Hezekiah’s Illness and Recovery
Hezekiah is struck with a mortal illness, and Isaiah tells him to set his house in order because death is near and recovery will not come naturally. In response the king turns his face to the wall, appeals to the LORD to remember his faithful and wholehearted walk, and breaks down in bitter weeping.
I1n those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’” 2Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3saying, “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and with wholehearted devotion; I have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
The word of the LORD comes back to Isaiah with mercy for Hezekiah: his prayer has been heard, his tears have been seen, and fifteen more years will be added to his life. The promise includes deliverance from Assyria and defense of Jerusalem, and it is sealed with a sign beyond human control as the shadow on Ahaz's stairway is made to retreat ten steps.
4And the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, 5“Go and tell Hezekiah that this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. 6And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city. 7This will be a sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised: 8I will make the sun’s shadow that falls on the stairway of Ahaz go back ten steps.’”