Study Desk

He was twenty-five years old when he became king. And he ruled for twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.

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

For he held to the Lord and did not stop following Him. He kept His Laws which the Lord had given Moses.

In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, the seventh year of Elah's son Hoshea king of Israel, King Shalmaneser of Assyria came to fight against Samaria. His army gathered around it.

Because the people of Israel did not obey the voice of the Lord their God. They sinned against His agreement and even all that the Lord's servant Moses told them. They would not listen or obey.

Do not listen to Hezekiah. For the king of Assyria says, "Make your peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat of his own vine and fig tree. And every one of you will drink the water of his own well.

Has any one of the gods of the nations saved his land from the power of the king of Assyria?

When King Hezekiah heard about it, he tore his clothes and covered himself with cloth made from hair. Then he went into the house of the Lord.

It might be that the Lord your God will hear all the words of Rabshakeh, whom his ruler the king of Assyria has sent to make fun of the living God. And the Lord your God might speak sharp words against what He has heard. So pray for those who are left of the Lord's people.'"

See, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a made-up story and he will return to his own land. And I will have him killed by the sword in his own land."'"

Now, O Lord our God, I beg You to save us from his power. Then all the nations of the earth may know that You alone are God, O Lord."

As he was worshiping in the house of his god Nisroch, Adrammelech and Sharezer killed him with the sword. Then they ran away to the land of Ararat. And his son Esarhaddon became king in his place.

Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying,

Hezekiah listened to them and showed them all his riches. He showed them the silver, the gold, the spices, the oil of much worth, the things used in battle, and all that was found in his store-rooms. There was nothing in his house, or in all the places of his rule, that Hezekiah did not show them.

Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and all his strength are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. He made the pool and the ditch and brought water into the city.

Hezekiah died, and his son Manasseh became king in his place.

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king. And he ruled fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah.

He built again the high places which his father Hezekiah had destroyed. He built altars for Baal and made an object out of wood to worship the false goddess Asherah. He did as Ahab king of Israel had done. He worshiped all the stars of heaven and served them.

He gave his son as a burnt gift, used witchcraft and told the future. He listened to those who spoke with spirits and used their secret ways. He did things that were very sinful in the eyes of the Lord, and made the Lord angry.

Then Manasseh put the object he had made for Asherah into the house of the Lord. But the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, "I have chosen this house and Jerusalem from all the families of Israel. Here I will put My name forever.