2Ki 20 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 2Kgs 20:1-19: 20:1-19 About that time: This general time reference indicates that the order of events is thematic rather than chronological. The episode concerning Merodach-baladan (20:12-19 ), whom Sennacherib had driven from Babylon before 701 BC , happened earlier than the events of chs 18–19 but after Hezekiah’s illness (20:12 ). 20:1 Since Isaiah was already active in Hezekiah’s reign before Sennacherib moved to take Jerusalem, he was readily available to the king during that emergency (19:2 ). • Set your affairs in order: Hezekiah’s illness was terminal.

Summary for 2Kgs 20:1-19: 20:1-19 ^a About that time: This general time reference indicates that the order of events is thematic rather than chronological. The episode concerning Merodach-baladan (20:12-19 ^b), whom Sennacherib had driven from Babylon before 701 BC, happened earlier than the events of chs 18–19 ^c but after Hezekiah’s illness (20:12 ^d). 20:1 ^e Since Isaiah was already active in Hezekiah’s reign before Sennacherib moved to take Jerusalem, he was readily available to the king during that emergency (19:2 ^f).

• Set your affairs in order: Hezekiah’s illness was terminal.
Summary for 2Kgs 20:2-3: 20:2-3 ^g Unlike Ahab, who went to bed in a royal pout (1 Kgs 21:4 ^h), Hezekiah ... turned his face to the wall and prayed.
20:5 ⁱ Hezekiah’s commitment to the Lord compared favorably with that of his ancestor David (18:3 ^j). Just as God had heard David’s prayers (Pss 6:8-9 ^k; 28:6-7 ^l; 31:22 ^m; 40:1-2 ⁿ), he would answer Hezekiah’s plea.
20:6 ^o When God added more years to Hezekiah’s life, he also promised to defend Jerusalem. When Hezekiah reacted to Sennacherib’s later invasion (19:14-19 ^p) by seeking counsel from Isaiah (19:2 ^q), he was following an established precedent.

• for my own honor and for ... David: God reminded Hezekiah of this promise during Sennacherib’s invasion (19:34 ^r).
20:8 ^s Hezekiah’s request for a sign as proof of his healing is understandable. He had quickly moved from having an incurable illness to being promised fifteen more years of life. God sometimes provided signs as visible symbols of his intentions (see also 19:29 ^t; Gen 9:12-17 ^u; Exod 4:1-9 ^v; 12:12-13 ^w; 31:12-13 ^x, 17 ^y; 1 Kgs 13:1-3 ^z).
20:10 ^aa ten steps backward: Such a retreat of the shadow was contrary to nature, and the miracle confirmed God’s message to Hezekiah.
Summary for 2Kgs 20:12-13: 20:12-13 ^ab Merodach-baladan reigned over Babylon from 721 to 710 BC, when Sargon of Assyria forced him to flee. He ruled again briefly in 703 BC. This visit was likely during his exile; he probably sent envoys bearing his best wishes and a gift because he needed an ally against Assyria.

• There was nothing ... that Hezekiah did not show them: Hezekiah showed the Babylonian envoys his vast treasuries, which had not yet been sent to Sennacherib (18:13-16 ^ac). However, his attempt to impress his visitors was misguided (20:16-18 ^ad).
20:17 ^ae everything ... will be carried off to Babylon: The Lord’s message through Isaiah predicted the taking of the palace ... treasures in Jerusalem to Babylon, an event that took place in 597–586 BC (24:10-17 ^af; 25:1-21 ^ag).
20:18 ^ah Some of your very own sons will be taken: Hezekiah’s son Manasseh was taken as a prisoner to Babylon (2 Chr 33:11-13 ^ai). This prophecy found ultimate fulfillment in Hezekiah’s descendants during the Babylonian deportations of 605 BC (see 2 Kgs 24:1 ^aj and corresponding study note; Dan 1:1-7 ^ak), 597 BC (2 Kgs 24:10-12 ^al; 2 Chr 36:10 ^am), and 586 BC (2 Kgs 25:5-7 ^an; 2 Chr 36:20 ^ao; Jer 39:1-7 ^ap; 52:4-15 ^aq).
20:20 ^ar For more on the extent of his power, see 18:7-8 ^as; 2 Chr 32:27-29 ^at.

• In the face of Sennacherib’s threat, Hezekiah constructed a 1,777-foot tunnel that brought water from outside the city walls into Jerusalem (2 Chr 32:1-5 ^au, 30 ^av) to a pool called the Pool of Siloam. An inscription discovered in AD 1880 commemorates this engineering feat.