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In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.

He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Abijah ^(F53) daughter of Zechariah.

He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD , just as his father David had done.

He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called ^(F54) Nehushtan. ^(F55) )

Hezekiah trusted in the LORD , the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him.

He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses.

And the LORD was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.

From watchtower to fortified city, he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory.