2 Kings 18:1–8

JUDAH’S KING HEZEKIAH

18In the third year of Israel’s King Hoshea^f son of Elah, Hezekiah^g son of Ahaz became king of Judah. ²He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi daughter of Zechariah. ³He did what was right in the Lord’s sight just as his ancestor David had done.^{h 4}He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles.ⁱ He broke into pieces the bronze snake that Moses made,^j for until then the Israelites were burning incense to it. It was called Nehushtan.^B

⁵Hezekiah relied on the Lord God of Israel;^k not one of the kings of Judah was like him, either before him or after him.^{l 6}He remained faithful to the Lord^m and did not turn from following him but kept the commands the Lord had commanded Moses.

⁷The Lord was with him, and wherever he went he prospered.ⁿ He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.^{o 8}He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its borders,^p from watchtower^q to fortified city.