1
Now it came to pass in the thirdyear of Hosheason of Elahking of Israel, that Hezekiah[a] the son of Ahazking of Judah began to reign.
2
Twenty and fiveyearsold was he when he began to reign; and he reignedtwenty and nineyears in Jerusalem. His mother'sname also was Abi,[b] the daughter of Zachariah.
3
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his fatherdid.
4
He removed the high places, and brake the images,[c] and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasenserpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
5
He trusted in the LORDGod of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.
6
For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORDcommandedMoses.
7
And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not.
8
He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza,[d] and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fencedcity.