II Kings 20

מלכים ב׳ פרק כ׳

Section: נביאים · נביאים ראשונים | Book: II Kings | Chapter: 20 of 25 | Day: 142 of 742

Date: July 3, 2026

קלאוד על הנ״ך

Chapter 20 turns from the national deliverance of chapter 19 to a pair of intimate episodes in the life of Hezekiah himself: his mortal illness and miraculous recovery, and his reception of the Babylonian envoys. Though both stories are told with the same spare narrative economy as the Sennacherib account, they belong to a different register — here the drama is personal, and the great king who trusted God against an empire is shown in his frailty and, at the end, in a moment of pride that casts a long shadow over the future. The chapter’s opening phrase, “in those days,” locates the illness within the period of the Assyrian crisis; the classical commentators debate the precise sequence, with Rashi placing the sickness before the deliverance of Jerusalem.

The first episode (verses 1-11) opens with Isaiah’s blunt and devastating message: “Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die; you will not get well” (verse 1). The tradition (preserved in Berakhot 10a and reflected in Rashi) reads this as a double decree — death in this world and exclusion from the World to Come — because Hezekiah had refrained from marriage and childbearing, having foreseen prophetically that he would father a wicked son. Hezekiah’s response is the model of prayer in extremity: he turns his face to the wall, recalls his sincere and wholehearted walk before God, and weeps. The answer comes before Isaiah has even left the middle court — God has heard the prayer and seen the tears, will heal him on the third day, and add fifteen years to his life, again pledging to defend the city “for My sake and for the sake of My servant David” (verses 5-6). Isaiah prescribes a poultice of figs (verse 7), and when Hezekiah asks for a sign, the shadow on the dial (steps) of Ahaz is made to recede ten steps — Hezekiah deliberately having chosen the harder, against-nature direction (verses 8-11).

The second episode (verses 12-19) is the chapter’s moral turning point. Berodach-baladan of Babylon, hearing of Hezekiah’s illness and recovery (and, the commentators add, of the astronomical sign), sends envoys with a letter and a gift. Hezekiah, gratified by the attention of a distant power, shows them everything — his treasure-house of silver and gold, his spices and fine oil, his armory, his whole realm, holding nothing back. Isaiah confronts him: who were these men, and what did they see? When Hezekiah admits he showed them all, the prophet pronounces a grim oracle: a day is coming when everything in the palace, and the treasures his ancestors had stored, will be carried off to Babylon, and his own descendants will be taken to serve as eunuchs in the Babylonian king’s palace (verses 16-18). This is the first explicit naming of Babylon — not Assyria — as the agent of Judah’s eventual exile, planted here at the height of the Davidic monarchy’s prestige.

Hezekiah’s reply, “the word of the Lord that you have spoken is good” (verse 19), is read by the commentators with a measure of unease. On the surface it is pious acceptance, but the narrator’s gloss — that Hezekiah was content because “safety is assured for my time” — exposes a king relieved that the catastrophe will fall only on later generations. The chapter closes (verses 20-21) with the standard regnal summary, noting Hezekiah’s great engineering feat of the pool and the conduit that brought water into the city (the tunnel that secured Jerusalem’s water supply during siege), and his death and burial, succeeded by his son Manasseh — whose long and idolatrous reign will undo much of his father’s reform and accelerate the very Babylonian doom Isaiah had just foretold.

פרק כ׳ · Chapter 20

פסוק א׳ · Verse 1

Hebrew:

בַּיָּמִ֣ים הָהֵ֔ם חָלָ֥ה חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ לָמ֑וּת וַיָּבֹ֣א אֵ֠לָ֠יו יְשַׁעְיָ֨הוּ בֶן־אָמ֜וֹץ הַנָּבִ֗יא וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ צַ֣ו לְבֵיתֶ֔ךָ כִּ֛י מֵ֥ת אַתָּ֖ה וְלֹ֥א תִֽחְיֶֽה׃

English:

In those days Hezekiah fell dangerously ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came and said to him, “Thus said GOD: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die; you will not get well.”

פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2

Hebrew:

וַיַּסֵּ֥ב אֶת־פָּנָ֖יו אֶל־הַקִּ֑יר וַיִּ֨תְפַּלֵּ֔ל אֶל־יְהֹוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃

English:

Thereupon Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to GOD. He said,

פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3

Hebrew:

אָנָּ֣ה יְהֹוָ֗ה זְכׇר־נָ֞א אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֧ר הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי לְפָנֶ֗יךָ בֶּאֱמֶת֙ וּבְלֵבָ֣ב שָׁלֵ֔ם וְהַטּ֥וֹב בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ עָשִׂ֑יתִי וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ בְּכִ֥י גָדֽוֹל׃ {ס}        

English:

“Please, O ETERNAL One, remember how I have walked before You sincerely and wholeheartedly, and have done what is pleasing to You.” And Hezekiah wept profusely.

פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4

Hebrew:

וַיְהִ֣י יְשַֽׁעְיָ֔הוּ לֹ֣א יָצָ֔א (העיר) [חָצֵ֖ר] הַתִּיכֹנָ֑ה וּ֨דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה הָיָ֥ה אֵלָ֖יו לֵאמֹֽר׃

English:

Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of GOD came to him:

פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5

Hebrew:

שׁ֣וּב וְאָמַרְתָּ֞ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ נְגִיד־עַמִּ֗י כֹּֽה־אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵי֙ דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֔יךָ שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ אֶת־תְּפִלָּתֶ֔ךָ רָאִ֖יתִי אֶת־דִּמְעָתֶ֑ךָ הִנְנִי֙ רֹ֣פֶא לָ֔ךְ בַּיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י תַּעֲלֶ֖ה בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

“Go back and say to Hezekiah, the ruler of My people: Thus said GOD, the God of your forefather David: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears. I am going to heal you; on the third day you shall go up to the House of GOD.

פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6

Hebrew:

וְהֹסַפְתִּ֣י עַל־יָמֶ֗יךָ חֲמֵ֤שׁ עֶשְׂרֵה֙ שָׁנָ֔ה וּמִכַּ֤ף מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙ אַצִּ֣ילְךָ֔ וְאֵ֖ת הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֑את וְגַנּוֹתִי֙ עַל־הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את לְמַֽעֲנִ֔י וּלְמַ֖עַן דָּוִ֥ד עַבְדִּֽי׃

English:

And I will add fifteen years to your life. I will also rescue you and this city from the hands of the king of Assyria. I will protect this city for My sake and for the sake of My servant David.”—

פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְשַׁעְיָ֔הוּ קְח֖וּ דְּבֶ֣לֶת תְּאֵנִ֑ים וַיִּקְח֛וּ וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ עַֽל־הַשְּׁחִ֖ין וַיֶּֽחִי׃

English:

Then Isaiah said, “Get a cake of figs.” And they got one, and they applied it to the rash, and he recovered.—

פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֶֽל־יְשַׁעְיָ֔הוּ מָ֣ה א֔וֹת כִּֽי־יִרְפָּ֥א יְהֹוָ֖ה לִ֑י וְעָלִ֛יתִי בַּיּ֥וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֖י בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

Hezekiah asked Isaiah, “What is the sign that GOD will heal me and that I shall go up to the House of GOD on the third day?”

פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְשַׁעְיָ֗הוּ זֶה־לְּךָ֤ הָאוֹת֙ מֵאֵ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה כִּ֚י יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶת־הַדָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבֵּ֑ר הָלַ֤ךְ הַצֵּל֙ עֶ֣שֶׂר מַעֲל֔וֹת אִם־יָשׁ֖וּב עֶ֥שֶׂר מַעֲלֽוֹת׃

English:

Isaiah replied, “This is the sign for you from GOD that GOD will do the thing that was promised: ShallaShall Cf. Targum. the shadow advance ten steps or recede ten steps?”

פסוק י׳ · Verse 10

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ נָקֵ֣ל לַצֵּ֔ל לִנְט֖וֹת עֶ֣שֶׂר מַעֲל֑וֹת לֹ֣א כִ֔י יָשׁ֥וּב הַצֵּ֛ל אֲחֹרַנִּ֖ית עֶ֥שֶׂר מַעֲלֽוֹת׃

English:

Hezekiah said, “It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps, but not for the shadow to recede ten steps.”

פסוק י״א · Verse 11

Hebrew:

וַיִּקְרָ֛א יְשַׁעְיָ֥הוּ הַנָּבִ֖יא אֶל־יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיָּ֣שֶׁב אֶת־הַצֵּ֗ל בַּֽ֠מַּעֲל֠וֹת אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָרְדָ֜ה בְּמַעֲל֥וֹת אָחָ֛ז אֲחֹרַנִּ֖ית עֶ֥שֶׂר מַעֲלֽוֹת׃ {פ}

English:

So the prophet Isaiah called to GOD, and the shadow that had descended on the dialbdial Heb. “steps.” A model of a dial with steps has been discovered in Egypt. of Ahaz was made to recede ten steps.

פסוק י״ב · Verse 12

Hebrew:

בָּעֵ֣ת הַהִ֡יא שָׁלַ֡ח בְּרֹאדַ֣ךְ בַּ֠לְאֲדָ֠ן בֶּֽן־בַּלְאֲדָ֧ן מֶלֶךְ־בָּבֶ֛ל סְפָרִ֥ים וּמִנְחָ֖ה אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ כִּ֣י שָׁמַ֔ע כִּ֥י חָלָ֖ה חִזְקִיָּֽהוּ׃

English:

At that time, King BerodachcBerodach Several mss. and the parallel Isa. 39.1 read “Merodach.” -baladan son of Baladan of Babylon sent [envoys with] a letter and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard about Hezekiah’s illness.

