Hezekiah

Hezekiah was king over the Southern Kingdom of Judah from around 725 to 697 BC. His revolt against the Assyrian oppressors leads to the destruction of great areas of the country. Still, the Bible writers see Hezekiah as a good king, because he saw to it that no false gods were worshipped any more.

The name Hezekiah or Jechizkiah means “my strength is the Lord”. Hezekiah was the son of King Ahaz. He was 25 years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for 29 years.
The first part of the book of Isaiah is set partly in the reign of Hezekiah. The ministry of the prophets Hosea and Micah also dates to his reign (Hosea 1:1; Micah 1:1).

Under Hezekiah’s father Ahaz, Judah became a vassal state of Assyria. When the Assyrian King Sargon II dies in 705 BC, Hezekiah leads a revolt. He does not pay any more tax and prepares Jerusalem and other cities for an Assyrian attack. Hezekiah’s Tunnel was probably dug out at this time.
The new Assyrian king, Sennacherib, puts down the rebellion with a heavy hand, but is not successful in conquering Jerusalem. According to the Bible story, God protects his city in a wonderful way. He destroys the army of the Assyrians, with the result that the Assyrians pull out.
Assyrian sources only mention that Sennacherib locks up Hezekiah “like a bird in a cage” and compels him to pay even more tax (see 2 Kings 18:13-15). They do not say why King Sennacherib did not conquer Jerusalem.

Hezekiah’s battle for the independence of Judah is also linked to reforms in worship. He has all the altars outside Jerusalem destroyed and sees to it that the people do not worship other gods. According to 2 Chronicles 30:1-3, Hezekiah sees to it that Passover is again celebrated. He summons everyone to come to the Temple in Jerusalem.

Hezekiah trusts God in his personal life as well. During a serious illness, he prays to God. God listens to him and sends the prophet Isaiah to heal him (2 Kings 20:1-11; Isaiah 38).
On account of his reforms and his trust in God, the Bible writers praise Hezekiah as one of the best kings of Judah, alongside David and Josiah.