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Chronicles of the Kings #3
The Strength of His Hand
The legacy Hezekiah has established as one of Judah's great leaders is threatened: his beloved wife, Hephzibah, remains barren. Desperate to provide a successor to her husband's throne, Hephzibah makes a forbidden pact with the fertility goddess Asherah.
Feeling repulsed and betrayed by her act of idolatry, Hezekiah destroys the pagan shrine. But in his rage, he himself is critically injured. As Hezekiah struggles to redeem his wife and save his nation, the aged prophet Isaiah arrives with divine instructions for the king to put his house in order and choose a successor.
With his life—and the future of his kingdom—hanging in the balance, Hezekiah once more cries out to the Lord.
Feeling repulsed and betrayed by her act of idolatry, Hezekiah destroys the pagan shrine. But in his rage, he himself is critically injured. As Hezekiah struggles to redeem his wife and save his nation, the aged prophet Isaiah arrives with divine instructions for the king to put his house in order and choose a successor.
With his life—and the future of his kingdom—hanging in the balance, Hezekiah once more cries out to the Lord.
331 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
333 people are currently reading
3724 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Austin
55 books5,403 followersFor many years, Lynn Austin nurtured a desire to write but frequent travels and the demands of her growing family postponed her career. When her husband's work took Lynn to Bogota, Colombia, for two years, she used the B.A. she'd earned at Southern Connecticut State University to become a teacher. After returning to the U.S., the Austins moved to Anderson, Indiana, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and later to Winnipeg, Manitoba.
It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.
Extended family is also very important to Austin, and it was a lively discussion between Lynn, her mother, grandmother (age 98), and daughter concerning the change in women's roles through the generations that sparked the inspiration for her novel Eve's Daughters.
Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.
Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published 27 novels. Eight of her historical novels, Hidden Places, Candle in the Darkness, Fire by Night, A Proper Pursuit, and Until We Reach Home have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 for excellence in Christian Fiction. Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. Lynn's novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.
It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.
Extended family is also very important to Austin, and it was a lively discussion between Lynn, her mother, grandmother (age 98), and daughter concerning the change in women's roles through the generations that sparked the inspiration for her novel Eve's Daughters.
Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.
Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published 27 novels. Eight of her historical novels, Hidden Places, Candle in the Darkness, Fire by Night, A Proper Pursuit, and Until We Reach Home have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 for excellence in Christian Fiction. Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. Lynn's novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 353 reviews
October 26, 2018
Rating 4.5 stars
I think this might be my favourite of the series thus far. I've read about Hezekiah numerous times in the Bible, but what stuck with me after this book is that the Bible says : There was no such king before or after Hezekiah". This is quite something to think about because King David and King Solomon were also great kings. After reading this book, I love Hezekiah and will always read his story in the Bible with a new found fondness.
He was not without faults, in this book we can see and I actually thought a few times (oh no Hezekiah, what are you doing) how Hezekiah had to overcome pride and how he had to fall for God to lift him up again. This book had so much depth with regards to Hezekiah and the other main characters. I loved how Isaiah's prophecies were included - it broke it open to me on another level. My heart broke for Jerusha, Hepzibah and Hezekiah.
The Assyrians were so cruel. Their cruelty might be difficult for more sensitive readers. I was so glad at the end when they were beaten by God.
Idolatry is a main theme again. Made me as reader think what I am doing due to truly searching for a relationship with God, or out of idolatry (doing something to get something in return). God's forgiveness and mercy (and wrath) was again evident.
A series highly recommended for fans of Biblical fiction. A series to be read in order.
I think this might be my favourite of the series thus far. I've read about Hezekiah numerous times in the Bible, but what stuck with me after this book is that the Bible says : There was no such king before or after Hezekiah". This is quite something to think about because King David and King Solomon were also great kings. After reading this book, I love Hezekiah and will always read his story in the Bible with a new found fondness.
He was not without faults, in this book we can see and I actually thought a few times (oh no Hezekiah, what are you doing) how Hezekiah had to overcome pride and how he had to fall for God to lift him up again. This book had so much depth with regards to Hezekiah and the other main characters. I loved how Isaiah's prophecies were included - it broke it open to me on another level. My heart broke for Jerusha, Hepzibah and Hezekiah.
The Assyrians were so cruel. Their cruelty might be difficult for more sensitive readers. I was so glad at the end when they were beaten by God.
Idolatry is a main theme again. Made me as reader think what I am doing due to truly searching for a relationship with God, or out of idolatry (doing something to get something in return). God's forgiveness and mercy (and wrath) was again evident.
A series highly recommended for fans of Biblical fiction. A series to be read in order.
November 18, 2023
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Hezekiah trusted in the Lord,the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah,either before him or after him. He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook.
2 KINGS 1 8 : 5 – 7
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Hezekiah rested with his fathers and was buried on the hill where the tombs of David’s descendants are. All Judah and the people of Jerusalem honored him when he died. And Manasseh his son succeeded him as king.
2 CHRONICLES 3 2 : 3 3
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I’M SO SAD! HEZEKIAH’S STORY IS OVER AND NOW HIS DUMB SON IS ABOUT TO BECOME KING😭😭 (I say in anger as though I've never read the Bible)
April 30, 2012
After surviving the threat of Assyrian invasion, Hezekiah has seen the kingdom of Judah blessed with extraordinary peace and prosperity. Life seems almost perfect, except Hezekiah lacks an heir. Desperate to retain her husband's affections and secure his succession, Hephzibah vows to sacrifice her firstborn to the pagan goddess Asherah. When Hezekiah discovers her idolatry, he flies into a rage and is critically injured in the resulting fire. Deeply and bitterly wounded by his beloved wife's betrayal, Hezekiah wavers between life and death with nothing less than the future of the kingdom and his people at stake. When God grants Hezekiah a reprieve, the broken king sets about attempting to solidify his legacy, risking everything for a chance at personal glory by signing alliances with neighboring -- pagan -- nations, alliances that bring Assyria once again to Jerusalem's gates. Will Hezekiah find the strength to return to the faith of his youth and once again trust in the never-changing God of Israel to redeem the results of his sinful pride and save his people from annihilation?
