Single lesson
Hezekiah Shows His Treasures
2 Kings 20:12–19; Isaiah 39:1–8
When visitors came from Babylon, King Hezekiah showed them all his treasures, and Isaiah brought a hard warning from the Lord.
Before you teach
After Hezekiah had been sick, the king of Babylon sent letters and a gift to him. The visitors came from far away. Hezekiah welcomed them and showed them his storehouses, his silver and gold, his spices and oil, his armour, and all his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that he did not show them. Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and asked what the men had said and where they had come from. Hezekiah answered that they had come from Babylon,…
Describe the central teaching of Hezekiah Shows His Treasures, using two details from the reading. When visitors came from Babylon, King Hezekiah showed them all his treasures, and Isaiah brought a hard warning from the Lord.
Welcome: Hezekiah Shows His Treasures
4 minIntroduce “Hezekiah Shows His Treasures” and locate 2 Kings 20:12–19; Isaiah 39:1–8. When visitors came from Babylon, King Hezekiah showed them all his treasures, and Isaiah brought a hard warning from the Lord. Invite each learner to name a detail or question they will listen for.
2 Kings 20:12, Isaiah 39:1, Isaiah 39:8
Read and explain the passage
8 minAfter Hezekiah had been sick, the king of Babylon sent letters and a gift to him. The visitors came from far away. Hezekiah welcomed them and showed them his storehouses, his silver and gold, his spices and oil, his armour, and all his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that he did not show them.
Isaiah then told Hezekiah to hear the word of the Lord. The days were coming when everything in his house, and everything stored up by his fathers until that time, would be carried away to Babylon. Nothing would be left behind.
Hezekiah answered that the word of the Lord was good. He also said that there would be peace and truth in his own days. The passage ends there, leaving readers to feel the weight of God's warning and the sadness of what would one day happen. What should a king have valued more than showing his riches?
Read the selected verses together, pausing at “Hezekiah Shows His Treasures”. Use the source reading below and check the explanation against the words of the passage.
2 Kings 20:13, Isaiah 39:2, 2 Kings 20:12, Isaiah 39:6, 2 Kings 20:17, Isaiah 39:5, Isaiah 39:8, 2 Kings 20:19, 2 Kings 20:15
Discuss the details and their meaning
6 minUse the three questions below. Begin with ““Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and asked what the men had said and where they had come from.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?” and allow time to find the supporting verses. When visitors came from Babylon, King Hezekiah showed them all his treasures, and Isaiah brought a hard warning from the Lord. Ask learners to explain which details support their answer and to identify a question they would like to explore further.
Isaiah 39:3, 2 Kings 20:14, Isaiah 39:4, Isaiah 39:6, 2 Kings 20:17, Isaiah 39:5, Isaiah 39:8, 2 Kings 20:19, 2 Kings 20:15
Make and respond: Story sequence booklet
9 minWork on “Hezekiah Shows His Treasures: Story sequence booklet”. Follow the materials and steps below, using “Hezekiah Shows His Treasures” as reading headings. Each learner should include at least two accurate details and their verse references. Share one observation from the finished sheet and explain how it connects with the central teaching.
2 Kings 20:12, Isaiah 39:1, Isaiah 39:8
Closing: return to Hezekiah Shows His Treasures
3 minRevisit 2 Kings 20:12–19; Isaiah 39:1–8. Invite a learner to summarise what the group has learned about Hezekiah Shows His Treasures and another to support the summary with a verse. Give learners a moment to complete their response sheet. They can share a question or, if appropriate for the group, join the optional prayer.
2 Kings 20:12, Isaiah 39:1, Isaiah 39:8
Questions to explore
“Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and asked what the men had said and where they had come from.” Which details explain how the account reaches this point?
Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and asked what the men had said and where they had come from. Hezekiah answered that they had come from Babylon, a distant country. Isaiah asked what they had seen, and Hezekiah replied that he had shown them everything. Nothing among his treasures had been hidden.
Isaiah 39:3, 2 Kings 20:14, Isaiah 39:4
How does this moment affect the rest of the account: “Isaiah then told Hezekiah to hear the word of the Lord.”?
Isaiah then told Hezekiah to hear the word of the Lord. The days were coming when everything in his house, and everything stored up by his fathers until that time, would be carried away to Babylon. Nothing would be left behind.
Isaiah 39:6, 2 Kings 20:17, Isaiah 39:5
What should a king have valued more than showing his riches?
Hezekiah answered that the word of the Lord was good. He also said that there would be peace and truth in his own days. The passage ends there, leaving readers to feel the weight of God's warning and the sadness of what would one day happen.
Isaiah 39:8, 2 Kings 20:19, 2 Kings 20:15
Make, think or respond
Hezekiah Shows His Treasures: Story sequence booklet
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- coloured pencils or crayons
Try it together
- Fold a sheet into three panels or draw three columns. Label them “Beginning”, “What changes?”, “How it ends”.
- Read 2 Kings 20:12–19; Isaiah 39:1–8. Use “Hezekiah Shows His Treasures” as your reading headings and add a short quotation or detail with its verse reference to each panel.
- Talk through your notes with an adult. Add a word, drawing or short quotation that helps you remember each part.
- Retell the account using your three panels, checking the order against the passage.
The finished sheet keeps the details of Hezekiah Shows His Treasures connected to their Bible references and gives the group a way to explain what they noticed.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, read the selected verses aloud, prepare the three panels and let them respond with drawings or a few words. Use Hezekiah Shows His Treasures as the retelling prompt.
- For older children, add verse references to the response sheet and explain a connection between Hezekiah Shows His Treasures and the final part of the reading.
An optional closing prayer
“God, help us listen carefully as we read 2 Kings 20:12–19; Isaiah 39:1–8. Help us understand what we have read, ask thoughtful questions and respond with care for others. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
2 Kings 20
12 At that time Berodach Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
13 Hezekiah listened to them, and showed them all the storehouse of his precious things—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures. There was nothing in his house, or in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn’t show them.
14 Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? From where did they come to you?” Hezekiah said, “They have come from a far country, even from Babylon.”
15 He said, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.”
16 Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear Yahweh’s word.
17 ‘Behold, the days come that all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have laid up in store to this day, will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says Yahweh.
18 ‘They will take away some of your sons who will issue from you, whom you will father; and they will be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’ ”
19 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “Yahweh’s word which you have spoken is good.” He said moreover, “Isn’t it so, if peace and truth will be in my days?”
Isaiah 39
1 At that time, Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick, and had recovered.
2 Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures. There was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn’t show them.
3 Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and asked him, “What did these men say? From where did they come to you?” Hezekiah said, “They have come from a country far from me, even from Babylon.”
4 Then he asked, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.”
5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of Yahweh of Armies:
6 ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up until today, will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says Yahweh.
7 ‘They will take away your sons who will issue from you, whom you shall father, and they will be eunuchs in the king of Babylon’s palace.’ ”
8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “Yahweh’s word which you have spoken is good.” He said moreover, “For there will be peace and truth in my days.”
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.