2 Kings 20:1-7

Bible Text

[1] In those days was Hezekiah sick to death. Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, Thus says Yahweh, Set your house in order: for you shall die, and not live. [2] Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed to Yahweh, saying, [3] Remember now, Yahweh, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight. Hezekiah wept sore. [4] It happened, before Isaiah was gone out into the middle part of the city, that the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, [5] Turn back, and tell Hezekiah the prince of my people, Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father, I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears: behold, I will heal you; on the third day you shall go up to the house of Yahweh. [6] I will add to your days fifteen years; and I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for my own sake, and for my servant David's sake. [7] Isaiah said, Take a cake of figs. They took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

Assyria was the dominant empire northeast of Judah and had recently threatened Jerusalem, while Babylon was a rising Mesopotamian power farther east. In this passage Hezekiah’s illness and recovery occur after Judah’s deliverance from Assyria and before Babylon’s later interest in Hezekiah and Judah.

Places in this passage

2 Kings 20:1-7 mentions Assyria and Babylon.

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