פסוק י״ג · Verse 13

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע עֲלֵיהֶם֮ חִזְקִיָּ֒הוּ֒ וַיַּרְאֵ֣ם אֶת־כׇּל־בֵּ֣ית נְכֹתֹ֡ה אֶת־הַכֶּ֩סֶף֩ וְאֶת־הַזָּהָ֨ב וְאֶת־הַבְּשָׂמִ֜ים וְאֵ֣ת ׀ שֶׁ֣מֶן הַטּ֗וֹב וְאֵת֙ בֵּ֣ית כֵּלָ֔יו וְאֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר נִמְצָ֖א בְּאוֹצְרֹתָ֑יו לֹא־הָיָ֣ה דָבָ֗ר אֲ֠שֶׁ֠ר לֹֽא־הֶרְאָ֧ם חִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ בְּבֵית֖וֹ וּבְכׇל־מ��מְשַׁלְתּֽוֹ׃

English:

Hezekiah heard about themdHezekiah heard about them Cf. Isa. 39.2 “Hezekiah was pleased by their coming.” and he showed them all his treasure-house—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the fragrant oil—and his armory, and everything that was to be found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.

פסוק י״ד · Verse 14

Hebrew:

וַיָּבֹא֙ יְשַׁעְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֔יא אֶל־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלָ֜יו מָ֥ה אָמְר֣וּ ׀ הָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה וּמֵאַ֙יִן֙ יָבֹ֣אוּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ חִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ מֵאֶ֧רֶץ רְחוֹקָ֛ה בָּ֖אוּ מִבָּבֶֽל׃

English:

Then the prophet Isaiah came to King Hezekiah. “What,” he demanded of him, “did those men say to you? Where have they come to you from?” “They have come,” Hezekiah replied, “from a far country, from Babylon.”

פסוק ט״ו · Verse 15

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מָ֥ה רָא֖וּ בְּבֵיתֶ֑ךָ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר חִזְקִיָּ֗הוּ אֵ֣ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר בְּבֵיתִי֙ רָא֔וּ לֹא־הָיָ֥ה דָבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־הִרְאִיתִ֖ם בְּאֹצְרֹתָֽי׃

English:

Next he asked, “What have they seen in your palace?” And Hezekiah replied, “They have seen everything that is in my palace. There was nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.”

פסוק ט״ז · Verse 16

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְשַׁעְיָ֖הוּ אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ שְׁמַ֖ע דְּבַר־יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of GOD:

פסוק י״ז · Verse 17

Hebrew:

הִנֵּה֮ יָמִ֣ים בָּאִים֒ וְנִשָּׂ֣א ׀ כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּבֵיתֶ֗ךָ וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר אָצְר֧וּ אֲבֹתֶ֛יךָ עַד־הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה בָּבֶ֑לָה לֹא־יִוָּתֵ֥ר דָּבָ֖ר אָמַ֥ר יְהֹוָֽה׃

English:

A time is coming when everything in your palace that your ancestors have stored up to this day will be carried off to Babylon; nothing will remain behind, said GOD.

פסוק י״ח · Verse 18

Hebrew:

וּמִבָּנֶ֜יךָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֵצְא֧וּ מִמְּךָ֛ אֲשֶׁ֥ר תּוֹלִ֖יד (יקח) [יִקָּ֑חוּ] וְהָיוּ֙ סָרִיסִ֔ים בְּהֵיכַ֖ל מֶ֥לֶךְ בָּבֶֽל׃

English:

And some of your sons, your own issue, whom you will have fathered, will be taken to serve as eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”

פסוק י״ט · Verse 19

Hebrew:

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ אֶֽל־יְשַׁעְיָ֔הוּ ט֥וֹב דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר דִּבַּ֑רְתָּ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הֲל֛וֹא אִם־שָׁל֥וֹם וֶאֱמֶ֖ת יִהְיֶ֥ה בְיָמָֽי׃

English:

Hezekiah declared to Isaiah, “The word of GOD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “It means that safety is assured foresafety is assured for Lit. “there shall be safety and faithfulness in.” my time.”

פסוק כ׳ · Verse 20

Hebrew:

וְיֶ֨תֶר דִּבְרֵ֤י חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ וְכׇל־גְּב֣וּרָת֔וֹ וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֗ה אֶת־הַבְּרֵכָה֙ וְאֶת־הַתְּעָלָ֔ה וַיָּבֵ֥א אֶת־הַמַּ֖יִם הָעִ֑ירָה הֲלֹא־הֵ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים עַל־סֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י יְהוּדָֽה׃

English:

The other events of Hezekiah’s reign, and all his exploits, and how he made the pool and the conduit and brought the water into the city, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Judah.

פסוק כ״א · Verse 21

Hebrew:

וַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ עִם־אֲבֹתָ֑יו וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃ {פ}

English:

Hezekiah rested with his ancestors, and his son Manasseh succeeded him as king.

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