Kings of Judah 1. Rehoboam 2. Abijah 3. Asa 4. Jehoshaphat 5. Jehoram 6. Ahaziah 7. Joash 8. Amaziah 9. Uzziah 10. Jotham 11. Ahaz 12. Hezekiah 13. Manasseh 14. Amon 15. Josiah 16. Jehoahaz 17. Jehoiakim 18. Jehoiachin 19. Zedekiah

King Hezekiah began to reign at age 25 reigned 29 years 2 Kings 18 - 20 2 Chronicles 29 - 32 Isaiah 26 - 39

Hezekiah’s godly reign did right in the sight of the LORD trusted in the LORD none like him among all the kings of Judah clung to the LORD did not depart from following Him kept His commandments the LORD was with him wherever he went he prospered

Hezekiah’s father – Ahaz walked in the way of the kings of Israel made molten images for the Baals made his son pass through the fire erected a copy of a pagan altar sacrificed and burned incense on the “high places” to pagan deities closed the doors of the temple was buried without honor

Hezekiah’s reforms temple repaired and consecrated priests and Levites returned to service tithing resumed sacrifice and worship of Jehovah restored Passover observed idols, high places, sacred pillars torn down

Assyrian invasion Hezekiah paid large tribute to Sennacherib Sennacherib invaded Judah, captured many cities and besieged Jerusalem Rabshakeh’s blasphemous threats Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed for deliverance God miraculously answered their prayer

clay prism of Sennacherib Oriental Institute Museum Chicago

Sennacherib’s prism : As for Hezekiah the Judahite, who did not submit to my yoke: forty-six of his strong, walled cities, as well as the small towns without number, I besieged and took . . . (Hezekiah) himself, like a caged bird I shut up in Jerusalem, his royal city . . . the terrifying splendor of my majesty overcame him . . . to pay tribute and to accept servitude, he dispatched his messengers

2 Chronicles 32 Hezekiah: cut off the water supply from the springs outside Jerusalem stopped the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them to the west side of the city of David Hezekiah’s tunnel

hewn from both ends simultaneously ! Hezekiah’s Tunnel 1750 feet long --------- hewn from both ends simultaneously !

Siloam Inscription (Istanbul Museum) discovered 1880

Siloam Inscription “The tunneling was completed . . . while the hewers wielded the ax, each man toward his fellow . . . there was heard a man's voice calling to his fellow . . . the hewers hacked each toward the other, ax against ax, and the water flowed from the spring to the pool, a distance of 1,200 cubits.”

God’s answer to Hezekiah’s prayer the angel of the LORD struck 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians early in the morning all were dead Sennacherib returned to Nineveh

Sennacherib’s death I will make him fall by the sword in his own land 2 Kings 19:7 ( Isaiah to Hezekiah’s servants ) he shall return to his own land I will make him fall by the sword in his own land _____ verse 37 as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword . . . and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.

( Assyrian clay tablet ) Sennacherib’s death ( Assyrian clay tablet ) “On the twentieth day of the month Tebet Sennacherib king of Assyria his son slew him in rebellion . . . Esarhaddon his son sat on the throne of Assyria.”

Hezekiah’s sickness and recovery Hezekiah became mortally ill Isaiah: “Set your house in order” Hezekiah wept and prayed God granted him 15 more years sign: sun’s shadow moved backward 10 steps

Hezekiah’s foolish pride Babylonian envoys brought presents Hezekiah showed them all his treasure Isaiah: “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah: “Everything !” Isaiah: treasure will be carried to Babylon your descendants will become officials in the palace of the king of Babylon

Hezekiah’s son – Manasseh rebuilt high places Hezekiah had destroyed erected altars for Baal, made an Asherah worshipped the host of heaven placed pagan altars and images in the temple made his son pass through the fire practiced witchcraft and divination martyrdom of Isaiah ?

Lessons from the life of Hezekiah individual accountability The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son . . . Ezekiel 18:20

Lessons from the life of Hezekiah great things can be done in a short time with . . . zeal cooperation hard work God’s blessing

Lessons from the life of Hezekiah prayer can change the course of events The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. James 5:16

Lessons from the life of Hezekiah even a faithful servant of God can become guilty of pride