Hezekiah
The Reforming King
Also known as: Hezekiah's, Ezekias, Hizkia
Hezekiah was one of Judah's most godly kings. He carried out extensive religious reforms, reopened the temple, and celebrated Passover for the first time in a long while. When the Assyrian king Sennacherib besieged Jerusalem, Hezekiah trusted in God, and an angel struck down the Assyrian army. God also granted him 15 additional years of life when he was mortally ill.
Family
Key events
Temple Reform
Hezekiah reopened and cleansed the temple that his father Ahaz had closed.
3In the first month of the first year of his reign he opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them.
ה֣וּא בַשָּׁנָה֩ הָרִאשׁוֹנָ֨ה לְמָלְכ֜וֹ בַּחֹ֣דֶשׁ הָרִאשׁ֗וֹן פָּתַ֛ח אֶת־דַּלְת֥וֹת בֵּית־יְהוָ֖ה וַֽיְחַזְּקֵֽם׃
5and he said to them: "Listen to me, Levites! Consecrate yourselves now, and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Carry the filth out of the sanctuary.
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר לָהֶ֖ם שְׁמָע֣וּנִי הַלְוִיִּ֑ם עַתָּ֣ה הִֽתְקַדְּשׁ֗וּ וְקַדְּשׁוּ֙ אֶת־בֵּ֤ית יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֹתֵיכֶ֔ם וְהוֹצִ֥יאוּ אֶת־הַנִּדָּ֖ה מִן־הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃
10Now I intend to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, so that his burning anger may turn away from us.
עַתָּה֙ עִם־לְבָבִ֔י לִכְר֣וֹת בְּרִ֔ית לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְיָשֹׁ֥ב מִמֶּ֖נּוּ חֲר֥וֹן אַפּֽוֹ׃
11My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to be his ministers and to burn incense."
בָּנַ֕י עַתָּ֖ה אַל־תִּשָּׁל֑וּ כִּֽי־בָכֶ֞ם בָּחַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה לַעֲמֹ֤ד לְפָנָיו֙ לְשָׁ֣רְת֔וֹ וְלִהְי֥וֹת ל֖וֹ מְשָׁרְתִ֥ים וּמַקְטִרִֽים׃ ס
35There were also many burnt offerings, along with the fat of the fellowship offerings and the drink offerings that accompanied the burnt offerings. So the service of the house of the LORD was reestablished.
וְגַם־עֹלָ֨ה לָרֹ֜ב בְּחֶלְבֵ֧י הַשְּׁלָמִ֛ים וּבַנְּסָכִ֖ים לָעֹלָ֑ה וַתִּכּ֖וֹן עֲבוֹדַ֥ת בֵּית־יְהוָֽה׃
36Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced over what God had done for the people, for it had all come about so suddenly.
וַיִּשְׂמַ֤ח יְחִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ וְכָל־הָעָ֔ם עַ֛ל הַהֵכִ֥ין הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים לָעָ֑ם כִּ֥י בְּפִתְאֹ֖ם הָיָ֥ה הַדָּבָֽר׃ פ
The Great Passover Celebration
Hezekiah invited all Israel to celebrate Passover in Jerusalem—the largest since the time of Solomon.
1Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah, and he also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, inviting them to come to the house of the LORD in Jerusalem to keep the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel.
וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח יְחִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ עַל־כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל וִֽיהוּדָ֗ה וְגַֽם־אִגְּרוֹת֙ כָּתַב֙ עַל־אֶפְרַ֣יִם וּמְנַשֶּׁ֔ה לָב֥וֹא לְבֵית־יְהוָ֖ה בִּֽירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת פֶּ֔סַח לַיהוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
5so they resolved to send a proclamation throughout Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, calling the people to come to Jerusalem and keep the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel; for they had not kept it in great numbers as it is written.
וַיַּֽעֲמִ֣ידוּ דָבָ֗ר לְהַעֲבִ֨יר ק֤וֹל בְּכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מִבְּאֵֽר־שֶׁ֣בַע וְעַד־דָּ֔ן לָב֞וֹא לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת פֶּ֛סַח לַיהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם כִּ֣י לֹ֥א לָרֹ֛ב עָשׂ֖וּ כַּכָּתֽוּב׃
21The people of Israel who were present in Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great joy, and day after day the Levites and the priests praised the LORD with loud instruments.
