Hezekiah

Hezekiah

Hezekiah King of Judah (727–698 BCE) during the time of assyrian aggression. Samaria was taken in 722 and Hezekiah became an Assyrian vassal until 705, when the death of the Assyrian king Sargon prompted a coalition of small states to rebel. In reply, the new king, Sennacherib, captured some of the outlying cities of Judah (he claims in an inscription to have besieged forty-six), and reached Jerusalem itself but withdrew. The prophet Isaiah had predicted that the capital would be spared and this was attributed to divine intervention (2 Kgs. 19: 35).

Hezekiah was praised (2 Kgs. 18: 3–6) for his policy of closing the ‘high places’ in favour of centralized worship in the Temple.

The dates of Hezekiah's reign are disputed. Alternative to those above, they might be 715–686 BCE. The references in 2 Kgs. 18: 9 and 18: 13 are mutually incompatible.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

W. R. F. BROWNING. "Hezekiah." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

W. R. F. BROWNING. "Hezekiah." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-Hezekiah.html

W. R. F. BROWNING. "Hezekiah." A Dictionary of the Bible. 1997. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O94-Hezekiah.html

Learn more about citation styles

Hezekiah

Hezekiah (died 687 BC) King of Judah (715–687 BC). When he came to power, Judah was a vassal state of the ASSYRIAN empire, and with the leaders of neighbouring states he was involved in a number of planned rebellions. The prophet ISAIAH spoke against these, but eventually Hezekiah did rebel and was heavily defeated in 701, when SENNACHERIB invaded, the land was devastated, and only Jerusalem escaped destruction. The Bible describes his work of religious reform, destroying local shrines and various cult objects, and attempting to suppress the worship of local gods. The reform was short-lived, pagan practices being re-introduced after his death by his son and successor Manasseh.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Hezekiah." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Hezekiah." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-Hezekiah.html

"Hezekiah." A Dictionary of World History. 2000. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O48-Hezekiah.html

Learn more about citation styles

Hezekiah

Hezekiah , in the Bible, king of Judah, son and successor of Ahaz. During his reign Sennacherib of Assyria routed (701 BC) the rebellious Jews and exacted a high indemnity from them. However, a plague in the Assyrian army saved (690 BC) Judah from a second invasion by Sennacherib. Hezekiah's reign was marked by the prophecies of Isaiah and Micah and by reforms to purify the religion of Israel by eliminating certain Canaanite practices. The country also experienced great material prosperity. His son and successor was Manasseh. See Hizkijah .

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Hezekiah." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Hezekiah." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Hezekiah.html

"Hezekiah." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Hezekiah.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

Theology, History, and Archaeology in the Chronicler's Account of...
Magazine article from: Hebrew Studies Journal; 1/1/2002
Theology, History, and Archaeology in the Chronicler's Account of Hezekiah
Magazine article from: The Journal of the American Oriental Society; 4/1/2001
Hezekiah Inscription to return to Israel; Celebrates Jerusalem's salvation...
Newspaper article from: The Washington Times (Washington, DC); 9/5/2007

Facts and information from other sites

Pictures from Google Image Search

Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture

See more pictures of Hezekiah