Read & explore together
Hezekiah's Final Years and Death
These verses sum up Hezekiah’s final years by showing both strength and weakness. They mention his water works, his illness, his pride and humility, his wealth, and the honour given to him at death.
Understanding the passage
Understanding this record
The passage combines a short ending from Kings with a fuller summary in Chronicles. Kings notes Hezekiah’s mighty work in bringing water into the city and then his death. Chronicles adds that during a terminal illness he prayed, received a sign, later became proud, then humbled himself, and was greatly honoured when he died.
2 Kings 20:20–21; 2 Chronicles 32:24–33Main takeaway
This passage shows that Hezekiah was greatly blessed and honoured, yet his heart still mattered before God.
Explore the record
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Water brought into the cityThe summary in Kings remembers Hezekiah’s “might” and one practical achievement in particular: he made a pool and a conduit and brought water into Jerusalem.
Explanation
The summary in Kings remembers Hezekiah’s “might” and one practical achievement in particular: he made a pool and a conduit and brought water into Jerusalem. Chronicles describes the same work as stopping the upper spring of Gihon and directing the water to the west side of David’s city. This is presented as part of his successful works.
02Illness, prayer, and a proud heartChronicles says Hezekiah was terminally ill, and he prayed to Yahweh. Yahweh spoke to him and gave him a sign.
Explanation
Chronicles says Hezekiah was terminally ill, and he prayed to Yahweh. Yahweh spoke to him and gave him a sign. Yet the passage also says Hezekiah did not respond suitably to the benefit he received, because his heart was lifted up. As a result, wrath was on him, Judah, and Jerusalem.
03Humility and abundant possessionsThe warning did not end the story. Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem joined him.
Explanation
The warning did not end the story. Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem joined him. Because of this, the wrath did not come in his days. The passage then lists great riches, treasuries, storehouses, animals, cities, and abundant possessions God had given him.
04Testing, records, and deathWhen Babylon’s ambassadors asked about the wonder done in the land, God left Hezekiah to test him and know all that was in his heart.
Explanation
When Babylon’s ambassadors asked about the wonder done in the land, God left Hezekiah to test him and know all that was in his heart. The passage points readers to other written records of his acts and good deeds. Hezekiah then died, was honoured in burial, and Manasseh his son reigned after him.
Read the accounts alongside one another
Keep each reading’s setting and wording in view.
Scroll across to compare the readings.
| Book | Included readings | Explore in this guide |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Kings | 2 Kings 20:20–21 | Water brought into the city Testing, records, and death |
| 2 Chronicles | 2 Chronicles 32:24–33 | Water brought into the city Illness, prayer, and a proud heart Humility and abundant possessions Testing, records, and death |
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What details show Hezekiah’s strength as a king in this passage?
Look for the works and possessions specifically named, such as the water system, treasuries, storehouses, cities, and livestock.
02How does the passage describe the problem in Hezekiah’s heart?
Notice the exact phrase about his heart, and then the matching response when he humbled himself.
03What happened at the end of Hezekiah’s life, and how was he remembered?
Read the verses about his death, burial, honour, and the son who reigned after him.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
2 Kings 20:20–21
20Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made the pool, and the conduit, and brought water into the city, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
21Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and Manasseh his son reigned in his place.
2 Chronicles 32:24–33
24In those days Hezekiah was terminally ill, and he prayed to Yahweh; and he spoke to him, and gave him a sign.
25But Hezekiah didn’t reciprocate appropriate to the benefit done for him, because his heart was lifted up. Therefore there was wrath on him, Judah, and Jerusalem.
26However, Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that Yahweh’s wrath didn’t come on them in the days of Hezekiah.
27Hezekiah had exceedingly great riches and honor. He provided himself with treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of valuable vessels;
28also storehouses for the increase of grain, new wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of animals, and flocks in folds.
29Moreover he provided for himself cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him abundant possessions.
30This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper spring of the waters of Gihon, and brought them straight down on the west side of David’s city. Hezekiah prospered in all his works.
31However, concerning the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him to test him, that he might know all that was in his heart.
32Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
33Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the ascent to the tombs of the sons of David. All Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. Manasseh his son reigned in his place.