The Strength of His Hand is the third volume in Austin's Chronicles of the Kings series to cover a portion of Hezekiah's reign. Taking 2 Kings 18-20, 2 Chronicles 32, and Isaiah 36-39 as her basis, Austin explores Hezekiah's reign at its critical midpoint -- facing death and the systematic dismantling of all the religious and political reforms he'd overseen since his coronation, the Hezekiah we meet at this point is a more vulnerable, almost desperate, man than the assured, faith-filled ruler we were introduced to in the first two volumes of this series. One of the main reasons I love biblical fiction is how it can flesh-out and humanize the individuals forever immortalized in the pages of scripture, reclaiming them from character status and reminding us that they were once living and breathing human beings, ever bit as fallible as we are today. The first two novels in this series sketched a fascinating, compelling portrait of Hezekiah -- but Hezekiah at this point in history, at least as brought to life by Austin -- is frankly unlikable. There is so much time spent on Hezekiah's illness, his regrets, his penchant for making decisions that go against every belief he's professed to hold dear up to this point. But the portion of Hezekiah's life covered in this novel is presented in too repetitive and redundant a manner to make for a truly compelling read. Hezekiah faces some truly appalling prophecies as a result of his decisions -- i.e., when Isaiah prophesies the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 20: 16-19), and the best reaction Hezekiah can muster is relief that this won't happen in his lifetime. One never really gets a clear sense of Hezekiah's remorse until the novel is nearly over, and given the far-flung repercussions of his actions, it is to my view a missed dramatic opportunity.
The strongest characters in this novel are members of the supporting cast -- Eliakim, the man responsible for overseeing the construction of Hezekiah's tunnel in Song of Redemption (and now the Secretary of State), his wife Jerusha, the former Assyrian captive, and Hephzibah, the disgraced queen. In many respects Eliakim as a hero figure foreshadows the leading men of Austin's later works -- atypical, sincere, intelligent, bookish types. I loved Austin's exploration of how the pressure of Eliakim's new government position forced a new set of societal expectations on him -- expectations that clash with the grace-filled tenets of his faith. It is his wife Jerusha, the once-broken and bitter Assyrian slave who reminds Eliakim of the need for grace and forgiveness when she is compelled to reach out to the shunned queen. I love how Austin has developed Jerusha's story, particularly in how she doesn't shy away from the ever-present traumatic impact of Jerusha's years in captivity. I found Hephzibah's battle with guilt and unforgiveness extremely well-drawn and realistically presented, and Jerusha's unexpected friendship with Hephzibah is a lovely portrait of grace and redemption at work in the lives of believers.
Lacking some of the spark that made the first two volumes in this series so fascinating, The Strength of His Hand is nevertheless a competently presented final chapter in Austin's exploration of Hezekiah's life and reign. I look forward to the fourth book in the series, covering the reign of Hezekiah's son -- I think perhaps a new generation's challenges will interject a much-needed infusion of life into the series.
The Strength of His Hand is the third volume in Austin's Chronicles of the Kings series to cover a portion of Hezekiah's reign. Taking 2 Kings 18-20, 2 Chronicles 32, and Isaiah 36-39 as her basis, Austin explores Hezekiah's reign at its critical midpoint -- facing death and the systematic dismantling of all the religious and political reforms he'd overseen since his coronation, the Hezekiah we meet at this point is a more vulnerable, almost desperate, man than the assured, faith-filled ruler we were introduced to in the first two volumes of this series. One of the main reasons I love biblical fiction is how it can flesh-out and humanize the individuals forever immortalized in the pages of scripture, reclaiming them from character status and reminding us that they were once living and breathing human beings, ever bit as fallible as we are today. The first two novels in this series sketched a fascinating, compelling portrait of Hezekiah -- but Hezekiah at this point in history, at least as brought to life by Austin -- is frankly unlikable. There is so much time spent on Hezekiah's illness, his regrets, his penchant for making decisions that go against every belief he's professed to hold dear up to this point. But the portion of Hezekiah's life covered in this novel is presented in too repetitive and redundant a manner to make for a truly compelling read. Hezekiah faces some truly appalling prophecies as a result of his decisions -- i.e., when Isaiah prophesies the Babylonian exile (2 Kings 20: 16-19), and the best reaction Hezekiah can muster is relief that this won't happen in his lifetime. One never really gets a clear sense of Hezekiah's remorse until the novel is nearly over, and given the far-flung repercussions of his actions, it is to my view a missed dramatic opportunity.
The strongest characters in this novel are members of the supporting cast -- Eliakim, the man responsible for overseeing the construction of Hezekiah's tunnel in Song of Redemption (and now the Secretary of State), his wife Jerusha, the former Assyrian captive, and Hephzibah, the disgraced queen. In many respects Eliakim as a hero figure foreshadows the leading men of Austin's later works -- atypical, sincere, intelligent, bookish types. I loved Austin's exploration of how the pressure of Eliakim's new government position forced a new set of societal expectations on him -- expectations that clash with the grace-filled tenets of his faith. It is his wife Jerusha, the once-broken and bitter Assyrian slave who reminds Eliakim of the need for grace and forgiveness when she is compelled to reach out to the shunned queen. I love how Austin has developed Jerusha's story, particularly in how she doesn't shy away from the ever-present traumatic impact of Jerusha's years in captivity. I found Hephzibah's battle with guilt and unforgiveness extremely well-drawn and realistically presented, and Jerusha's unexpected friendship with Hephzibah is a lovely portrait of grace and redemption at work in the lives of believers.
Lacking some of the spark that made the first two volumes in this series so fascinating, The Strength of His Hand is nevertheless a competently presented final chapter in Austin's exploration of Hezekiah's life and reign. I look forward to the fourth book in the series, covering the reign of Hezekiah's son -- I think perhaps a new generation's challenges will interject a much-needed infusion of life into the series.
November 24, 2019
The Strength of His Hand by Lynn Austin, what a very good way to learn more about certain events in the bible. Lynn brings it very much to life in an enjoyable manner, even though you know what's going to eventually happen, her style lets the surprise and suspense sneak up on you, and shakes you around. Has little tidbits of archaeological discoveries as little add ins & staunch scripture.
March 8, 2018
This biblical retelling was about King Hezekiah. Gods and Kings was the first in this series which was about Hezekiah when he was a child, saved from being sacrificed to Molech at the hands of his wicked father, King Ahaz.
In this book Hezekiah has been king for some years, and Israel has prospered under his leadership because he brought Israel back to the true faith and returned worship of the one true God to the temple.
But Hezekiah was influenced by an advisor who was not Hebrew (Egyptian I think), and strayed into making pacts with gentile leaders, which God had to deal with.
There are parts of this book I loved and parts I had a hard time with. As is often the case in Biblical retellings, license can be taken a bit far. Instead of staying true to the story of Hezekiah in II Kings, II Chronicles and Isaiah, the writer tried to explain how a few things might have happened rather than staying with what the Bible actually said. Okay, I can see how an author would want to expand the account with a fictional storyline to make the narrative more interesting and the book longer. But when an author changes the biblical account, I balk. Example: This change isn't merely narrative elaboration, it is changing what the Word of God says... taking license a bit far.
