The Beginning:
King Hezekiah becomes gravely ill, and the prophet Isaiah delivers a sobering message: Hezekiah should set his house in order, because he will die. Hezekiah turns his face to the wall and prays, appealing to God’s remembrance of his faithful walk.
The Middle:
Before Isaiah leaves the palace area, the word of the LORD comes to him with a new message: God has heard Hezekiah’s prayer and seen his tears. Isaiah tells the king that the LORD will heal him, add fifteen years to his life, and deliver Jerusalem from the king of Assyria. As part of Hezekiah’s recovery, Isaiah orders a poultice of figs to be applied to the inflamed area, and Hezekiah begins to recover.
The End:
Hezekiah asks for a confirming sign that he will go up to the LORD’s house. God provides a sign involving the shadow on the “steps of Ahaz”: at Isaiah’s request, the shadow moves backward rather than forward. The sign confirms that the LORD will do what he has promised.
This account presents the LORD as the living God who hears prayer and rules over life and death. Hezekiah’s healing is not portrayed as earned by merit but as a gracious response to prayer within God’s covenant care for Judah and Jerusalem. The sign of the shadow underscores that God’s word is trustworthy and that his sovereignty extends over the created order, validating the prophetic message and assuring the king of God’s faithful protection.
Royal courts in the ancient Near East could use timekeeping devices such as stepped sundials or shadow-measuring “steps.” The biblical mention of the “steps of Ahaz” fits a setting where a palace or temple complex included a structure used to track time by the movement of a shadow, making the reported sign publicly observable and meaningful within the world of Judah’s monarchy.
“I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you.” — 2 Kings 20:5
Answer the questions below. When you choose an option, you will see the result and an explanation.
1. What message did Isaiah first deliver to King Hezekiah when Hezekiah became gravely ill?
2. What was the confirming sign God provided to Hezekiah regarding his recovery?