Tim Maas Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

Although Hezekiah's reign was characterized favorably in 2 Kings 18:3-6, he was still subject to sin, as indicated in part (in my opinion) by the self-centeredness in the passage cited.

God had unmistakably manifested Himself earlier in Hezekiah's reign, delivering Jerusalem from destruction by repelling the Assyrians (as described in 2 Kings 19:35-36) after the Assyrians had already conquered and dispersed the northern kingdom of Israel (2 Kings 18:9-11)); and also mercifully saving Hezekiah's life from illness, as well as granting him fifteen additional years of rule (even though Hezekiah had tested God by asking for a sign of his healing from Isaiah, rather than simply accepting the word of the prophet (2 Kings 20:1-11)).

Despite the earlier Assyrian invasion (which showed that foreign powers regarded Israel and Judah as targets for conquest), and, rather than turning to God (as he had when he had been sick) and relying completely on Him instead of on other earthly rulers, Hezekiah did not subsequently shun foreign interest in Judah, but instead welcomed representatives from Babylon, proudly showing them all that he possessed (Isaiah 39:1-2), which would serve as a prelude to a later invasion by the Babylonians, with the people of Judah being taken into captivity in Babylon (2 Kings 24 and 2 Kings 25) -- a captivity that would last for seventy years.

After Isaiah pronounced the judgment that God would carry out because of Hezekiah's accommodating action, Hezekiah again demonstrated pride and a lack of concern for the welfare of the people, or even of his own descendants, by agreeing with the judgment and saying that it was good -- not because he recognized that God was just and righteous in pronouncing it, and taking it as a call to humble himself and repent, but just because it would not occur until after he had died, and thus would not affect him personally.

February 06 2016 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church

I think that this is a very interesting question, whoever asked it. Now, I would like to offer a different explanation, if I may. Isaiah 39:8 says this: Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, "The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good." For he thought, "There will be peace and security in my days.

"Is Hezekiah’s response in Isaiah 39:8 an expression of relief that he escaped trouble? If so, it would certainly be heartless on his part to rejoice that future generations would suffer what he should have suffered! His statement is more likely an expression of his humble acceptance of God’s will, and 2 Chronicles 32:26 bears this out. The king did humble himself before God, and God forgave him. 2 Chronicles says this: 'But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.'’”

--See Warren Wiersbe's answer @ https://storage.snappages.site/7STCWP/assets/files/The-Wiersbe-Bible-Commentary-Old-Testame-90.pdf

July 31 2022 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report