But much of it was very good. I enjoyed the story of his wife's huge blunder, as it were, and a female character befriending her to show her grace, and to be an example of God's mercy and forgiveness. This was a moving and lovely illustration of God's intent for His people all along.
I also love when Hezekiah is invited to Isaiah's house for the Passover meal (Lynn Austin also wrote an amazing account of a Seder meal in Wings of Refuge). During this meal Isaiah is talking about the promised Messiah. Hezekiah asks if God has revealed to Isaiah what He would be like. This is where the Messianic words in Isaiah 53 are revealed, in this case to Hezekiah. Worth reading! I love when a seder meal is explained in terms of how it relates to Christ.
Perhaps not my favorite Austin book, but all of her books are good, so 4 stars was hard to give.
My favorite quote from the Passover meal as Isaiah was explaining to Hezekiah God's revelation of the Messiah to him: (from Isaiah 53:12)
"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth… . Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities."
“Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” A tear glistened in Isaiah’s eye as he finished.
Hezekiah stared at the Passover lamb on the table in front of him and murmured, “But that can’t be—I’m not worthy of such a sacrifice. Why would Yahweh do that for me?”
“Because He is your Father. Unlike your earthly father, who sacrificed his children to save himself, your heavenly Father will sacrifice Himself to save His children.”
“I can’t comprehend such love, Rabbi.”
“None of us can."
In this book Hezekiah has been king for some years, and Israel has prospered under his leadership because he brought Israel back to the true faith and returned worship of the one true God to the temple.
But Hezekiah was influenced by an advisor who was not Hebrew (Egyptian I think), and strayed into making pacts with gentile leaders, which God had to deal with.
There are parts of this book I loved and parts I had a hard time with. As is often the case in Biblical retellings, license can be taken a bit far. Instead of staying true to the story of Hezekiah in II Kings, II Chronicles and Isaiah, the writer tried to explain how a few things might have happened rather than staying with what the Bible actually said. Okay, I can see how an author would want to expand the account with a fictional storyline to make the narrative more interesting and the book longer. But when an author changes the biblical account, I balk. Example: This change isn't merely narrative elaboration, it is changing what the Word of God says... taking license a bit far.
But much of it was very good. I enjoyed the story of his wife's huge blunder, as it were, and a female character befriending her to show her grace, and to be an example of God's mercy and forgiveness. This was a moving and lovely illustration of God's intent for His people all along.
I also love when Hezekiah is invited to Isaiah's house for the Passover meal (Lynn Austin also wrote an amazing account of a Seder meal in Wings of Refuge). During this meal Isaiah is talking about the promised Messiah. Hezekiah asks if God has revealed to Isaiah what He would be like. This is where the Messianic words in Isaiah 53 are revealed, in this case to Hezekiah. Worth reading! I love when a seder meal is explained in terms of how it relates to Christ.
Perhaps not my favorite Austin book, but all of her books are good, so 4 stars was hard to give.
My favorite quote from the Passover meal as Isaiah was explaining to Hezekiah God's revelation of the Messiah to him: (from Isaiah 53:12)
"We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth… . Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities."
“Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” A tear glistened in Isaiah’s eye as he finished.
Hezekiah stared at the Passover lamb on the table in front of him and murmured, “But that can’t be—I’m not worthy of such a sacrifice. Why would Yahweh do that for me?”
“Because He is your Father. Unlike your earthly father, who sacrificed his children to save himself, your heavenly Father will sacrifice Himself to save His children.”
“I can’t comprehend such love, Rabbi.”
“None of us can."
January 2, 2019
Lyn Austin is masterful at taking the Biblical account of the Kings of Judah and adding details to flesh them out so that they seem even more real, and that helps me remember what they were like much better than just reading the Biblical record. I would never place Biblical fiction above the Bible, but reading it can sometimes help you remember and understand more if the author is talented and true to the Bible. Trusting God, even when faced with a seemingly impossible situation, forgiveness, the ups and downs we face in our Christian walk, and the importance of choosing your advisers very wisely are all dealt with in this novel. If the people you are getting advice from do not seek God, it can quickly lead you astray, and this is good for us to remember in choosing friendships also. King Hezekiah is not always as likeable at times during this part of his reign as he was at the beginning, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and can't wait to read about his son, Manasseh, in volumes 4 and 5 of this series.
November 28, 2016
I enjoy reading fictionalised accounts of Biblical stories - both the well-known ones (because I sometimes gain a fresh perspective on a familiar story) and the less well-known ones (because then I go searching for those stories in the Bible to see what the bare bones are that the author fleshed out into a novel). In turn, this fleshing out of the story can make it more likely that it makes more sense to me and that I remember it - sometimes reading the Biblical account I may not understand how or why someone acted the way they did, and so I may just gloss over the basic facts, but when there is a bit more background that is a logical and reasonable possibility of what could have happened, then it makes it more likely that I will remember it!
Hezekiah’s is not a story that I know well, so I am enjoying finding out more about this king of Judah in this series.
Hezekiah’s is not a story that I know well, so I am enjoying finding out more about this king of Judah in this series.
August 28, 2022
Similar to my review of the previous book in this series, it was too violent for my comfort level. But I love all the scripture woven into the dialogue.
Hepzibah annoyed me. I didn’t really feel very much pity for her. How could she pledge her firstborn to an idol when her husband literally went on an idol-destroying rampage in the whole country?? Then she throws an extended pity party after her husband reacts exactly how she should have known he would. She just came across as bratty and spoiled. I know it made her redemption all the more powerful, but in the meantime, she just wasn’t likable.
I did like how Jerusha reached out to her, but I didn’t like how she disobeyed her husband to do it.
Hepzibah annoyed me. I didn’t really feel very much pity for her. How could she pledge her firstborn to an idol when her husband literally went on an idol-destroying rampage in the whole country?? Then she throws an extended pity party after her husband reacts exactly how she should have known he would. She just came across as bratty and spoiled. I know it made her redemption all the more powerful, but in the meantime, she just wasn’t likable.
I did like how Jerusha reached out to her, but I didn’t like how she disobeyed her husband to do it.
April 11, 2016
This one is my favourite! I read this one the fastest of the series so far. It was so fast paced, with the beautiful use of God's truth to give the story a kick. The plotline was so good. Highly recommend!
May 23, 2019
It’s a shame the covers of the books in this series are so dull, becouase the stories certainly aren’t! Can’t wait to get to the next book.
