Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 18
Hezekiah’s father, Ahaz, had been one of Judah’s worst kings. Ahaz even murdered some of his own sons, Hezekiah’s brothers, to serve a false god (2 Chronicles 28:3). He replaced the religion in the courts (yards) round the temple (God’s house in Jerusalem) with a wrong religion. He followed many false gods.
As a young man, Hezekiah saw this and he did not approve. Hezekiah’s grandfather, Jotham, had been completely loyal to the true God (2 Chronicles chapter 27). Hezekiah too wanted to be a king who was completely loyal to the real God.
So, as soon as Hezekiah became king, he tried to turn his nation back to the real God. There is a full account of how he did this in 2 Chronicles chapters 29 to 31.
Hezekiah began at the temple, which he wanted to make sacred for the true God again. First, he repaired the temple doors, which Ahaz had shut (2 Chronicles 28:24 and 29:3). Hezekiah covered them with gold (18:16).
Then Hezekiah appointed a group of men to prepare the temple for use in public prayer to the true God. They had to remove everything that Ahaz had used for his wrong religions. They brought back the objects that the priests needed to serve the true God. They carried out the sacred ceremonies so that the priests could begin their work for God again.
When all of this was complete, Hezekiah organised the sacred holiday called the Passover. He even invited people from northern and central Israel to come to this special event. Many people from across Judah and Israel came, and they turned back to the true God.
Next part: Hezekiah deals with wrong religion (2 Kings 18:4)
Please use the links at the top of the page to find our other articles in this series. You can download all our articles if you go to the download page for our free 1000+ page course book.
© 2025, Keith Simons.