2 Chronicles 32 · a question people ask

What went wrong for Hezekiah after he prayed and was given a sign?

In the text

The chapter says it in two verses. "But Hezekiah didn’t reciprocate appropriate to the benefit done for him, because his heart was lifted up. Therefore there was wrath on him, Judah, and Jerusalem" (32:25). "However, Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the LORD’s wrath didn’t come on them in the days of Hezekiah" (32:26). In Hebrew his heart was lifted up is gavah with libbo, his heart, the same words as of Jehoshaphat (17:6) and Uzziah (26:16); chapter 17's honest question sets the three verses side by side. The chapter doesn't say what Hezekiah should have given back, beyond what these two verses say. 2 Kings tells of this time differently: the envoys from Babylon, Hezekiah showing them his treasures (2 Kings 20:12-15), and Isaiah's word, "Behold, the days come that all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have laid up in store to this day, will be carried to Babylon" (2 Kings 20:17). 2 Chronicles doesn't say whether "in the days of Hezekiah" (32:26) looks to that word, and these notes don't join them. 2 Kings 20's honest question sets out the two main ways Christians read Hezekiah's answer there (2 Kings 20:19); one view points to 32:26, the other to 32:25 and 32:31.

The verses

“But Hezekiah didn’t reciprocate appropriate to the benefit done for him, because his heart was lifted up. Therefore there was wrath on him, Judah, and Jerusalem. However, Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the LORD’s wrath didn’t come on them in the days of Hezekiah.”
2 Chronicles 32:25-26 · World English Bible
“His heart was lifted up in the ways of the LORD. Furthermore, he took away the high places and the Asherah poles out of Judah.”
2 Chronicles 17:6 · World English Bible
“But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly and he trespassed against the LORD his God, for he went into the LORD’s temple to burn incense on the altar of incense.”
2 Chronicles 26:16 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 2 Chronicles 32

2 Chronicles 32: A greater one with us

2 Chronicles 32 begins with trouble coming "After these things and this faithfulness" (32:1), and ends Hezekiah's story with God leaving him "to test him, that he might know all that was in his heart" (32:31): in Hebrew the same test, know and heart as the wilderness years of Deuteronomy 8:2.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions