Topic: Persons Of The Bible - Hezekiah

The name "Hezekiah" is from the Hebrew name חִזְקִיָה (Chizqiyah), which means "Yahweh strengthens". The name also means "whom Jehovah has strengthened" or "the might of Jehovah."

Hezehiah was the son of the apostate Ahaz and Abi or Abijah (2 Kings 18:1; 2 Chr. 29:1), whom he succeeded on the throne of the kingdom of Judah. He ascended the throne at the age of 25, B.C. 726. He reigned twenty-nine years (B.C. 726-697). The history of this king is contained in 2 Kings 18:20, Isa. 36-39, and 2 Chr. 29-32. He is spoken of as a great and good king. Hezekiah was one of the three most perfect kings of Judah. (2 Kings 18:5) Ecclus. 49:4. In public life he followed the example of his great-granfather Uzziah. His first act was to purge and repair and reopen with splendid sacrifices and perfect ceremonial temple. He also destroyed a brazen serpent, said to have been the one used by Moses in the miraculous healing of the Israelites, (Numbers 21:9) which had become an object of adoration. When the kingdom of Israel had fallen, Hezekiah invited the scattered inhabitants to a peculiar Passover, which was continued for the unprecedented period of fourteen days. (2 Chronicles 29:30,31) A great reformation was wrought in the kingdom of Judah in his day (2 Kings 18:4; 2 Chr. 29:3-36). At the head of a repentant and united people, Hezekiah ventured to assume the aggressive against the Philistines and in a series of victories not only re-won the cities which his father had lost, (2 Chronicles 28:18) but even dispossessed them of their own cities except Gaza, (2 Kings 18:8) and Gath. On the death of Sargon and the accession of his son Sennacherib to the throne of Assyria, instant war was imminent and Hezekiah used every available means to strengthen himself. (2 Kings 20:20) It was probably at this dangerous crisis in his kingdom that we find him sick and sending for Isaiah, who prophesies death as the result. (2 Kings 20:1) Hezekiah's prayer for longer life is heard. The prophet had hardly left the palace when he was ordered to return and promise the king immediate recovery and fifteen years more of life. (2 Kings 20:4) Hezekiah refused to pay the tribute to Sennacherib (which his father had paid), and "rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not," but entered into a league with Egypt (Isa. 30; 31; 36:6-9). This led to the invasion of Judah by Sennacherib (2 Kings 18:13-16), who took forty cities, and besieged Jerusalem with mounds. Hezekiah yielded to the demands of the Assyrian king, and agreed to pay him three hundred talents of silver and thirty of gold (18:14). But Sennacherib dealt treacherously with Hezekiah (Isa. 33:1), and a second time within two years invaded his kingdom (2 Kings 18:17; 2 Chr. 32:9; Isa. 36). This invasion issued in the destruction of Sennacherib's army. Hezekiah prayed to God, and "that night the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians 185,000 men." Sennacherib fled with the shattered remnant of his forces to Nineveh, where, seventeen years after, Sennacherib was assassinated by his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer (2 Kings 19:37). The narrative of Hezekiah's sickness and miraculous recovery is found in 2 Kings 20:1, 2 Chr. 32:24, Isa. 38:1. Various ambassadors came to congratulate Hezekiah on his recovery, and among them Merodach-baladan, the viceroy of Babylon (2 Chr. 32:23; 2 Kings 20:12). The viceroy coming from Babylon ostensibly to compliment Hezekiah on his convalescence, but really to form an alliance between the two powers, was favorably received by the king and the viceroy shown the treasures which Hezekiah had accumulated. For this Isaiah foretells the punishment that shall befall Hezekiah's house. (2 Kings 20:17) Hezekiah closed his days in peace and prosperity, and was succeeded by his son Manasseh.

Derived from Easton's and Smith's Bible Dictionaries

Fair Use. Presented for educational purposes only.

If these words have been a blessing, please forward them to a friend.

These words were posted at one of Shepherd's Care Ministries Sites called Wisdom Minute, The site is located at:
http://www.shepherdscare.net/wisdomminute

Shepherd's Care Ministries Main Site located at:
http://www.shepherdscare.net/