2Kings 19:1 ¶ And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD.
2Kings 19:2 And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
2Kings 19:3 And they said unto him, Thus saith Hezekiah, This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and blasphemy: for the children are come to the birth, and there is not strength to bring forth.
2Kings 19:4 It may be the LORD thy God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the LORD thy God hath heard: wherefore lift upthy prayer for the remnant that are left.
This is another one of those unfortunate chapter breaks; the narrative continues from the previous chapter.
When Hezekiah heard what Rabshakeh had said, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and immediately went to the temple. He sent Eliakim, Shebna and the elders of the priests—all clothed in sackcloth—to deliver a message to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz. Yes, this is the same Isaiah that is recorded in scripture.
The message basically said: Today is a day of anguish, chastisement and scorn (all from the Hebrew). It can be compared to a mother trying to give birth, but is too weak to do so. Maybe the LORD your God has heard how the king of Assyria blasphemed him in the message delivered by Rabshakeh and will prove him wrong. Please pray for those of us who are left.
That the king described the day as one of rebuke or chastisement is an admission of Judah’s sin before the LORD—and maybe even of his own sin in not turning first to the LORD before seeking the support of Egypt.
2Kings 19:5 So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah.
2Kings 19:6 And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
2Kings 19:7 Behold, I will send a blast upon him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.
After the king’s delegation had delivered the king’s message to Isaiah, he sent the following response (my paraphrase): The LORD says not to be afraid because of the words of the king of Assyria whereby he showed such disrespect for me. I will send a rumor to him that will make him have to return home. He will die by the sworn in his own land.
2Kings 19:8 ¶ So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah: for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish.
2Kings 19:9 And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come out to fight against thee: he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah, saying,
2Kings 19:10 Thus shall ye speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, Let not thy God in whom thou trustest deceive thee, saying, Jerusalem shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.
2Kings 19:11 Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered?
2Kings 19:12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them which my fathers have destroyed; as Gozan, and Haran, and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelasar?
2Kings 19:13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivah?
Meanwhile, Rabshakeh had gone back to report to the king of Assyria. He had heard that the king had left Lachish and was doing battle against Libnah. Sennacherib also got word that Tirhakah, king of Ethiopia, was one his way to attack him. In light of that news, he sent another message back to Hezekiah.
That message (in letter form) basically said: Don’t let the LORD your God that you trust deceive you and make you think that Jerusalem will escape from me. You have heard how I have utterly destroyed other lands. Do you really think you will be the only one to escape? Have the gods of these other nations been able to rescue them from my fathers and me? Consider Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, the children of Eden in Thelasar. What about the kings of Hamath, of Arpad, of Sepharvaim, of Hena and of Ivah?
2Kings 19:14 And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD.
2Kings 19:15 And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD, and said, O LORD God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.
2Kings 19:16 LORD, bow down thine ear, and hear: open, LORD, thine eyes, and see: and hear the words of Sennacherib, which hath sent him to reproach the living God.
2Kings 19:17 Of a truth, LORD, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands,
2Kings 19:18 And have cast their gods into the fire: for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone: therefore they have destroyed them.
2Kings 19:19 Now therefore, O LORD our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the LORD God, even thou only.
When Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it, he immediately went to the temple and spread it out before the LORD. Then he prayed a prayer that basically said: O LORD God of Israel, You who dwell between the cherubims (a reference to the ark of the covenant in the temple), I know that You alone are God and are sovereign over ALL the kingdoms on earth because You are the Creator. LORD, please listen to me; please look at what Sennacherib wrote in this letter and see how he blasphemed You yet again. However, he is telling the truth, LORD. The kings of Assyria have destroyed many nations and their lands. They have burned the idols of their gods. I know that those idols were only objects made by man and were not really gods; that’s why they could destroy them. Please, O LORD “our” God, I beg you to rescue us from this king so that all the kingdoms on earth will KNOW that You are the LORD God, the only true God.
The NIV Commentary made an important observation: “True believers are concerned in every situation that the character and reputation of God not be brought into disrepute; rather, they long that God be glorified for who he is as well as for what he has done.”
2Kings 19:20 ¶ Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard.
2Kings 19:21 This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning him; The virgin the daughter of Zion hath despised thee, and laughed thee to scorn; the daughter of Jerusalem hath shaken her head at thee.
2Kings 19:22 Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.