June 8, 2021
I’ve really enjoyed this series and thinking about what it would have been like to live during this time period of the kings of Israel. The accounts of the cruelty of the Assyrians are quite difficult to read, but eye opening. One of the most fascinating parts for me is reading about the prophets, especially Isaiah, and the warnings he gave the people and what it would have been like to be a prophet during this time.
August 19, 2020
*Încearcă să nu plângi
*Încearcă să nu plângi
...Plângi de rupi
Cea mai faină din serie, până acum❣
*Încearcă să nu plângi
...Plângi de rupi
Cea mai faină din serie, până acum❣
July 25, 2023
When reading the book of kings i always found it difficult but reading Lynn Austin she really brings the people to life and paints you a picture of what it could have been like to live and love and fight for your life during that time.
Book club questions
How did the book mirror jewish to Christian faith?
Ch4
Why did God reward wickedness instead of righteousness?
What isaihs prophecy to the king historically correct?
Ch17
How can you pray without an idol?
Hep Claimed she did not deserve to be forgiven after what she did to her husband the king and her baby by worshiping idols.
It was hard for the king to believe his wife was worshiping idols under his nose. How might you have felt. How would you have reacted? Do you think his actions were justified?
What kind of risks did jerusha take by befriending Hephzibah? Was it worth the risk?
What bonded Jurusha and Hep?
Jurusha chose life in book two even throughout her painful journey she wanted to live. When she met Hephzibah i think she truly found her purpose in trying to bring her to god.
Neither women felt worthy for a time in their lives but jurasha assured her that God forgives.
What did it take for shebna to start believeing yahweh was real?
Why did Isisha believe the king was hypocritical for divorcing Hephzibah? Discuss.
Discuss Jurushas rapers death. Where their legions were, eliakims bravery and stupidity in wanting to avenge his wife, putting it all in Gods hands.
God created everything all the rats and fleas and bugs. Did he make things to combat against evil?
What were your thoughts about yahweh at the end of the book?
Book club questions
How did the book mirror jewish to Christian faith?
Ch4
Why did God reward wickedness instead of righteousness?
What isaihs prophecy to the king historically correct?
Ch17
How can you pray without an idol?
Hep Claimed she did not deserve to be forgiven after what she did to her husband the king and her baby by worshiping idols.
It was hard for the king to believe his wife was worshiping idols under his nose. How might you have felt. How would you have reacted? Do you think his actions were justified?
What kind of risks did jerusha take by befriending Hephzibah? Was it worth the risk?
What bonded Jurusha and Hep?
Jurusha chose life in book two even throughout her painful journey she wanted to live. When she met Hephzibah i think she truly found her purpose in trying to bring her to god.
Neither women felt worthy for a time in their lives but jurasha assured her that God forgives.
What did it take for shebna to start believeing yahweh was real?
Why did Isisha believe the king was hypocritical for divorcing Hephzibah? Discuss.
Discuss Jurushas rapers death. Where their legions were, eliakims bravery and stupidity in wanting to avenge his wife, putting it all in Gods hands.
God created everything all the rats and fleas and bugs. Did he make things to combat against evil?
What were your thoughts about yahweh at the end of the book?
August 26, 2010
I love this series of 5 historical fiction reads dealing with King Hezekiah and his son Manassah. Lynn Austin weaves a great epic story from the Biblical scriptures making it personal. The first book was a little bit slow to get into, but oh my, once you grasp on to the story, you will not want to quit till you finish the whole set from one thru five books.
September 20, 2019
This third book in the series focuses on King Hezekiah from the beginning of his reign until his death. It is well written and both the historical and Biblical are well researched. Another excellent Bibilical fiction series from Lynn Austin.
January 23, 2010
More about the Old Testament kings, loved this series!
July 17, 2018
INCREDIBLE!!!! I'm so glad I read this book!!!
***God alone is the source of life, the standard for living, and the sustainer of life. Trusting in anything or anyone else is foolish idolatry.***
***God alone is the source of life, the standard for living, and the sustainer of life. Trusting in anything or anyone else is foolish idolatry.***
October 15, 2023
As the third book in the series this one was by far the best yet. Much like the second book you follow multiple characters, but they experience the same event through different lenses. I enjoy the way the author converges everyone’s storyline while allow the continued flow of events.
Many of the conflicts established are resolved by the end. To a point that almost feels as if the author was confident ending the series here, but there’s two more novels so I feel some things we didn’t see resolved will return.
Many of the conflicts established are resolved by the end. To a point that almost feels as if the author was confident ending the series here, but there’s two more novels so I feel some things we didn’t see resolved will return.
June 26, 2025
So unbelievably brutal and probably the best of the series so far. I’m forever grateful to the authors who do the work to bring forth what likely could have been the full contextual stories we don’t see the entirety of in scripture. They remind me these were real life, breathing people, who encountered God in such profound ways. It’s fodder for the Truth that God was the same yesterday, today, and forever. I always need a reminder of God’s ability to redeem and restore, praise Him that He is God and I am not!
November 18, 2020
Historical fiction about King Hezekiah and God's defeat of the Assyrians. Not completely accurate according to history which is okay, but distracting. Not a bad story for a believer in Yahweh. Too heavy handed to attract a non believer.
June 29, 2019
Having just read through Kings and Chronicles this year, I love how Lynn Austin fleshes out the characters and the times to give her reader a feel for how things might have been. I will admit I struggle a little bit with some disbelief, but in general, I have really enjoyed this series!
February 5, 2020
Great continuation of the story of King Hezikiah. This book really made me ponder on pride and where I put my trust. This book was definitely harder to read because it was difficult to see King Hezekiah struggle with his faith, but great lessons are learned through trails.
December 11, 2022
Very violent but The story was good.
November 5, 2023
Zo'n boek dat je af en toe gewoon móet herlezen en weer helemaal onder de indruk raakt van God en de gewone mensen in deze historische verhalen.
August 19, 2024
OMG I want to cry!!!!!
September 15, 2024
This series is a fictional telling of King Hezekiah’s life and has kind of done for me what the Chosen did for me with the Gospels, but with the Old Testament. It has made it come alive and made me think more about the people in those passages, their families and how their faith in Yahweh impacted their culture and lives. It reminds me a lot of the Mark of the Lion series!
May 28, 2025
Enjoyed reading the story of King Hezekiah.
June 6, 2021
Great historical fiction. I am loving this series. I'm glad I found it. It's well done and I feel I've gone back in time to a fascinating part of our Old Testament history.
