2 Kings 20: Added Years and a Foolish Boast
The Lord heals Hezekiah and adds fifteen years, but the king's pride in showing his treasures sows the seeds of Babylon's coming.
2 Kings 20 (WEB)
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 bitterly.
4 Before Isaiah had gone out into the middle part of the city, Yahweh’s word 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 Yahweh’s house.
6 I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria. 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.
8 Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What shall be the sign that Yahweh will heal me, and that I shall go up to Yahweh’s house the third day?”
9 Isaiah said, “This shall be the sign to you from Yahweh, that Yahweh will do the thing that he has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?”
10 Hezekiah answered, “It is a light thing for the shadow to go forward ten steps. Nay, but let the shadow return backward ten steps.”
11 Isaiah the prophet cried to Yahweh; and he brought the shadow ten steps backward, by which it had gone down on the dial of Ahaz.
12 At that time Berodach Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah; for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
13 Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn’t show them.
14 Then Isaiah the prophet came to king Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? From where did they come to you?” Hezekiah said, “They have come from a far country, even from Babylon.”
15 He said, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.”
16 Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear Yahweh’s word.
17 ‘Behold, the days come, that all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have laid up in store to this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left,’ says Yahweh.
18 ‘Of your sons who shall issue from you, whom you shall father, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’”
19 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “Yahweh’s word which you have spoken is good.” He said moreover, “Isn’t it so, if peace and truth shall be in my days?”
20 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made the pool, and the conduit, and brought water into the city, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
21 Hezekiah slept with his fathers; and Manasseh his son reigned in his place.
2 Kings 20 (KJV)
1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying,
3 I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying,
5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord.
6 And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
7 And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
8 And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the Lord the third day?
9 And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?
10 And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.
11 And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the Lord: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.
12 At that time Berodach–baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
13 And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.
14 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.
15 And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.
16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord.
17 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord.
18 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?
20 And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
2 Kings 20 (ASV)
1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Set thy house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto Jehovah, saying,
3 Remember now, O Jehovah, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
4 And it came to pass, before Isaiah was gone out into the middle part of the city, that the word of Jehovah came to him, saying,
5 Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the prince of my people, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee; on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of Jehovah.
6 And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.
7 And Isaiah said, Take a cake of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
8 And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that Jehovah will heal me, and that I shall go up unto the house of Jehovah the third day?
9 And Isaiah said, This shall be the sign unto thee from Jehovah, that Jehovah will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?
10 And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to decline ten steps: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten steps.
11 And Isaiah the prophet cried unto Jehovah; and he brought the shadow ten steps backward, by which it had gone down on the dial of Ahaz.
12 At that time Berodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah; for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
13 And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and showed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.
14 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.
15 And he said, What have they seen in thy house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in my house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them.
16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of Jehovah.
17 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thy house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith Jehovah.
18 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, whom thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of Jehovah which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, Is it not so, if peace and truth shall be in my days?
20 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made the pool, and the conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers; and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
Summary
In those days Hezekiah falls sick to the point of death, and Isaiah tells him to set his house in order, for he will die. Hezekiah turns his face to the wall and prays, pleading how he has walked before the Lord in truth with a whole heart, and he weeps bitterly. Before Isaiah has left the city the word of the Lord comes again: God has heard his prayer and seen his tears, and will heal him and add fifteen years to his life, delivering him and the city from Assyria. As a sign, the Lord makes the shadow go back ten steps on the dial of Ahaz. Later, envoys from Berodach-Baladan of Babylon come with letters and a gift, having heard of Hezekiah's illness, and the king proudly shows them all his treasures, his armory, and everything in his house. Isaiah confronts him: all that he has shown will one day be carried to Babylon, and his own descendants will serve there. Hezekiah accepts the word as good, comforted that peace will last in his own days. The chapter holds together God's tender mercy and the quiet danger of pride.
Main Characters
- Hezekiah — King of Judah who prays in his mortal illness and is healed, but later displays his wealth to Babylon's envoys, drawing a word of coming exile.
- Isaiah — The prophet who announces Hezekiah's death, then his healing and added years, and finally the prophecy that Judah's treasures will go to Babylon.
- Yahweh (the LORD) — The God who hears Hezekiah's prayer, sees his tears, heals him, gives the sign of the shadow, and foretells the Babylonian captivity to come.
- Berodach-Baladan's envoys — Messengers from the king of Babylon who bring letters and a gift, and to whom Hezekiah proudly shows all the riches of his house.
Key Verse
2 Kings 20:5 (WEB)
“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 Yahweh’s house.
Lessons Learned
- God hears the prayers and sees the tears of his people, even at the edge of death.
- Answered prayer and added years are gifts of grace, not rewards we are owed.
- Success and recovery can quietly breed a pride that endangers what God has given.
- What we display to win the world's admiration may invite the very loss we never foresaw.
- God hears earnest, tearful prayer. “I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears” (2 Kings 20:5, WEB); the Lord is moved by the cries of his people.
- Life and its lengthening are God's to give. “I will add to your days fifteen years” (2 Kings 20:6, WEB); our times rest entirely in his hands.
- Pride often follows blessing. Hezekiah “showed them all the house of his precious things” (2 Kings 20:13, WEB), parading before Babylon what God had given.
- Receive God's word, even in judgment, as good. Hezekiah answers, “Yahweh’s word which you have spoken is good” (2 Kings 20:19, WEB), submitting to the Lord's verdict.
- How does Hezekiah respond to the news that he will die, and what does his prayer reveal?
- Why does God grant healing and added years, and how should we understand such a gift?
- What is wrong with Hezekiah showing the Babylonian envoys all his treasures?
- How does Isaiah's prophecy connect Hezekiah's pride to the later exile?
- Where might recent blessings be tempting you toward self-display rather than gratitude to God?
- Hezekiah turns to the wall, prays, recalls his faithful walk, and weeps bitterly (20:2-3). His response shows raw honesty before God and a relationship in which he can pour out grief and plea, trusting the Lord to hear.
- God responds to Hezekiah's prayer and tears with mercy, healing him and adding fifteen years (20:5-6). It is sheer grace, not a debt repaid; such gifts call for humble thanksgiving rather than entitlement.
- He parades his wealth and armory to impress a foreign power instead of pointing them to the God who saved him (20:13). The display reveals a heart drifting toward pride and self-reliance, the opposite of his earlier trust.
- Isaiah declares that everything shown will be carried to Babylon and his descendants taken there (20:17-18). The king's prideful openness to Babylon foreshadows the nation's eventual captivity—a sober link between present pride and future loss.
- This is a personal-application question. Gently invite members to consider whether they showcase blessings for admiration or steward them with gratitude. As leader, point back to the God who gives and keep the tone humble and hopeful.