Study
33 From the Book of 2 Kings is: 2 Kings 20 and 21
The
events described in chapter 20 happened in the earlier part of
Hezekiah's reign before the invasion of Sennacherib (see verses 6 and
13), and also 18:15, 16) and are introduced here as a kind of
appendix to the story of Hezekiah.
- Put yourself in Hezekiahs place, and try to picture the effect on him of Isaiah's announcement. What did he do (cf. Ps. 102:24), and what did God then do? How would these experiences help to prepare Hezekiah for the greater tests of faith that he was to meet when Sennacherib attacked him? In spite of his faithfulness to God, in what way did Hezekiah fail in the incident recorded in 20:12-19? Cf. Pr. 29:5. How did Isaiah view the incident, and what word of Judgment was given him to speak? For its fulfillment over a century later see chapter 25.
- Summarize in your own words Manasseh's flagrant idolatry. What judgments did God declare through His Prophets? Do you think it can have been easy for the prophets to speak thus? Cf. mi. 3:8.
Notes
- 20:12. Merodach-baladan (see Is. 39:1) was a northern chieftain, who had seize Babylon and was looking round for every possible means of strengthening his position. His reign did not last long, and it would have been folly for Hezekiah to enter into alliance with him.
- 21:13. The first half of the verse means that Jerusalem will receive the same measure of judgment as Samaria and the house of Ahab. The metaphor in the second half of the verse is a very strong and vivid one.
