The Prophet Hosea.
... But the pernicious influence extended still further over the whole ... a short reign
of six months, 2 Kings 15:10 ... Shallum, after he had reigned only one month, was ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet hosea.htm

Much More Versus Much Less
... An enemy had come up against Judah, and had threatened ... We have been reigned over
by thousands of things, by the ... been slaves where we ought to have been kings. ...
/.../smith/the god of all comfort/chapter 9 much more versus.htm

The Doctrine of the Resurrection the Body Will Rise Again. ...
... of the earth." [5617] To Christ alone was this given; whilst Solomon reigned over
only the moderately-sized kingdom of Judah. "Yea, all kings shall fall ...
/.../tertullian/the five books against marcion/chapter ix the doctrine of the.htm

'He Uttered his Voice, the Earth Melted'
... of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his ... of Jehovah's will, he was mightier
than kings, and must ... to tramp back, foiled and disappointed, over all the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/he uttered his voice the.htm

Nineveh.
... triumphs, and all the scenes in the kings' histories, nay ... the best King of Samaria
that had yet reigned, for he ... but the free days of Judah were over, and they ...
//christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson ix nineveh.htm

The Ambassadors from Babylon
... Since the days of David there had reigned no king ... remaining days in willing service
to the King of kings. ... in Jehovah could he hope to triumph over the powers ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 29 the ambassadors from.htm

The Old Testament and Archeology
... over Moab for thirty years, and I reigned after my ... that occasion are recorded at
length in 2 Kings 18, 19 ... of Jerusalem; upon the throne of lordship over them I ...
/.../the christian view of the old testament/chapter iv the old testament.htm