July 20, 2022
This is a great historical and religious fiction that helps to tell the story of King Hezekiah. I was studying these same chapters in 2 Kings at the same time and so the story came alive for me differently than it had before. I love the principles that we learn from Hezekiah and others during this time of loyalty and devotion to God, trusting Him, watching for His miracles, forgiveness, and God's goodness. Here are some favorite quotes:
"His brother tolerated idol worship... How could he be content with that (p. 19)?"
"'If you want your own son to inherit your kingdom... then you'd better renounce me as your wife, because I'm barren (p. 19).'"
"Why had he stubbornly interpreted the Law to mean something God never intended (p. 23)?"
"'I think this particular passage warns Israel's kings that a lack of self-control in their personal affairs can lead to a lack of self-control in other areas of their lives. And this can threaten their relationship with Yahweh (p. 24).'"
"She knew how much Hezekiah's God meant to him, how hard he had worked for religious reform. Why had she deceived him and betrayed him by worshipping an idol? Her reasons seemed trivial to her now, beside the enormity of Hezekiah's anger and hatred. He would never forgive her. She wanted to die (p. 29)."
"Idolatry demanded the death penalty. Hezekiah and Eliakim both knew it. But even in his anger, Hezekiah couldn't pronounce the death sentence on Hephzibah (p. 32)."
"'Love allows room for mercy.'.... Shebna didn't believe in a loving God; how could he grasp the concept of mercy (p. 43)?"
"'Once when I was traveling through the Negev, I spent the night in a shepherd's tent... a sturdy little thing... protecting me from rain and sun. But in the morning the shepherd yanked out all the stakes... one after the other... and just like that, all the life went out of it, and it collapsed in a heap... 'Is that all there is to life, Eliakim? When our lives suddenly end and we're gone... is there nothing left to show that we ever lived (p. 59)?'"
"'Yahweh seems very far away, Eliakim. I'm waiting the horizon, waiting for Him to come, longing to see Him, but my eyes are tired of looking for Him... and still He doesn't come... doesn't help me (p. 60).'"
"'Who are my enemies (p. 65)?'"
"'He has very close ties to the priests and prophets (p. 65).'"
"'The king's brother Gedaliah will succeed him. He's as corrupt and idolatrous as King Ahaz was. Everyone who supported King Hezekiah's reforms is in danger.'... 'We can only wait and pray. King Hezekiah's life and, indeed, our own lives are in God's hands.'... 'Can you call a special convocation tomorrow? A sacrifice to pray for the king (p. 73)?'"
"Trust in the Lord and do good;...
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him...
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
do no fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes...
For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land (p. 74)."
"When the service ended, nothing had changed. Eliakim remained hopelessly trapped. But he knew that the priests and Levites stood courageously beside him... They had placed their lives in God's hands, their trust in Him. Eliakim would do the same (p. 76)."
"'O Yahweh, you are merciful and gracious and compassionate. You about in love and faithfulness. Have mercy on your servant Hezekiah. He has been faithful to you, Lord, and he has brought your people back to you, too. I pray that you will heal him, Father, according to your loving-kindness. Spare his life, just as you once spared it when he was a child. Let him live to serve you, O God (p. 84)!'"
"'Heavenly Father, help me accept your will for my life. Do with me whatever you want, but please give me the courage to face it (p. 89).'"
"Isaiah had lived through the reigns of four different kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and now Hezekiah. None of the others had followed God's Law as diligently or as faithfully as Hezekiah did. 'Why, Yahweh?' (p. 90)"
"'Remember, Lord, how I've tried to walk before you faithfully... and with wholehearted devotion as you have commanded... remember how I've tried to do what is good in your eyes (p. 92).'"
"Telling King Hezekiah that he would die had been one of the most painful prophecies he had ever uttered. He had foretold the destruction of entire nations and kingdoms, but they had all deserved their fate. What had this good king ever done wrong (p. 98)?"
"'Go back and tell Hezekiah.... 'I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you (p. 98).'"
"He would live (p. 99)!"
"Hezekiah wanted to write a magnificent hymn to God, thanking Him for saving his life once again. But even as he scribbled the words, they seemed inadequate (p. 105)."
"'But Hezekiah's heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the Lord's wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 32:25, p. 109).'"
"'Why does Judah thrive while the rest of us suffer?' 'Well, she used to be an Assyrian vasal, too, but the current king stopped paying tribute a dozen years ago. Now she's prospering.'... 'Why didn't Sargon flatten him as he flattened all the other nations who rebelled?'... 'I have no idea. That's the mystery (p. 114).'"
"'I want to see what kind of military power Hezekiah has that gives him the guts to rebel against Assyria (p. 117).'"
"'My nation acknowledges and worships one God, not many (p. 122).'"
"'What difference does their religion make? We are not obligated to worship their gods. We want their military support (p. 122).'"
"'If you show them your strengths, you're also revealing your weaknesses (p. 124).'"
"'They saw everything I own. The armory, the storehouses--I didn't hide any of my treasures from them (p. 132).'"
"'Hear the Word of God, King Hezekiah (p. 133)!'"
"'When you took them through your storerooms, were you praising God for all that He has given you, or was Yahweh far from your thoughts? Did you tell the Babylonians that Yahweh is your greatest treasure, not your gold and jewels, or did pride silence you (p. 133)?'"
"Hezekiah remembered how he had let the Babylonians bow to him, calling him 'favored one,' and he turned away from Isaiah's probing gaze. 'Pride goes before destruction' (p. 133)."
"He had forgotten God and never once acknowledged that He was the One who had brought renewed prosperity to his nation (p. 134)."
"'How will Hephzibah ever hear that God forgives her unless someone tells her (p. 137)?'"
"Hephzibah had chosen it to punish herself. She had made the room into a prison cell in which to serve her life sentence (p. 138)."
"'You were once a friend to me when I needed one, and I want to be a friend to you (p. 140).'"
"What God had asked Jerusha to do was too hard. Hephzibah would have to find forgiveness through someone else (p. 141)."
"'She doesn't deserve forgiveness!' 'None of us do, Eliakim. Not one of us. You know my past better than anyone. But God forgave me. I don't deserve all of this... My sins are just as great as Hephzibah's, and if she deserves to be stoned to death, then so do I (p. 144).'"
"'Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain (p. 149).'"
"'Alliances offer false security. It won't matter to the Assyrians how many nations oppose them (p. 149).'"
"He could no longer figure out how to strike a compromise between his two advisors' differing opinions. One of them must be wrong--and one of them right (p. 150)."
"Earlier in his reign he would have consulted Yahweh before making such an important decision... but ever since the Babylonians had come, Hezekiah seemed afraid to seek God for answers the way he used to (p. 151)."