וַיַּעֲשׂ֣וּ בְנֵֽי־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵל הַנִּמְצְאִ֨ים בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֜ם אֶת־חַ֧ג הַמַּצּ֛וֹת שִׁבְעַ֥ת יָמִ֖ים בְּשִׂמְחָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה וּֽמְהַלְלִ֣ים לַ֠יהוָה י֣וֹם ׀ בְּי֞וֹם הַלְוִיִּ֧ם וְהַכֹּהֲנִ֛ים בִּכְלֵי־עֹ֖ז לַיהוָֽה׃ ס
26There was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the days of Solomon son of David, king of Israel, there had been nothing like it in Jerusalem.
וַתְּהִ֥י שִׂמְחָֽה־גְדוֹלָ֖ה בִּֽירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם כִּ֠י מִימֵ֞י שְׁלֹמֹ֤ה בֶן־דָּוִיד֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹ֥א כָזֹ֖את בִּירוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ ס
Sennacherib's Siege
When Assyria threatened Jerusalem, Hezekiah prayed to God, and an angel struck down the Assyrian army.
14Hezekiah took the letters from the hand of the messengers and read them. Then he went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD.
וַיִּקַּ֨ח חִזְקִיָּ֧הוּ אֶת־הַסְּפָרִ֛ים מִיַּ֥ד הַמַּלְאָכִ֖ים וַיִּקְרָאֵ֑ם וַיַּ֙עַל֙ בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה וַיִּפְרְשֵׂ֥הוּ חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ פ
15And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD: "LORD, God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.
וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֨ל חִזְקִיָּ֜הוּ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָה֮ וַיֹּאמַר֒ יְהוָ֞ה אֱלֹהֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ יֹשֵׁ֣ב הַכְּרֻבִ֔ים אַתָּה־ה֤וּא הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ לְבַדְּךָ֔ לְכֹ֖ל מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הָאָ֑רֶץ אַתָּ֣ה עָשִׂ֔יתָ אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וְאֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
19Now, LORD our God, save us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, LORD, are God."
וְעַתָּה֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ הוֹשִׁיעֵ֥נוּ נָ֖א מִיָּד֑וֹ וְיֵֽדְעוּ֙ כָּל־מַמְלְכ֣וֹת הָאָ֔רֶץ כִּ֥י אַתָּ֛ה יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים לְבַדֶּֽךָ׃ ס
35That night the angel of the LORD went out and struck down a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When men rose early in the morning, there they were—all of them dead bodies.
וַיְהִי֮ בַּלַּ֣יְלָה הַהוּא֒ וַיֵּצֵ֣א ׀ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֗ה וַיַּךְ֙ בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה אַשּׁ֔וּר מֵאָ֛ה שְׁמוֹנִ֥ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה אָ֑לֶף וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וְהִנֵּ֥ה כֻלָּ֖ם פְּגָרִ֥ים מֵתִֽים׃
36So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh and stayed there.
וַיִּסַּ֣ע וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ וַיָּ֖שָׁב סַנְחֵרִ֣יב מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁ֑וּר וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בְּנִֽינְוֵֽה׃
36Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. When the people rose early the next morning — there they all lay, dead bodies.
וַיֵּצֵ֣א ׀ מַלְאַ֣ךְ יְהוָ֗ה וַיַּכֶּה֙ בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה אַשּׁ֔וּר מֵאָ֛ה וּשְׁמֹנִ֥ים וַחֲמִשָּׁ֖ה אָ֑לֶף וַיַּשְׁכִּ֣ימוּ בַבֹּ֔קֶר וְהִנֵּ֥ה כֻלָּ֖ם פְּגָרִ֥ים מֵתִֽים׃
Illness and Healing
Hezekiah became mortally ill, but after his prayer God gave him 15 additional years of life.
1In those days Hezekiah fell mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, for you are going to die; you will not recover."
בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם חָלָ֥ה חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ לָמ֑וּת וַיָּבֹ֣א אֵ֠לָיו יְשַׁעְיָ֨הוּ בֶן־אָמ֜וֹץ הַנָּבִ֗יא וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ צַ֣ו לְבֵיתֶ֔ךָ כִּ֛י מֵ֥ת אַתָּ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תִֽחְיֶֽה׃
2Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD:
וַיַּסֵּ֥ב אֶת־פָּנָ֖יו אֶל־הַקִּ֑יר וַיִּ֨תְפַּלֵּ֔ל אֶל־יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃
3"Please, LORD, remember how I have walked before you faithfully and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
אָנָּ֣ה יְהוָ֗ה זְכָר־נָ֞א אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֧ר הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי לְפָנֶ֗יךָ בֶּֽאֱמֶת֙ וּבְלֵבָ֣ב שָׁלֵ֔ם וְהַטּ֥וֹב בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ עָשִׂ֑יתִי וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּכִ֥י גָדֽוֹל׃ ס
5"Go back and say to Hezekiah, the leader of my people: This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I am going to heal you; on the third day you will go up to the house of the LORD.
שׁ֣וּב וְאָמַרְתָּ֞ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ נְגִיד־עַמִּ֗י כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֔יךָ שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ אֶת־תְּפִלָּתֶ֔ךָ רָאִ֖יתִי אֶת־דִּמְעָתֶ֑ךָ הִנְנִי֙ רֹ֣פֶא לָ֔ךְ בַּיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י תַּעֲלֶ֖ה בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃
6I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David."
וְהֹסַפְתִּ֣י עַל־יָמֶ֗יךָ חֲמֵ֤שׁ עֶשְׂרֵה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּמִכַּ֤ף מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ אַצִּ֣ילְךָ֔ וְאֵ֖ת הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֑את וְגַנּוֹתִי֙ עַל־הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את לְמַֽעֲנִ֔י וּלְמַ֖עַן דָּוִ֥ד עַבְדִּֽי׃
1In those days Hezekiah fell sick and was near death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in order, for you are going to die; you will not recover."
בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם חָלָ֥ה חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ לָמ֑וּת וַיָּב֣וֹא אֵ֠לָיו יְשַׁעְיָ֨הוּ בֶן־אָמ֜וֹץ הַנָּבִ֗יא וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ צַ֣ו לְבֵיתֶ֔ךָ כִּ֛י מֵ֥ת אַתָּ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תִֽחְיֶֽה׃
5"Go and say to Hezekiah: This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I am going to add fifteen years to your life.
הָל֞וֹךְ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֔יךָ שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ אֶת־תְּפִלָּתֶ֔ךָ רָאִ֖יתִי אֶת־דִּמְעָתֶ֑ךָ הִנְנִי֙ יוֹסִ֣ף עַל־יָמֶ֔יךָ חֲמֵ֥שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה שָׁנָֽה׃
Mentioned in the Bible (94)
2 Kings 16:202 Kings 18:12 Kings 18:92 Kings 18:102 Kings 18:132 Kings 18:142 Kings 18:162 Kings 18:172 Kings 18:192 Kings 18:222 Kings 18:292 Kings 18:302 Kings 18:312 Kings 18:322 Kings 18:372 Kings 19:12 Kings 19:32 Kings 19:52 Kings 19:92 Kings 19:102 Kings 19:142 Kings 19:202 Kings 20:12 Kings 20:52 Kings 20:82 Kings 20:122 Kings 20:132 Kings 20:142 Kings 20:162 Kings 20:192 Kings 20:212 Kings 21:31 Chronicles 3:131 Chronicles 3:231 Chronicles 4:412 Chronicles 28:122 Chronicles 28:272 Chronicles 29:12 Chronicles 29:182 Chronicles 29:202 Chronicles 29:272 Chronicles 29:302 Chronicles 30:182 Chronicles 30:202 Chronicles 31:82 Chronicles 31:132 Chronicles 31:202 Chronicles 32:22 Chronicles 32:92 Chronicles 32:112 Chronicles 32:122 Chronicles 32:202 Chronicles 32:222 Chronicles 32:232 Chronicles 32:242 Chronicles 32:262 Chronicles 32:272 Chronicles 32:302 Chronicles 32:322 Chronicles 32:332 Chronicles 33:3Nehemiah 10:18Proverbs 25:1Isaiah 1:1Isaiah 36:1Isaiah 36:4Isaiah 36:14Isaiah 36:15Isaiah 36:16Isaiah 36:22Isaiah 37:1Isaiah 37:3Isaiah 37:5Isaiah 37:9Isaiah 37:10Isaiah 37:14Isaiah 37:21Isaiah 38:1Isaiah 38:2Isaiah 38:5Isaiah 38:9Isaiah 38:22Isaiah 39:1Isaiah 39:2Isaiah 39:3Isaiah 39:5Isaiah 39:8Jeremiah 15:4Jeremiah 26:18Hosea 1:1Micah 1:1Zephaniah 1:1Matthew 1:9Matthew 1:10