Hezekiah

Hezekiah was the son of Ahaz and the 13th king of Judah. He reigned for 29 years (2 Kings 18:2;2 Chronicles 29:1). Hezekiah is known for his religious reforms and his trust in God during the Assyrian invasion. He removed the high places, broke down the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles (2 Kings 18:4;2 Chronicles 31:1). He also cleansed and restored the temple, and reinstituted the Passover celebration (2Ch.29-30). When Sennacherib, king of Assyria, invaded Judah, Hezekiah trusted in God and sought the counsel of the prophet Isaiah (2Ki.18-19; 2Ch.32; Isa.36-37). As a result, God delivered Jerusalem from the Assyrian army (2 Kings 19:35-36;2 Chronicles 32:21;Isaiah 37:36-37). Hezekiah also faced a severe illness, but after he prayed, God granted him 15 more years of life (2 Kings 20:1-11;2 Chronicles 32:24-26; Isa.38). However, Hezekiah's pride led him to show the Babylonian envoys all his treasures, which prompted Isaiah to prophesy the future Babylonian captivity (2 Kings 20:12-19;2 Chronicles 32:27-31; Isa.39). Despite this, Hezekiah is remembered as a king who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord (2 Kings 18:3;2 Chronicles 29:2). He is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:9-10) and is also referenced in the books of Jeremiah, Hosea, and Micah (Jeremiah 15:4; 26.18-19;Hosea 1:1;Micah 1:1).