1 In the third year of Israel's King Hoshea son of Elah, Hezekiah son of Ahaz became king of Judah.
2
He was 25 years old when he became king; he reigned 29 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abi[a] daughter of Zechariah.
3
He did what was right in the Lord's sight just as his ancestor David had done.[b]
4
He removed the high places and shattered the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah [poles].[c] He broke into pieces the bronze snake that Moses made,[d] for the Israelites burned incense to it up to that time. He called it Nehushtan.[e]
5
Hezekiah trusted in the Lord God of Israel;[f] not one of the kings of Judah was like him, either before him or after him.[g]
6
He held fast to the Lord and did not turn from following Him but kept the commandments the Lord had commanded Moses.
7
The Lord was with him, and wherever he went, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him.
8
He defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza and its borders, from watchtower to fortified city.