Discussion Board A Divided Kingdom
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Uploaded by BaronWaterPenguin11
Discussion Thread: Kings of the Divided Kingdom Module 5
February 13, 2024
My thread will center its focus on King Hezekiah. Hezekiah assumed the throne of Judah at the age of 25 and reigned for 29 years, from 716 to 687. King Ahaz and his wife, Abijah, were his parents. His mother was the daughter of the high priest, Zechariah. Hezekiah was married to Hephzibah. He died when he was 54 years old, approximately 687 BCE, and his successor to the throne was his son, Manasseh. Hezekiah was the 13
th
successor of David, reigning in Judah’s southern Kingdom. (2 Kings 18:3)
The main biblical accounts of Hezekiah's reign are found in 2 Kings, Isaiah, and 2 Chronicles. Proverbs 25:1 begins a compilation of Solomon’s proverbs: “These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.” (Proverbs 25:1 King James Version) The books of the prophets, Jeremiah, Hosea, Micah, and Isaiah also refer to his reign. Hosea and Micah each record that their prophecies were made during King Hezekiah’s reign. According to Wilson, “Hezekiah was a remarkable king, used by God to rescue Jerusalem from the Assyrians and bring reform and revival to Judah. He is known for his God-honoring prayer life, a remarkable miracle, and a tragic choice.”
1
The results from a simple search of our textbook, The Bible Knowledge Commentary, lists “Hezekiah” two hundred and fifty-two times. Constable reported that “The writer of 1 and 2 Kings devoted more space and gave more commendation to Hezekiah for his accomplishments than to any king except Soloman.”
2
The godliness exhibited by Hezekiah contrasted directly with the wickedness of his father, King Ahaz. During the reign of Ahaz, the people of Israel said they feared God, but at the same time, they worshipped other gods as well. (2 Kings 17:33) During the reign of Hezekiah, he faithfully walked with God. (2 Chronicles 31:20), and “There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him.”
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(2 Kings 18:5)
1
Dawn Wilson. “What You Need to Know about Hezekiah in the Bible.” Crosswalk.com. Accessed February 12, 2024. https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/what-you-need-to-
know-about-hezekiah-in-the-bible.html. 2
Thomas L. Constable, “2 Kings,” in Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures
. (Wheaton, Ill: Victor Books, 1983), 572.
3
Jeaman (Jaeman) Choi, “Three Portrayals of King Hezekiah: A Comparison of 2 Kings 18 – 20, Isaiah 36-39, and 2 Chronicles 29 – 32,” (PhD thesis., McMaster Divinity College, 2015
Isaiah draws its parallel narrative material from Kings and Chronicles. Each Book includes and excludes elements depending on each of the priorities. Additionally, the three books Each of the three literary accounts therefore offers elements of Hezekiah’s reign out of chronological order. The Book of Kings provides a fuller narrative account of Hezekiah’s life. In Kings, the siege narrative is discussed more and it is placed early in the book. Kings also offers a
combination of Hezekiah’s good and bad activities which, of course, includes his attempt to bribe
Sennacherib. The Babylonian Emissary story occurs before the siege, but it provides a timely transition to Manasseh (2 Kgs 20:21). By contrast, Chronicles takes an approach to Hezekiah that
is quite different from either Kings or Isaiah. Chronicles seems to be aware of the Hezekiah traditions from both earlier books.
Chronicles seems to separate the commendable and the not-so-good actions of a single monarch into different periods. The author presents clear pivotal relationships between good deeds and rewards and evil deeds and punishment. This affects his handling of the negative aspects of Hezekiah’s reign. The editor in Isaiah excludes the profound honor set out in 2 Kings 18:14–16, whereas, in the Book of Chronicles, the narrative is completely revised into an occurrence of faith in God and fortifying Jerusalem utilizing the concluding reference to Hezekiah’s building achievements in 2 Kings 20:20. “Trust in God and fortifying Jerusalem are hallmarks of good kings in Chronicles.” Hezekiah is portrayed as the best Judean king, whereas the Kings’ version ends Hezekiah’s story by using the “concluding formula.” The story of Hezekiah in Chronicles provides even more details in support of him being the best Judean king. Hezekiah was buried on the highest place of
the tombs and was honored by the people of Judah. The book of Isaiah omits the concluding section in Kings but provides more positive characterization. Hezekiah is most positively characterized in the Chronicles account. Even so, he is not considered a perfect king, but he is characterized as a limited human king who caused the national crisis in all three accounts.
As stated earlier, Hezekiah is considered the best king among the Judean kings in the Book of Chronicles. He is shown as an activist who rededicated the temple and restored the temple worship, the Passover, and the temple personnel for the Levites. He is also portrayed as a pious king who trusted in and prayed to Him during national and personal crises.
The narrator portrays Hezekiah as one who restored the duties of the priests and Levites and the celebration of the Passover with all Israelites, and who blessed the people who brought some portions for the Levites to characterize him as a second David and Solomon.
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