King Hezekiah's Prayer
When the Assyrian army surrounds Jerusalem, King Hezekiah spreads the threatening letter before the Lord and prays. God sends an angel who destroys 185,000 enemy soldiers.
2 Kings 18:1-19:37, Isaiah 37:1-38
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The Story
Hezekiah was one of Judah's godliest kings. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones, and cut down the Asherah poles. He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah.
In the fourteenth year of Hezekiah's reign, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. The Assyrian empire was the most powerful military force in the world. They had already conquered the northern kingdom of Israel and carried its people into exile. Now they surrounded Jerusalem.
Sennacherib sent his field commander with a large army to Jerusalem. Standing outside the walls, the commander shouted in Hebrew so all could hear: 'Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you! Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord. Has the god of any nation ever delivered his land from the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Did they rescue Samaria?'
When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord. He sent word to the prophet Isaiah, who replied, 'Do not be afraid of what you have heard. I am going to put a spirit in the king of Assyria so that he will return to his own country.'
But then Sennacherib sent messengers with a letter to Hezekiah: 'Do not let the god you depend on deceive you. Surely you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all the countries, destroying them completely. And will you be delivered?'
Hezekiah received the letter, read it, and went up to the temple of the Lord. He spread the letter out before the Lord and prayed: 'Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. Give ear, Lord, and hear. It is true, Lord, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste these nations. Now, Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone, Lord, are God.'
Isaiah sent word to Hezekiah: 'This is what the Lord says concerning the king of Assyria: He will not enter this city or shoot an arrow here. By the way he came he will return. I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant.'
That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies! So Sennacherib king of Assyria broke camp and withdrew. He returned to Nineveh, where his own sons struck him down with the sword.
Hezekiah's response to crisis—spreading the problem before the Lord in prayer—demonstrated that true security comes not from military might but from trust in God.
Hezekiah Prays for Help
Kids Version
King Hezekiah loved God and tried to follow Him. But a BIG problem came. The king of Assyria attacked! His army was huge and scary. They had already beaten everyone else. Now they surrounded Jerusalem.
The Assyrian commander stood outside the walls and yelled mean things. 'Give up! Your God can't save you! No god has ever stopped us! We destroyed everyone!'
The people of Jerusalem were terrified.
King Hezekiah tore his clothes and put on rough cloth to show how upset he was. He went to God's temple to pray. He also sent a message to the prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah sent back good news: 'Don't be afraid! God will take care of this.'
But then a letter came from the Assyrian king. It was full of threats and insults about God. 'Your God is no different from all the other gods we've crushed!'
What did Hezekiah do? He took that scary letter straight to the temple. He spread it out on the floor in front of God and prayed:
'Lord, You are the ONLY true God! You made everything! Please hear what this king is saying against You. It's true—they HAVE destroyed other nations and their fake gods. But YOU are different! Please save us so everyone will know YOU are the only real God!'
God answered through Isaiah: 'I have heard your prayer! The Assyrian king won't even shoot ONE arrow at Jerusalem! I will protect this city for my own honor!'
That very night, something amazing happened. An angel of the Lord went through the Assyrian camp. In the morning, 185,000 enemy soldiers were dead! The Assyrian king had to go home in shame.
God answered Hezekiah's prayer! When we're scared and don't know what to do, we can bring our problems to God just like Hezekiah did.
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Characters in This Story
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Scripture — 2 Kings 18:1-19:37 (KJV)
1Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. Hezekiah: he is called Ezekias
2Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.
3And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.
4He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. images: Heb. statues Nehushtan: that is, A piece of brass
5He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.
6For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. from: Heb. from after him
7And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.
8He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city. Gaza: Heb. Azzah
9And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it.
10And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.
11And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:
12Because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed his covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.
13Now in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah did Sennacherib king of Assyria come up against all the fenced cities of Judah, and took them. Sennacherib: Heb. Sanherib
14And Hezekiah king of Judah sent to the king of Assyria to Lachish, saying, I have offended; return from me: that which thou puttest on me will I bear. And the king of Assyria appointed unto Hezekiah king of Judah three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold.
15And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house.
16At that time did Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of the LORD, and from the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria. it: Heb. them
17And the king of Assyria sent Tartan and Rabsaris and Rabshakeh from Lachish to king Hezekiah with a great host against Jerusalem. And they went up and came to Jerusalem. And when they were come up, they came and stood by the conduit of the upper pool, which is in the highway of the fuller's field. great: Heb. heavy
18And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder. scribe: or, secretary
19And Rabshakeh said unto them, Speak ye now to Hezekiah, Thus saith the great king, the king of Assyria, What confidence is this wherein thou trustest?
Memory Verse
“Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. Hezekiah: he is called Ezekias”
— 2 Kings 18:1 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “King Hezekiah's Prayer” in the Bible?
When the Assyrian army surrounds Jerusalem, King Hezekiah spreads the threatening letter before the Lord and prays. God sends an angel who destroys 185,000 enemy soldiers. This story is found in 2 Kings 18:1-19:37, Isaiah 37:1-38.
Where is “King Hezekiah's Prayer” found in the Bible?
“King Hezekiah's Prayer” is found in 2 Kings 18:1-19:37, Isaiah 37:1-38, in the book of 2 Kings.
What can children learn from “King Hezekiah's Prayer”?
This story teaches children about Prayer, Trust in God, Deliverance, God's Power Over Nations. A huge enemy army surrounded Jerusalem. King Hezekiah took the scary letter to God's temple and prayed. That night, God sent an angel who saved the whole city!