The LORD evidently immediately sent an answer to the prophet Isaiah to deliver to Hezekiah. The message basically said: I have heard your prayer. This is what I have declared against Sennacherib. The virgin daughter of Zion, (a reference to Jerusalem) is in no way threatened by you. She mocks you. Do you realize Whom you have insulted and blasphemed? Do you realize Whom you have so loudly and arrogantly mocked? He is the Holy One of Israel.
2Kings 19:23 By thy messengers thou hast reproached the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, and the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, and into the forest of his Carmel.
2Kings 19:24 I have digged and drunk strange waters, and with the sole of my feet have I dried up all the rivers of besieged places.
The LORD’s message continues: Through your messengers you have blasphemed Me and exalted yourself. You have bragged that with your many chariots you have gone up Lebanon’s highest mountains and cut down its tallest and best cedar and fir trees. You brag that you have conquered it all, even the forest of Carmel. You brag that you have dug wells and drunk the water of foreign lands and even caused the rivers of the strongest cities to dry up as you (and your troops implied) have marched to besiege the peoples.
In other words, Sennacherib thought he was invincible.
Note: Several translations based on other manuscripts equate “besieged places” with Egypt.
2Kings 19:25 Hast thou not heard long ago how I have done it, and of ancient times that I have formed it? now have I brought it to pass, that thou shouldest be to lay waste fenced cities into ruinous heaps.
2Kings 19:26 Therefore their inhabitants were of small power, they were dismayed and confounded; they were as the grass of the field, and as the green herb, as the grass on the housetops, and as corn blasted before it be grown up.
2Kings 19:27 But I know thy abode, and thy going out, and thy coming in, and thy rage against me.
2Kings 19:28 Because thy rage against me and thy tumult is come up into mine ears, therefore I will put my hook in thy nose, and my bridle in thy lips, and I will turn thee back by the way by which thou camest.
The LORD’s message continues: Haven’t you heard that I planned long ago for what you are doing. It was my plan for you to become such a mighty conqueror; you are just an instrument in my hand. It was because it was My will that you were able to destroy so many strongly fortified cities. They fell before you like grass under your feet. BUT—I know where you are at all times; I know how you blaspheme and disrespect me. Because I have heard you treat me with such dishonor, I am going to put a hook in your nose and a bridle in your lips that will make you have to return home.
Guzik provides this historical note: “This was an especially dramatic statement, because this is exactly how the Assyrians cruelly marched those whom they forced to relocate out of their conquered lands. They lined up the captives, and drove a large fishhook through the lip or the nose of each captive, strung them all together and marched them. God said, I’m going to do the same thing to you.”
2Kings 19:29 And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such things as grow of themselves, and in the second year that which springeth of the same; and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruits thereof.
2Kings 19:30 And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.
2Kings 19:31 For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.
2Kings 19:32 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.
2Kings 19:33 By the way that he came, by the same shall he return, and shall not come into this city, saith the LORD.
2Kings 19:34 For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
At this point, the LORD’s message is addressed to Hezekiah. It basically says: This is a sign that I will protect you. The rest of this year and the next you will eat what grows by itself in the land. In the 3rd year you will plant and reap and plant vineyards and eat of their fruit. The remaining remnant of Judah will once again take root in the land and grow. From those in Jerusalem, a remnant will go out and once again populate the land. I, the LORD of hosts, will do this.
Regarding the king of Assyria, he will not come into Jerusalem or be allowed to attack it in any way. He won’t even be allowed to establish a siege. He will go back home the way he came and will not be allowed to enter Jerusalem. I, the LORD God of Israel will save it for My sake and for My servant David’s sake.
Guzik offers this historical note from his study: “After this retreat from Judah, Sennacherib commissioned a record, which is preserved in the spectacular Annals of Sennacherib (the Taylor Prisim), which can be seen in the British Museum. It shows how full of pride Sennacherib’s heart still was, even if he could not even claim he conquered Jerusalem.” It reads as follows: “I attacked Hezekiah of Judah who had not subjected himself to me, and took forty-six fortresses, forts and small cities. I carried away captive 200,150 people, big and small, both male and female, a multitude of horses, young bulls, asses, camels, and oxen. Hezekiah himself I locked up in Jerusalem like a bird in its cage. I put up banks against the city. I separated his cities whose inhabitants I had taken prisoners from his realm and gave them to Mitiniti, king of Ashdod, Padi, king of Ekron, and Zilbel, king of Gaza and thus diminished his country. And I added another tax to the one imposed on him earlier.” (Cited in Bultema, commentary on Isaiah)
2Kings 19:35 ¶ And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
2Kings 19:36 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh.
