2 Kings, Chapter 20:
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Verses from 2 Kings, Chapter 20 of the book of 1 Samuel in the Bible.
Hezekiah's illness
- 1. In those days, Hezekiah became seriously ill and was on the verge of death. The prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came to visit him and said to him: “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, for you will die and will not recover.”
- 2. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying:
- 3. “Remember, Lord, how I have served you faithfully and with a sincere heart. I have done what is right in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
- 4. Before Isaiah left the inner court, the word of the Lord came to him, saying:
- 5. “Go back and say to Hezekiah, the leader of my people: This is what the Lord, the God of David your ancestor, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will heal him. In three days you will go up to the temple of the Lord.
- 6. I will add fifteen years to your life and will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for the sake of myself and my servant David.”
- 7. Then Isaiah ordered: “Bring a paste of figs.” They brought it and applied it to the wound, and Hezekiah recovered.
- 8. Hezekiah had asked Isaiah, “What will be the sign that the Lord will heal me and that I will go up to the temple of the Lord in three days?”
- 9. Isaiah replied: “This will be the sign that the Lord will fulfill the promise he made: the shadow will advance ten steps or retreat ten steps on the palace staircase.”
- 10. Then Hezekiah said: “It is easy for the shadow to advance ten steps. I’d rather she go back ten steps.”
- 11. The prophet Isaiah cried out to the Lord, and he made the shadow move back ten steps on the steps of Ahaz's palace.
Babylon's ambassadors
- 12. At that time, the king of Babylon, Merodach-baladan, son of Baladan, learned of Hezekiah's illness and sent him letters and gifts.
- 13. Hezekiah received them and showed the messengers all his treasure: the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine oil, all his arsenal and everything that was in his stores. There was nothing in his palace or in his entire kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.
- 14. Then the prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah and asked him, “What did those men say to you? Where did they come from?” Hezekiah replied: “They came from a distant land, from Babylon.”
- 15. Isaiah asked, “What did they see in your palace?” Hezekiah replied, “They have seen everything in my palace. There is nothing in my treasures that I have not shown you.”
- 16. Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord:
- 17. The days will certainly come when everything in your palace and what your predecessors have accumulated to this day will be taken to Babylon. Nothing will be left behind,” says the Lord.
- 18. “Moreover, some of your own descendants, those you father, will be taken to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”
- 19. Hezekiah answered Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” And he added: “At least there will be peace and security during my reign.”
- 20. The other events of Hezekiah's reign, all his power and how he built the reservoir and the aqueduct that brought water into the city, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Judah.
- 21. Hezekiah rested with his ancestors, and his son Manasseh was his successor.
