2 Kings 20:1–11

Hezekiah’s Illness

²⁰In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: Set your house in order, for you shall die; you shall not recover.”^{* 2}Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, ³“Remember now, O Lord, I implore you, how I have walked before you in faithfulness with a whole heart and have done what is good in your sight.” Hezekiah wept bitterly.^{* 4}Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him, ⁵“Turn back and say to Hezekiah prince of my people: Thus says the Lord, the God of your ancestor David: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; indeed, I will heal you; on the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord.^{* 6}I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David’s sake.”^{* 7}Then Isaiah said, “Bring a lump of figs. Let them take it and apply it to the boil, so that he may recover.”^*

⁸Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me and that I shall go up to the house of the Lord on the third day?” ⁹Isaiah said, “This is the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he has promised: Shall the shadow advance^v ten intervals, or shall it retreat ten intervals?” ¹⁰Hezekiah answered, “It is normal for the shadow to lengthen ten intervals; rather, let the shadow retreat ten intervals.” ¹¹The prophet Isaiah cried to the Lord, and he brought the shadow back the ten intervals, by which the sun^w had declined on the dial of Ahaz.^*