"'King Hezekiah's pride has drowned out the voice of God. Until that pride is silenced, the king wouldn't hear me if I shouted God's Word from the pinnacle of the temple. Hezekiah knows the right thing to do (p. 154).'"
"'Are you afraid to continue speaking the truth? Afraid of what will happen to you?'... 'Maybe fear is part of it.'... 'Do you believe Yahweh put you where you are? And that he did it for a reason?' 'I do... I know I couldn't have earned such an honor by myself.' 'Then who will speak for God if you don't? God put you at the king's left hand, Eliakim. If Hezekiah asks for your advice, give it to him. Yes, you might be humiliated and thrown out of the palace for speaking for God. Are you willing to risk that?'... 'I would like to be willing... but won't you help me, Rabbi? I can't do this alone.'... 'Confronting kings with the Word of God isn't new for me... I've had plenty of practice (p. 154).'"
"'Don't trade a chance at happiness for a title or prestige (p. 162).'"
"'These are a rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord's instruction. They say to the seers, 'See no more visions!' and to the prophets, 'Give us no more vision of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel (p. 167)!'"
"'The Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion, for the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him (p. 168)!'"
"'Have you asked God to forgive you (p. 169)?'"
"'I could never quite grasp it. He loved me... I owned a place in his heart... I wish I had realized how precious his love was. I never would have gambled with it (p. 171).'"
"'There's a song that the Levites sing at the temple. I want to tell you the words... 'Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion... He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for these who fear him.'... You can believe those words... I know they're true. I've lived them (p. 173).'"
"'I didn't want to disobey you, but I had no choice. God compelled me to go, Eliakim. Who would speak for God if I didn't (p. 175)?'"
"'Obeying God is always the right choice. Will you forgive me (p. 176)?'"
"'Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord (p. 179).'"
"'If I didn't trust Yahweh I wouldn't have the courage to rebel against Assyria and join the alliance (p. 182).'"
"'If you've conquered a nation, you've defeated their gods. Those deities weren't able to protect their people from you (p. 186).'"
"'No, Iddina, you won't be my commander, because I believe I've found an even better job for you: my Rabshekah. I'd like a spokesman who fears neither man nor god (p. 188).'"
"'Yahweh is a powerful god... He sent terrible plagues on Egypt centuries ago when Hezekiah's people won their freedom... and he intervenes in Judah's battles, giving them victory (p. 208).'"
"'How can they worship without a representation of their god (p. 209)?'"
"'I think I would like to capture this mysterious ark. Where does Hezekiah keep it?' 'In Yahweh's Temple, in Jerusalem. It's in a place that's so holy that only their high priests has ever seen it (p. 211).'"
"'I was without hope, too... But God helped me escape from that terrible place, and He gave me a brand-new life. Eliakim knew all about my past and everything I'd done, yet he forgave me, loved me (p. 216).'"
"'If He's a good God, why doesn't He do something about all the evil in the world?' 'He does... God asks His people to stand up and fight against it... God asks each one of us to do our part in the war against evil, in our own way. He asked me to come here to see you because I know exactly how the evil one can tempt you to such despair that you'd want to end your own life... This is my way of fighting the evil in this world (p. 217).'"
"'Regardless of our national crisis, I can't refuse God's will (p. 232).'"
"'Jerusha, the safest place to be is in the will of God (p. 235).'"
"'King Hezekiah! I am Iddina, Rabshekah to Emperor Sennacherib of Assyria. Come forward and surrender your city (p. 249)!'"
"'King Hezekiah isn't going to surrender (p. 253)?'"
"God had spoken through His prophet; they had nothing to fear. He knew that Isaiah's prophecy would come to pass (p. 257)."
"'You don't have to be afraid. I know the King of Assyria has a vast army with him, but there is a greater power with us than with him. He only has the arm of the flesh. But we have the arm of the Lord our God to help us. He will fight our battles for us (p. 259).'"
"'O my people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians, who beat you with a rod... Very soon my anger against you will end and my wrath will be directed to their destruction (p. 261).'"
"'God of Abraham... please heal my little boy (p. 276).'"
"'I'm still overwhelmed, Rabbi. The Assyrians just vanished, and we were spared!'... 'The Passover feast celebrates our physical deliverance from our enemies, but it symbolizes our spiritual redemption, as well (p. 281).'"
"'Just as the woman begins our Passover by providing light, so it will be that the seed of the woman will begin God's redemption plan, bringing salvation to light... the Messiah, the promised seed of the woman. The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned... For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders (p. 281).'"
"'Yahweh liberated us from bondage to man--and from bondage to sin--so that we would be free to serve Him (p. 282).'"
"'Rabbi, I have difficulty comprehending a God who is so generous--so forgiving.' 'We all do, because we are so unlike Him. That's what tempts us to make idols. We want to cast God in our own image (p. 283).'"
"'You can never do enough or try hard enough to win God's love. No one can keep the Law perfectly. We all fail... You already have His love, and you always did... Not because of anything you did to deserve it, but because you're His child (p. 287).'"
"How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me (p. 289)?"
"Hezekiah saw Yahweh clearly for the first time in his life--a God of power and love, a God of salvation. And even though he'd lost everything he'd worked for these past fourteen years, he knew that he still had Yahweh's love--and that was enough. If he needed to lose everything to finally see God face-to-face, then it had all been worth it (p. 289)."
"'Bitterness not only destroys you but it cuts you off from God. How can He forgive us if we can't forgive one another (p. 290)?'"
"'God doesn't treat us as our sin deserve (p. 293).'"
"'We should wait and trust God (p. 296).'"
"'God of Abraham, you have power... You can do anything. You're a God of miracles. You can heal Joshua. You can protect us from the Assyrians. You can make Jerusha whole again. There's nothing I can do but turn to you, Lord. You hold all our lives in your hand. Please help me, Father. Help little Joshua... God of Abraham, help us all (p. 297).'"
"The enemy encampment completely surrounded Jerusalem, but with the exception of the Assyrian horses, they saw no sign of movement or life (p. 321)."
"'Do you suppose it's a trick?... To get us to open the gates (p. 322)?'"
"'They're all dead... One hundred and eighty-five thousand soldiers (p. 322)!'"
"Yahweh had worked a miracle (p. 324)."
"As Hezekiah looked down from the wall at the miracle Yahweh had performed, he wondered if Moses could have felt more joy when the Red Sea swallowed the Egyptians. 'Praise our God, O peoples... let the sound of His praise be heard; He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping (p. 326).'"
"''Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God--Yahweh alone!'... You must love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength (p. 330).'"
"'Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah... He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook (2 Kings 18:5-7, p. 331).'"
