Study Desk

As for the other events of the reign of Ahaz, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?

But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea was a traitor, for he had sent envoys to So king of Egypt, and he no longer paid tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore Shalmaneser seized him and put him in prison.

The king of Assyria invaded the entire land, marched against Samaria and laid siege to it for three years.

They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves, and an Asherah pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts, and they worshiped Baal.

They worshiped the Lord , but they also appointed all sorts of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places.

You must always be careful to keep the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods.

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 Nehushtan.)

They called for the king; and Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went out to them.

You say you have the counsel and the might for war—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me?

How can you repulse one officer of the least of my master's officials, even though you are depending on Egypt for chariots and horsemen?

until I come and take you to a land like your own—a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey. Choose life and not death! "Do not listen to Hezekiah, for he is misleading you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.'

It may be that the Lord your God will hear all the words of the field commander, whom his master, the king of Assyria, has sent to ridicule the living God, and that he will rebuke him for the words the Lord your God has heard. Therefore pray for the remnant that still survives."

They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands.

"This will be the sign for you, Hezekiah: "This year you will eat what grows by itself, and the second year what springs from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. "The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.'"

I 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 sake and for the sake of my servant David.'"

"It is a simple matter for the shadow to go forward ten steps," said Hezekiah. "Rather, have it go back ten steps."

"The word of the Lord you have spoken is good," Hezekiah replied. For he thought, "Will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?"

As for the other events of Hezekiah's reign, all his achievements and how he made the pool and the tunnel by which he brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?