2Kings 19:37 And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.
That very night, the angel of the LORD killed 185,000 of the troops of Assyria. When Sennacherib and the surviving troops got up the next day, they saw that dead corpses were all around them. Sennacherib immediately returned home to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria.
Principle: Even when circumstances show one’s situation to be hopeless, the LORD can work a miracle and provide for the deliverance of His people.
One day, when Sennacherib was worshipping in the house of his god Nisroch, his two sons, Adrammelech and Sharezer, killed him with a sword—just as the LORD had foretold. They then ran away to Armenia, and his son Esarhaddon became king of Assyria.
So, why would the sons want to kill their father? JFB states this possibility, “…it is said, he intended to sacrifice [them] to pacify the gods and dispose them to grant him a return of prosperity.”
Historical records note that it was 20 years later that Sennacherib’s sons murdered him. This quote is from biblehub.com: “Though Sennacherib survived this disaster some twenty years, he never again renewed his attempt against Jerusalem. He was murdered by two of his own sons (Adrammelech and Sharezer), and was succeeded by another son, Esarhaddon (B.C. 681), after a reign of twenty-four years.”
2Kings 20:1 ¶ In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
2Kings 20:2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,
2Kings 20:3 I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
As one reads through this chapter, it appears that Hezekiah’s illness occurred in the time between Rabshakeh’s first message from the Assyrian king and his letter to Hezekiah as related in the last two chapters.
In my journal on Isaiah, I noted that we could determine that Hezekiah was 39 years old when this happened based on the following verses. (25 + 29 – 15 = 39)
2 Kings 18:1–2 “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. Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem.”
2 Kings 20:6 “And I will add unto thy days fifteen years….”
In those days Hezekiah developed a terminal illness. The prophet Isaiah came to him and told him that the LORD said to get his house in order because he was going to die.
When Isaiah left, Hezekiah immediately turned his face toward the wall to pray to the LORD. My paraphrase: Please LORD, remember how I have lived before You in truth with a sincere heart and have remained faithful and obedient to You. Then he was overcome with tears.
JFB notes that the phrase “how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart” is probably a reference to the LORD’s covenant with David.
1 Kings 2:1–4 “Now the days of David drew nigh that he should die; and he charged Solomon his son, saying…And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways…That the LORD may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.”
This makes sense considering the fact that Hezekiah had no heir.
2Kings 20:4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
2Kings 20:5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.
2Kings 20:6 And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
Before Isaiah ever even got to the middle court of the palace, the LORD told him to turn around and go back to Hezekiah with another message. The message Isaiah delivered basically said: This is what the LORD, the God of David your father, says. I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I am going to heal you, and on the third day you can present yourself at the temple. I am going to add 15 years to your life, and I am going to deliver this city from the king of Assyria. I am going to defend this city for My own sake and for my servant David’s sake.
I think this answer came so quickly because it was in the LORD’s plan all along for Hezekiah to have a son. Hezekiah’s prayer was rooted in his declaration before God of his righteous standing before the LORD. Subsequent events will show Hezekiah that he needs a dose of humility and a clearer understanding that he is a sinner before the LORD and that he is only blessed because of His grace and mercy.
2Kings 20:7 And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
2Kings 20:8 And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?
2Kings 20:9 And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?
2Kings 20:10 And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.
2Kings 20:11 And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.
Isaiah then instructed that his servants put a lump of figs on the boil (inflammation or ulcer). They did as he instructed, and the king recovered.
Guzik makes a good application: “God can, and often does, bring healing through medical treatments, and apart from an unusual direction from God, medical treatment should never be rejected in the name of faith.”
I will add personally that scripture is also clear that we should always seek the LORD first, just as Hezekiah did. We learned that principle when studying the life of king Asa.
2 Chronicles 16:12 “And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.”
Back to the narrative—It seems that Hezekiah questioned Isaiah at the outset and asked for a sign that the LORD would heal him. Isaiah was ready with an answer. He asked Hezekiah if he wanted the LORD to make the shadow on the sundial go forward ten degrees or go backward ten degrees. Hezekiah thought about it and decided that it would be more miraculous for the shadow to go backward ten degrees. So Isaiah asked the LORD to take the shadow backward, and He did.
However the LORD chose to do this miracle, the king of Babylon knew about it.
2 Chronicles 32:31 “Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.”
2Kings 20:12 ¶ At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
2Kings 20:13 And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.
