2 Kings · chapter 20 of 25
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2 Kings 20 tells how Hezekiah falls mortally ill, prays in tears, and the Lord, through Isaiah, adds fifteen years to his life and gives him a sign: the shadow goes back ten steps. He then receives envoys from Merodach-baladan of Babylon and shows them all his treasures. Isaiah announces that everything will be carried off to Babylon, and Hezekiah answers with relief that there will be peace in his days.
After the deliverance of Jerusalem in chapter 19, 2 Kings 20 shows the human side of Hezekiah: his illness, his prayer and a mistake of pride. The chapter contrasts the king's faith before death with his lack of vision before the Babylonian visit. Isaiah's warning anticipates that Judah's fate will be not Assyria but Babylon.
In those days Hezekiah becomes sick to the point of death. The prophet Isaiah goes to him and tells him to set his house in order, for he will die and not recover. Hezekiah turns his face to the wall, prays to the Lord, remembers that he has walked before him faithfully and with a whole heart, and weeps bitterly.
Before Isaiah has left the middle court, the word of the Lord comes to him: he must go back and tell Hezekiah that the Lord has heard his prayer and seen his tears, that he will heal him, and that on the third day he will go up to the house of the Lord. He will add fifteen years to his life and deliver him and the city from the hand of the king of Assyria. Isaiah orders a lump of figs to be placed on the boil, and the king recovers. Hezekiah asks for a sign, and Isaiah offers him a choice: the shadow can go forward ten steps or go back ten. Hezekiah asks that it go back. Isaiah cries to the Lord, and the shadow goes back ten steps on the steps of Ahaz.
Then Merodach-baladan, son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sends letters and a gift to Hezekiah, because he had heard that he was sick. Hezekiah receives them and shows them all his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, the armory and all that was found in his treasuries. There is nothing in his house he does not show them.
Isaiah goes to the king and asks what those men said and where they came from. Hezekiah answers frankly, and then Isaiah gives him the word of the Lord: days are coming when everything in his house, what his fathers have stored up, will be carried to Babylon, and some of his own descendants will be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. Hezekiah answers that the word of the Lord is good, for there will be peace and security in his days. Hezekiah dies and his son Manasseh reigns. He had made a pool and a conduit to bring water into the city.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
Hezekiah prays to the Lord, remembering that he has walked before him in faithfulness and with integrity of heart, and weeps bitterly. His prayer is sincere and raw, and God listens.
The Lord answers that he has heard the king's prayer and seen his tears, and that he will heal him. God is not indifferent to the pain of his servants, and he can change the announced course.
Isaiah cries to the Lord and the shadow goes back the ten steps it had advanced. The sign confirms the promise of healing with something no human power could produce.
Isaiah announces that everything in Hezekiah's house will be carried off to Babylon, and that nothing will be left. The visit Hezekiah received with pride becomes the warning of what is to come.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: To set his house in order, because he would die. — 2 Kings 20:1
Answer: He turned his face to the wall, prayed and wept bitterly. — 2 Kings 20:2-3
Answer: Fifteen years. — 2 Kings 20:6
Answer: That the shadow go back ten steps. — 2 Kings 20:9-10
Answer: Merodach-baladan, king of Babylon. — 2 Kings 20:12
Answer: That everything in the king's house would be carried off to Babylon. — 2 Kings 20:16-17
Hezekiah received an answer to his prayer, but soon afterward made a mistake out of pride. Often after a favor from God we let our guard down. In a small group you can ask how we guard our heart after an answer from God.
It is also worth noticing the king's reaction to Isaiah's warning: he is content that there will be peace in his days, without thinking of the generations to come. God calls us to think beyond our immediate comfort, to care for what we leave to our children and our community, and to ask for wisdom not to trust in our treasures.
2 Kings 20 ends with the death of Hezekiah and the shadow of Babylon over Judah's future. In chapter 21, his son Manasseh will lead the kingdom into one of its darkest periods.
The text does not give the reason, but 2 Chronicles 32 says God left him alone to test him. He probably wanted to appear a strong ally against Assyria. Isaiah sees in the gesture a sign of pride and misplaced trust.
The text speaks of the steps of Ahaz, probably a stairway that worked as a sundial, where the shadow marked the passing of time. The shadow's retreat was a visible sign of God's power over time.
The text presents his answer as an acceptance of the Lord's word, but also as a selfish relief at knowing the punishment would come after him. His attitude contrasts with that of a king who cares about the generations to come.