Hezekiah Will Live Fifteen Years Longer

20 In those days Hezekiah became sick enough to die. The man of God, Isaiah the son of Amoz, came to him and said, “This is what the Lord says, ‘Get those of your house ready. For you will die. You will not get well again.’” ² Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, ³ “I beg You, O Lord, remember how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart. I have done what is good in Your eyes.” And Hezekiah cried much. ⁴ Before Isaiah had gone out of the center room, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ⁵ “Return to Hezekiah the leader of My people. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says, “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. See, I will heal you. On the third day you must go up to the house of the Lord. ⁶ And I will add fifteen years to your life. I will save you and this city from the power of the king of Assyria. And I will help this city because of My honor and because of My servant David.” ‘ ” ⁷ Then Isaiah said, “Bring a loaf made of figs. Have them take and lay it on the sore on Hezekiah’s body. Then he will be well again.” And they took and laid it on the boil and he was healed.

⁸ Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What will be the special thing for me to see, that the Lord will heal me, and that I will go up to the house of the Lord on the third day?” ⁹ Isaiah said, “This will be the special thing for you to see from the Lord, to show that the Lord will do what He has said. Will the shadow go ten steps farther, or go back ten steps?” ¹⁰ Hezekiah answered, “It is easy for the shadow to go ten steps farther. But let the shadow turn back ten steps.” ¹¹ So Isaiah the man of God cried to the Lord, and the Lord brought the shadow back ten steps, on the steps set up by King Ahaz.

Men Come from Babylon

¹² At that time Berodach-baladan, a son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah. For he heard that Hezekiah had been sick. ¹³ Hezekiah listened to them and showed them all his riches. He showed them the silver, the gold, the spices, the oil of much worth, the things used in battle, and all that was found in his store-rooms. There was nothing in his house, or in all the places of his rule, that Hezekiah did not show them. ¹⁴ Then Isaiah the man of God came to King Hezekiah and said, “What did these men say? From where have they come to you?” Hezekiah said, “They have come from a far country, from Babylon.” ¹⁵ Isaiah said, “What have they seen in your house?” And Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing among my riches that I have not shown them.”

¹⁶ Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord. ¹⁷ ’See, the days are coming when all that is in your house, all that your fathers have kept in store to this day, will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says the Lord. ¹⁸ ’And some of your sons who will be born to you will be taken away. They will be servants in the house of the king of Babylon.’” ¹⁹ Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Why not, if there will be peace and people will be safe in my days?”

The Death of Hezekiah

²⁰ Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and all his strength are written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. He made the pool and the ditch and brought water into the city. ²¹ Hezekiah died, and his son Manasseh became king in his place.