Meaning of HEZEKIAH

"Jehovah strengthens" Son of Ahaz, king of Judah (719-691 BC). He was associated with his father in government from 728 BC.

He was a devoted servant of Jehovah; He began his reign by repairing and cleansing the Temple, reorganizing religious services with his officials, and celebrating a great Passover to which he invited only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin (2 Chron. 29:1-30:13). ).

He removed the high places, tore down the images, and broke into pieces the metal serpent that Moses had made, but which had become an object of worship.

In the fourth year of his reign (724 B.C.), Shalmaneser began, and in the year 722 B.C. Sargon completed the siege of Samaria, taking the ten tribes into captivity (2 Chron. 18:9, 10).

In the year 714 B.C. He began the series of Assyrian invasions that distinguished Hezekiah's kingdom and ended disastrously for Assyria.

It seems that it was immediately after these invasions began, in the year 714, that Hezekiah was sick, almost dying, but was granted 15 more years of life (2 Kings 20:1-11; Is. 38).

Hezekiah died in 691 and his son Manasseh ascended the throne (2 Kings 20:21; 2 Chron. 32:33).