Hezekiah’s Illness^(A)

20 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was about to die. The prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came to him and said, “This is what Yahweh says: Give final instructions to your household, because you’re about to die. You won’t get well.”

² Hezekiah turned to the wall and prayed to Yahweh, ³ “Please, Yahweh, remember how I’ve lived faithfully and sincerely in your presence. I’ve done what you consider right.” And he cried bitterly.

⁴ Isaiah hadn’t gone as far as the middle courtyard when Yahweh spoke his word to him: ⁵ “Go back and say to Hezekiah, leader of my people, ‘This is what Yahweh Elohim of your ancestor David says: I’ve heard your prayer. I’ve seen your tears. Now I’m going to heal you. The day after tomorrow you will go to Yahweh’s temple. ⁶ I’ll give you 15 more years to live. I’ll rescue you and defend this city from the control of the king of Assyria for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.’”

⁷ Then Isaiah said, “Get a fig cake, and put it on the boil so that the king will get well.”

⁸ Hezekiah asked Isaiah, “What is the sign that Yahweh will heal me and that I’ll go to Yahweh’s temple the day after tomorrow?”

⁹ Isaiah said, “This is your sign from Yahweh that Yahweh will do what he promises. Do you want the shadow to go forward ten steps or come back ten steps?”

¹⁰ Hezekiah replied, “It’s easy for the shadow to extend ten more steps forward. No, let it come back ten steps.”

¹¹ Then the prophet Isaiah called on Yahweh, and Yahweh made the shadow that had gone down on Ahaz’s stairway go back up ten steps.

Other Events in Hezekiah’s Life^(A)

²⁴ In those days Hezekiah became sick and was about to die. He prayed to Yahweh, who answered him and gave him a miraculous sign.