New International version
The story of Hezekiah (2 Kings 20)
The biblical story of King Hezekiah illness also appears in 2 Chronicles 32:24 and Isaiah 38:1 (Rapids, 2012). Hezekiah assumes as the king of Judah during his youth and leads the Israelites for 29 years. Ahaz and Abijah are the parents of Hezekiah born in 740 BC and wife to Hephzibah (Rapids, 2012). Prior to his sickness, Hezekiah rebelled from the Assyrian tribute. Hezekiah paid tribute to Sennacherib against the wish of God. Later Hezekiah became ill to the point of death.
The prophet Isaiah brought the message from the Lord that Hezekiah’s illness would lead to death. Hezekiah solemnly seeks the face of God and confessed his sins. Hezekiah wept bitterly as he prayed to God to remember his devotion from God and his faithfulness in the past. The Lord spoke to the Prophet Isaiah and told him to go back to the King and tell him that the Lord has heard his prayers and tears. The Lord added fifteen more years to his life and promising to defend his kingdom from the Assyrians in addition to healing the King.
Some contribution of the King to the people included restoration of the Temple, reorganizing the Levites charged with carrying out sacrifices, and the abolishment of idolatry in Judah. Hezekiah brought an end to the worship of bamot and other high places to restore the Passover pilgrimage and extended an invitation to other tribes to join in the festival. Some of the tribes that came for the celebration include Zebulun, Asher, and Manasseh.
I think Hezekiah in addition to physical restoration received spiritual renewal to enable him live another fifteen years. The healing took place as a sign of faith from the prophet Isaiah message from God. Hezekiah accepted his sins and turned to God in repentance and confession, and God forgave him and miraculously healed him.
References
Evans, P. S. (2009). The invasion of Sennacherib in the book of Kings a source-critical and rhetorical study of 2 Kings 18-19. Leiden: Brill.
Rapids, M. (2012). The Holy Bible: New International Version, containing the Old Testament and the New Testament. (2nd ed.). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Bible Publishers.
