18:1-12

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2Ki 18:1-25:30 HISTORY TO THE FALL OF JUDAH

New policies under Hezekiah (2Ki 18:1-12)

With the destruction of the kingdom of Israel in the north and the disastrous reign of Ahaz in the south, Assyrian influence in Palestine was at its peak. In spite of this, the young king Hezekiah set out on the bold task of reforming Judah’s religion and freeing Judah from Assyrian power.

He destroyed all the local idolatrous shrines (something that no king since David had been able to do), and because of this the writer of Kings regarded him as Judah’s greatest king (2Ki 18:1-6).

(For Hezekiah’s extensive religious reforms see notes on 2 Chronicles 29:1-31:21.

The reforms were largely external, being concerned mainly with temple services and ceremonies. There is no evidence of any lasting change in either the rulers or the people, and no direct reference to the reforms by the prophets of the time, Isaiah and Micah.)

Hezekiah realized that once he reversed his father’s policy concerning Assyria, the Assyrian army would attack Jerusalem. To prepare against siege he strengthened the city’s defences and improved its water supply (see 2Ki 20:20; 2 Chron 32:5).

Once he was assured of military support from Egypt, he revolted against Assyria by refusing to pay further tribute. Isaiah opposed this reliance on Egypt, just as during the reign of Ahaz he opposed reliance on Assyria. What Judah needed was not military help from Egypt but quiet faith in God (2Ki 18:7-8; Isa 30:1-3,15).

Assyria’s recent conquest of the northern kingdom should have been a warning to Hezekiah (2Ki 18:9-12).