1
It was in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Isra'el, that Hizkiyahu the son of Achaz, king of Y'hudah, began his reign.
2
He was twenty-five years old when he began his reign, and he ruled for twenty-nine years in Yerushalayim. His mother's name was Avi the daughter of Z'kharyah.
3
He did what was right from ADONAI's perspective, following the example of everything David his ancestor had done.
4
He removed the high places, smashed the standing-stones, cut down the asherah and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moshe had made; because in those days the people of Isra'el were making offerings to it, calling it N'chushtan.
5
He put his trust in ADONAI the God of Isra'el; after him there was no one like him among all the kings of Y'hudah, nor had there been among those before him.
6
For he clung to ADONAI and did not leave off following him, but obeyed his mitzvot, which ADONAI had given Moshe.
7
So ADONAI was with him. Wherever he went out to battle, he did well. He rebelled against the king of Ashur and refused to be his vassal.
8
He drove the P'lishtim back to 'Azah and laid waste to their territory from the watchtower to the fortified city.