As stated above, Hezekiah’s sickness and recovery became known in the surrounding nations, at least in Babylon.
Isaiah 39:1 “At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.”
Berodachbaladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, evidently expressing his goodwill toward him. Several commentators note that the king of Babylon’s real purpose was to gain an ally in his fight against Assyria.
Hezekiah showed his appreciation by showing the Babylonian delegation all the treasures of his house—precious things, silver, gold, spices, precious ointment and his armory. He showed them everything he had of value. The Chronicler notes that the LORD had blessed him abundantly.
2 Chronicles 32:27–29 “And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he made himself treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels; Storehouses also for the increase of corn, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks. Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him substance very much.”
The Chronicler also notes that the king had received gifts from many nations after the LORD delivered them from Assyria.
2 Chronicles 32:23 “And many brought gifts unto the LORD to Jerusalem, and presents to Hezekiah king of Judah: so that he was magnified in the sight of all nations from thenceforth.”
This would also support the theory that the king of Babylon considered him a worthy ally.
2Kings 20:14 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.
2Kings 20:15 And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.
Isaiah was evidently in a position to know what happened in the palace. After the visitors left, he came to Hezekiah and questioned him about who these visitors were and where they came from. So Hezekiah told him that they were from a country far away called Babylon. Then Isaiah wanted to know what Hezekiah had shown them. Hezekiah unhesitatingly declared that he showed them everything in “mine” house, all of “my” treasures.
The Chronicler notes that it was in pride that Hezekiah had displayed all his treasures.
2 Chronicles 32:25-26 “But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.”
This is a trap we can all fall into so easily. God blesses us with talents and abilities; and when we are successful in endeavors using those God-given gifts, we think we are deserving of any resulting honor and reward.
There is another interesting fact that the Chronicler adds; the LORD used this visit from the Babylonians to prove what was in Hezekiah’s heart—not to Him, but to Hezekiah himself.
2 Chronicles 32:31 “Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart.”
Hezekiah had experienced so much blessing from the LORD that he needed to be reminded of who he really was without the LORD’s blessing upon his life. So God “left him,” took His Spirit from him.
We that are true believers today are blessed to know that God’s Spirit will never be taken away from us. He is the earnest seal of our salvation, the guarantee of our future in the presence of God in heaven.
Ephesians 1:12–14 “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
2Kings 20:16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD.
2Kings 20:17 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.
2Kings 20:18 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
The LORD then gave Isaiah another message for Hezekiah. My paraphrase: Listen to My words. The day is coming when all your treasures will be carried off to Babylon; nothing will be left. Your sons, born of your seed, will be taken away and made eunuchs in the palace of Babylon’s king. In other words, your pride will end up causing great sorrow.
This would happen over 100 years later as recorded in Daniel.
Daniel 1:1–4 “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand…. And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.”
2Kings 20:19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?
When I first read this, I thought Hezekiah sounded pretty self-centered. As I thought about it some more (during my study of Isaiah), I changed my mind. God allowed him to be tested, but he didn’t turn into a totally wicked man after living such a righteous life. He just messed up—just like we do sometimes. We need God’s guidance step by step, day by day. Hezekiah acknowledges that God’s judgment is “good.” In that acknowledgement, he admitted that he had sinned before the LORD and that it deserved to be punished. It also included an acknowledgement of God’s grace in promising that he would have sons and the hope that some would escape judgment. It also acknowledged God’s mercy in allowing him to finish his days in peace and stability (from the Hebrew for the word truth).
We too should respond to God’s chastisement in our lives with repentance and acknowledgement of God’s justice, grace, mercy, and love. God reminds us in His word that He only chastens those He loves.
Deuteronomy 8:5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee.
Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Hebrews 12:6-7 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
2Kings 20:20 And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
2Kings 20:21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
The historian closes his account of Hezekiah, making special note that he was a mighty king and had made a pool and a conduit (today known as Hezekiah’s tunnel) to bring water into Jerusalem. He also notes that more is recorded in the chronicles of the kings of Judah.
Guzik adds this note about Hezekiah’s tunnel: “This was an amazing engineering feat. He built an aqueduct to insure fresh water inside the city walls even during sieges. It was more than 650 yards long through solid rock, begun on each end and meeting in the middle. It can still be seen today and it empties into the pool of Siloam.”
When Hezekiah died, his son Manasseh became king.
The Chronicler adds a bit more.
2 Chronicles 32:33 “And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the chiefest of the sepulchres of the sons of David: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death.”