"His brother tolerated idol worship... How could he be content with that (p. 19)?"
"'If you want your own son to inherit your kingdom... then you'd better renounce me as your wife, because I'm barren (p. 19).'"
"Why had he stubbornly interpreted the Law to mean something God never intended (p. 23)?"
"'I think this particular passage warns Israel's kings that a lack of self-control in their personal affairs can lead to a lack of self-control in other areas of their lives. And this can threaten their relationship with Yahweh (p. 24).'"
"She knew how much Hezekiah's God meant to him, how hard he had worked for religious reform. Why had she deceived him and betrayed him by worshipping an idol? Her reasons seemed trivial to her now, beside the enormity of Hezekiah's anger and hatred. He would never forgive her. She wanted to die (p. 29)."
"Idolatry demanded the death penalty. Hezekiah and Eliakim both knew it. But even in his anger, Hezekiah couldn't pronounce the death sentence on Hephzibah (p. 32)."
"'Love allows room for mercy.'.... Shebna didn't believe in a loving God; how could he grasp the concept of mercy (p. 43)?"
"'Once when I was traveling through the Negev, I spent the night in a shepherd's tent... a sturdy little thing... protecting me from rain and sun. But in the morning the shepherd yanked out all the stakes... one after the other... and just like that, all the life went out of it, and it collapsed in a heap... 'Is that all there is to life, Eliakim? When our lives suddenly end and we're gone... is there nothing left to show that we ever lived (p. 59)?'"
"'Yahweh seems very far away, Eliakim. I'm waiting the horizon, waiting for Him to come, longing to see Him, but my eyes are tired of looking for Him... and still He doesn't come... doesn't help me (p. 60).'"
"'Who are my enemies (p. 65)?'"
"'He has very close ties to the priests and prophets (p. 65).'"
"'The king's brother Gedaliah will succeed him. He's as corrupt and idolatrous as King Ahaz was. Everyone who supported King Hezekiah's reforms is in danger.'... 'We can only wait and pray. King Hezekiah's life and, indeed, our own lives are in God's hands.'... 'Can you call a special convocation tomorrow? A sacrifice to pray for the king (p. 73)?'"
"Trust in the Lord and do good;...
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him...
Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
do no fret when men succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes...
For evil men will be cut off,
but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land (p. 74)."
"When the service ended, nothing had changed. Eliakim remained hopelessly trapped. But he knew that the priests and Levites stood courageously beside him... They had placed their lives in God's hands, their trust in Him. Eliakim would do the same (p. 76)."
"'O Yahweh, you are merciful and gracious and compassionate. You about in love and faithfulness. Have mercy on your servant Hezekiah. He has been faithful to you, Lord, and he has brought your people back to you, too. I pray that you will heal him, Father, according to your loving-kindness. Spare his life, just as you once spared it when he was a child. Let him live to serve you, O God (p. 84)!'"
"'Heavenly Father, help me accept your will for my life. Do with me whatever you want, but please give me the courage to face it (p. 89).'"
"Isaiah had lived through the reigns of four different kings: Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and now Hezekiah. None of the others had followed God's Law as diligently or as faithfully as Hezekiah did. 'Why, Yahweh?' (p. 90)"
"'Remember, Lord, how I've tried to walk before you faithfully... and with wholehearted devotion as you have commanded... remember how I've tried to do what is good in your eyes (p. 92).'"
"Telling King Hezekiah that he would die had been one of the most painful prophecies he had ever uttered. He had foretold the destruction of entire nations and kingdoms, but they had all deserved their fate. What had this good king ever done wrong (p. 98)?"
"'Go back and tell Hezekiah.... 'I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you (p. 98).'"
"He would live (p. 99)!"
"Hezekiah wanted to write a magnificent hymn to God, thanking Him for saving his life once again. But even as he scribbled the words, they seemed inadequate (p. 105)."
"'But Hezekiah's heart was proud and he did not respond to the kindness shown him; therefore the Lord's wrath was on him and on Judah and Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 32:25, p. 109).'"
"'Why does Judah thrive while the rest of us suffer?' 'Well, she used to be an Assyrian vasal, too, but the current king stopped paying tribute a dozen years ago. Now she's prospering.'... 'Why didn't Sargon flatten him as he flattened all the other nations who rebelled?'... 'I have no idea. That's the mystery (p. 114).'"
"'I want to see what kind of military power Hezekiah has that gives him the guts to rebel against Assyria (p. 117).'"
"'My nation acknowledges and worships one God, not many (p. 122).'"
"'What difference does their religion make? We are not obligated to worship their gods. We want their military support (p. 122).'"
"'If you show them your strengths, you're also revealing your weaknesses (p. 124).'"
"'They saw everything I own. The armory, the storehouses--I didn't hide any of my treasures from them (p. 132).'"
"'Hear the Word of God, King Hezekiah (p. 133)!'"
"'When you took them through your storerooms, were you praising God for all that He has given you, or was Yahweh far from your thoughts? Did you tell the Babylonians that Yahweh is your greatest treasure, not your gold and jewels, or did pride silence you (p. 133)?'"
"Hezekiah remembered how he had let the Babylonians bow to him, calling him 'favored one,' and he turned away from Isaiah's probing gaze. 'Pride goes before destruction' (p. 133)."
"He had forgotten God and never once acknowledged that He was the One who had brought renewed prosperity to his nation (p. 134)."
"'How will Hephzibah ever hear that God forgives her unless someone tells her (p. 137)?'"
"Hephzibah had chosen it to punish herself. She had made the room into a prison cell in which to serve her life sentence (p. 138)."
"'You were once a friend to me when I needed one, and I want to be a friend to you (p. 140).'"
"What God had asked Jerusha to do was too hard. Hephzibah would have to find forgiveness through someone else (p. 141)."
"'She doesn't deserve forgiveness!' 'None of us do, Eliakim. Not one of us. You know my past better than anyone. But God forgave me. I don't deserve all of this... My sins are just as great as Hephzibah's, and if she deserves to be stoned to death, then so do I (p. 144).'"
"'Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain (p. 149).'"
"'Alliances offer false security. It won't matter to the Assyrians how many nations oppose them (p. 149).'"
"He could no longer figure out how to strike a compromise between his two advisors' differing opinions. One of them must be wrong--and one of them right (p. 150)."
"Earlier in his reign he would have consulted Yahweh before making such an important decision... but ever since the Babylonians had come, Hezekiah seemed afraid to seek God for answers the way he used to (p. 151)."
"'King Hezekiah's pride has drowned out the voice of God. Until that pride is silenced, the king wouldn't hear me if I shouted God's Word from the pinnacle of the temple. Hezekiah knows the right thing to do (p. 154).'"
