Hezekiah Reigns over Judah

1 Now it came about ain the third year of Hoshea, the son of Elah king of Israel, that bHezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah became king.

2 He was atwenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.

3 aHe did right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done.

4 aHe removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the 1Asherah. He also broke in pieces bthe bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called 2Nehushtan.

5 aHe trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel; bso that after him there was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among those who were before him.

6 For he aclung to the Lord; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord had commanded Moses.

Hezekiah Victorious

7 aAnd the Lord was with him; wherever he went he prospered. And bhe rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.

8 aHe 1defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its territory, from bwatchtower to fortified city.