Tears and Treasures

In those days Hezekiah was sick to the point of death. Isaiah came and told him to set his house in order, for he would die and not live. Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed, asking the Lord to remember how he had walked before Him in truth and with a perfect heart. He wept bitterly.

Before Isaiah had gone out of the middle part of the city, the Lord sent him back with a message for Hezekiah, the prince of His people. The Lord said, I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. He promised to heal him, add fifteen years to his life, and defend Jerusalem for His own sake and David's. Isaiah had them lay a cake of figs on the boil, and Hezekiah recovered.

As a sign, Isaiah cried to the Lord, and He brought the shadow ten steps backward on the stairway of Ahaz. Later, Berodach Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a present. Hezekiah showed his envoys his silver, gold, spices, armory, and all his treasures. Isaiah warned that everything would be carried to Babylon, and some of his descendants would serve in Babylon's palace. Hezekiah said the word was good, thinking there would be peace in his days.