"'Are you afraid to continue speaking the truth? Afraid of what will happen to you?'... 'Maybe fear is part of it.'... 'Do you believe Yahweh put you where you are? And that he did it for a reason?' 'I do... I know I couldn't have earned such an honor by myself.' 'Then who will speak for God if you don't? God put you at the king's left hand, Eliakim. If Hezekiah asks for your advice, give it to him. Yes, you might be humiliated and thrown out of the palace for speaking for God. Are you willing to risk that?'... 'I would like to be willing... but won't you help me, Rabbi? I can't do this alone.'... 'Confronting kings with the Word of God isn't new for me... I've had plenty of practice (p. 154).'"
"'Don't trade a chance at happiness for a title or prestige (p. 162).'"
"'These are a rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord's instruction. They say to the seers, 'See no more visions!' and to the prophets, 'Give us no more vision of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel (p. 167)!'"
"'The Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion, for the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him (p. 168)!'"
"'Have you asked God to forgive you (p. 169)?'"
"'I could never quite grasp it. He loved me... I owned a place in his heart... I wish I had realized how precious his love was. I never would have gambled with it (p. 171).'"
"'There's a song that the Levites sing at the temple. I want to tell you the words... 'Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion... He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for these who fear him.'... You can believe those words... I know they're true. I've lived them (p. 173).'"
"'I didn't want to disobey you, but I had no choice. God compelled me to go, Eliakim. Who would speak for God if I didn't (p. 175)?'"
"'Obeying God is always the right choice. Will you forgive me (p. 176)?'"
"'Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord (p. 179).'"
"'If I didn't trust Yahweh I wouldn't have the courage to rebel against Assyria and join the alliance (p. 182).'"
"'If you've conquered a nation, you've defeated their gods. Those deities weren't able to protect their people from you (p. 186).'"
"'No, Iddina, you won't be my commander, because I believe I've found an even better job for you: my Rabshekah. I'd like a spokesman who fears neither man nor god (p. 188).'"
"'Yahweh is a powerful god... He sent terrible plagues on Egypt centuries ago when Hezekiah's people won their freedom... and he intervenes in Judah's battles, giving them victory (p. 208).'"
"'How can they worship without a representation of their god (p. 209)?'"
"'I think I would like to capture this mysterious ark. Where does Hezekiah keep it?' 'In Yahweh's Temple, in Jerusalem. It's in a place that's so holy that only their high priests has ever seen it (p. 211).'"
"'I was without hope, too... But God helped me escape from that terrible place, and He gave me a brand-new life. Eliakim knew all about my past and everything I'd done, yet he forgave me, loved me (p. 216).'"
"'If He's a good God, why doesn't He do something about all the evil in the world?' 'He does... God asks His people to stand up and fight against it... God asks each one of us to do our part in the war against evil, in our own way. He asked me to come here to see you because I know exactly how the evil one can tempt you to such despair that you'd want to end your own life... This is my way of fighting the evil in this world (p. 217).'"
"'Regardless of our national crisis, I can't refuse God's will (p. 232).'"
"'Jerusha, the safest place to be is in the will of God (p. 235).'"
"'King Hezekiah! I am Iddina, Rabshekah to Emperor Sennacherib of Assyria. Come forward and surrender your city (p. 249)!'"
"'King Hezekiah isn't going to surrender (p. 253)?'"
"God had spoken through His prophet; they had nothing to fear. He knew that Isaiah's prophecy would come to pass (p. 257)."
"'You don't have to be afraid. I know the King of Assyria has a vast army with him, but there is a greater power with us than with him. He only has the arm of the flesh. But we have the arm of the Lord our God to help us. He will fight our battles for us (p. 259).'"
"'O my people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians, who beat you with a rod... Very soon my anger against you will end and my wrath will be directed to their destruction (p. 261).'"
"'God of Abraham... please heal my little boy (p. 276).'"
"'I'm still overwhelmed, Rabbi. The Assyrians just vanished, and we were spared!'... 'The Passover feast celebrates our physical deliverance from our enemies, but it symbolizes our spiritual redemption, as well (p. 281).'"
"'Just as the woman begins our Passover by providing light, so it will be that the seed of the woman will begin God's redemption plan, bringing salvation to light... the Messiah, the promised seed of the woman. The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned... For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders (p. 281).'"
"'Yahweh liberated us from bondage to man--and from bondage to sin--so that we would be free to serve Him (p. 282).'"
"'Rabbi, I have difficulty comprehending a God who is so generous--so forgiving.' 'We all do, because we are so unlike Him. That's what tempts us to make idols. We want to cast God in our own image (p. 283).'"
"'You can never do enough or try hard enough to win God's love. No one can keep the Law perfectly. We all fail... You already have His love, and you always did... Not because of anything you did to deserve it, but because you're His child (p. 287).'"
"How can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me (p. 289)?"
"Hezekiah saw Yahweh clearly for the first time in his life--a God of power and love, a God of salvation. And even though he'd lost everything he'd worked for these past fourteen years, he knew that he still had Yahweh's love--and that was enough. If he needed to lose everything to finally see God face-to-face, then it had all been worth it (p. 289)."
"'Bitterness not only destroys you but it cuts you off from God. How can He forgive us if we can't forgive one another (p. 290)?'"
"'God doesn't treat us as our sin deserve (p. 293).'"
"'We should wait and trust God (p. 296).'"
"'God of Abraham, you have power... You can do anything. You're a God of miracles. You can heal Joshua. You can protect us from the Assyrians. You can make Jerusha whole again. There's nothing I can do but turn to you, Lord. You hold all our lives in your hand. Please help me, Father. Help little Joshua... God of Abraham, help us all (p. 297).'"
"The enemy encampment completely surrounded Jerusalem, but with the exception of the Assyrian horses, they saw no sign of movement or life (p. 321)."
"'Do you suppose it's a trick?... To get us to open the gates (p. 322)?'"
"'They're all dead... One hundred and eighty-five thousand soldiers (p. 322)!'"
"Yahweh had worked a miracle (p. 324)."
"As Hezekiah looked down from the wall at the miracle Yahweh had performed, he wondered if Moses could have felt more joy when the Red Sea swallowed the Egyptians. 'Praise our God, O peoples... let the sound of His praise be heard; He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping (p. 326).'"
"''Hear, O Israel! Yahweh is our God--Yahweh alone!'... You must love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength (p. 330).'"
"'Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah... He held fast to the Lord and did not cease to follow him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook (2 Kings 18:5-7, p. 331).'"
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