2 Kings 20:20 kjv
And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
2 Kings 20:20 nkjv
Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah?all his might, and how he made a pool and a tunnel and brought water into the city?are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
2 Kings 20:20 niv
As for the other events of Hezekiah's reign, all his achievements and how he made the pool and the tunnel by which he brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?
2 Kings 20:20 esv
The rest of the deeds of Hezekiah and all his might and how he made the pool and the conduit and brought water into the city, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?
2 Kings 20:20 nlt
The rest of the events in Hezekiah's reign, including the extent of his power and how he built a pool and dug a tunnel to bring water into the city, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Judah.
2 Kings 20 20 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Chr 32:30 | "It was Hezekiah who blocked up the upper outlet of the Gihon spring... into the City of David. Hezekiah prospered in all his works." | Direct parallel, details the water project. |
| 2 Chr 32:29 | "Hezekiah received honors and great wealth, and made treasuries..." | Hezekiah's might and prosperity. |
| Isa 22:9-11 | "You saw that the city of David had many breaches... and collected water in the Lower Pool..." | Prophetic mention of Jerusalem's preparations, including water supply. |
| 2 Ki 18:7 | "And the LORD was with him; wherever he went, he prospered." | Echoes Hezekiah's success and "might". |
| Psa 46:4 | "There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God..." | Spiritual significance of water in Jerusalem. |
| Isa 12:3 | "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." | Metaphor for divine provision, a theme relevant to water supply. |
| Zech 14:8 | "On that day living waters will flow out from Jerusalem..." | Future prophecy of Jerusalem's renewed water, linking to its vital supply. |
| John 4:10-14 | "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water." | Jesus as source of "living water," fulfilling types like physical water provision. |
| John 7:37-39 | "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" | Spiritual "living water" promised by Jesus. |
| Rev 21:6 | "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment." | Ultimate divine provision, fulfilling ancient longing for water. |
| 1 Ki 11:41 | "Now the rest of the acts of Solomon... are they not written in the Book of the Acts of Solomon?" | Example of common historiographical summary. |
| 1 Ki 14:19 | "Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam... are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?" | Another example of a parallel ending formula. |
| 1 Ki 14:29 | "Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam... are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?" | Direct example for a Judahite king's chronicles. |
| Neh 3:15-16 | Mentions "the Pool of Siloam" and "the Stairs that go down from the City of David." | Architectural details relating to Hezekiah's waterworks, later recognized. |
| Jer 2:13 | "They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water." | Contrasts reliance on human works (even good ones) with God as ultimate source. |
| Isa 55:1 | "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters..." | Invitation to God's free provision, applicable to physical and spiritual need. |
| Pro 25:1 | "These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied." | Reflects Hezekiah's "might" extending to wisdom and intellectual pursuits. |
| Gen 2:10 | "A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden..." | Proto-type of water for life and flourishing, echoed in engineered solutions. |
| Psa 78:15-16 | "He split rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as from the great deep. He made streams come out of the rock and caused waters to flow down like rivers." | God's miraculous water provision, setting a precedent for sustenance. |
| Exo 17:6 | "Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink." | God directly provides water for His people, similar to Hezekiah's efforts for Jerusalem. |
| Rev 22:1 | "Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb..." | Ultimate eschatological fulfillment of the theme of water for life. |
2 Kings 20 verses
2 Kings 20 20 Meaning
This verse serves as a summary and conclusion to the biblical account of King Hezekiah's reign in 2 Kings, signaling the end of his narrative. It affirms that the extensive details of his achievements, especially his significant engineering project of constructing a pool and conduit to bring water into Jerusalem, are officially documented in the royal annals of the kings of Judah. It directs the reader to these extra-biblical sources for a fuller historical record.
2 Kings 20 20 Context
This verse concludes the narrative of King Hezekiah in the Book of 2 Kings. The preceding verses (20:1-19) describe Hezekiah's miraculous recovery from a terminal illness, his extra 15 years of life, and his grave error in revealing all his treasures and military assets to Babylonian envoys. This foolish act prompted the prophet Isaiah to foretell the future Babylonian captivity of Judah. Against this backdrop of both divine grace and human failing, 2 Kings 20:20 provides a concluding assessment of Hezekiah's reign, highlighting his major public works as part of his significant legacy. It points to a larger historical record, which aligns with ancient Near Eastern historiographical practices where royal chronicles served as official accounts.
2 Kings 20 20 Word analysis
- Now: (וְיֶתֶר, v-yeter) Functions as a common literary device in Kings, introducing the conclusion or summary of a king's reign, similar to "And the rest..." or "Furthermore."
- the rest of the acts: (דִּבְרֵי, divrey) Refers to the additional, unelaborated events or affairs of Hezekiah's rule. This phrase consistently points to more extensive historical records beyond the immediate biblical narrative.
- Hezekiah: (חִזְקִיָּהוּ, Ḥizqiyahu) King of Judah (c. 715–686 BC), whose name means "Yahweh is my strength." He is known for religious reform, resistance to Assyria, and trusting in God during the siege of Sennacherib.
- and all his might: (וְכָל-גְּבוּרָתוֹ, v-kōl gĕvûrāthô) The Hebrew gevurah implies not just physical strength but powerful deeds, military valor, resilience, and general capability or achievements. It encapsulates his administrative and defensive successes, including his building projects.
- and how he made: (אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה, ʾăšer ʿāśāh) Specifically highlights a particular accomplishment among his "acts" and "might."
- the pool: (הַבְּרֵכָה, ha-bĕrēḵâ) Refers to the Pool of Siloam, a critical water reservoir within Jerusalem, supplied by the Gihon Spring. It was crucial for survival, especially during sieges.
- and the conduit: (וְהַתְּעָלָה, vĕha-tĕʿālâ) Points to the Siloam Tunnel (Hezekiah's Tunnel), a remarkable feat of ancient engineering. This 1,750-foot tunnel redirected water from the Gihon Spring (outside the walls) under the City of David to the Pool of Siloam (inside). This protected the water source from enemies like the Assyrians.
- and brought water into the city: (וַיָּבֵא אֶת-הַמַּיִם הָעִירָה, wa-yyāvê ʾet-hammayim hā-ʿîrâ) States the primary function and success of the engineering project – ensuring a vital and protected water supply for Jerusalem's inhabitants.
- are they not written: (הֲלֹא-הֵם כְּתוּבִים, hălō-hēm kĕthûvîm) A rhetorical question expecting an affirmative answer. It serves to validate the historical details provided in Kings by pointing to an authoritative, more comprehensive source.
- in the book of the chronicles: (עַל-סֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים, ʿal-sēfer divrey hayyāmîm) Refers to the official royal annals or state records kept by the kingdom of Judah. This is not the canonical Books of Chronicles, but a source from which parts of Kings and Chronicles might have drawn.
- of the kings of Judah: (לְמַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה, lĕmalḵê Yĕhûdâ) Specifies the type of record: those documenting the reigns of the southern kingdom's monarchs.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah... are they not written...": This standardized closing formula (or colophon) signals that the current account is a selective summary. It highlights the biblical author's method of historiography, drawing upon and acknowledging broader historical records available to the ancient audience. This literary device emphasizes both brevity and credibility.
- "...and all his might, and how he made the pool, and the conduit, and brought water into the city...": This grouping elevates Hezekiah's construction of the water supply system to a major accomplishment, on par with his general "might" or military and political successes. It emphasizes strategic foresight and significant human effort undertaken for the city's defense and survival, especially against the threat of Sennacherib's siege. The engineering feat is thus presented as a tangible demonstration of his powerful reign.
- "...in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?": This concluding phrase serves as an authoritative source citation for the ancient reader, directing them to the extensive official records. It reinforces the historicity and accuracy of the biblical narrative by grounding it in publicly accessible royal documents, validating the condensed account in Kings. It also assures readers that comprehensive details, beyond what is immediately recorded, exist for verification and further study.
2 Kings 20 20 Bonus section
The "conduit" mentioned in this verse, also known as Hezekiah's Tunnel or the Siloam Tunnel, is an exceptional archaeological testament to this biblical account. Discovered and excavated, it features a unique S-shaped path indicating that two teams of diggers worked from opposite ends, meeting in the middle. The Siloam Inscription, found inside the tunnel, provides a contemporary Hebrew account of its construction, perfectly aligning with the biblical record and validating Hezekiah's formidable "might" and resourcefulness. This engineering feat transformed Jerusalem into a fortified city capable of enduring prolonged sieges by ensuring an internal and protected water supply. While Hezekiah demonstrated great foresight and skill, it is noteworthy that this project was completed before, or possibly in preparation for, the Assyrian siege led by Sennacherib, reinforcing the notion of God's blessing on a king who primarily sought His guidance. The biblical account in 2 Kings, therefore, offers not just religious teaching but a concise historical overview supported by external evidence, illustrating how God often works through the diligent efforts and wisdom of His faithful servants.
2 Kings 20 20 Commentary
2 Kings 20:20 serves as the concluding summation of King Hezekiah's rule in the Book of Kings, following a pattern common throughout the historical books of the Old Testament. It distills the essence of his reign, pointing beyond the immediate narrative to a broader record of his accomplishments. The mention of "all his might" encompasses his strong leadership, military success, and religious reforms, yet specifically highlights the extraordinary engineering feat of the water supply system—the Pool of Siloam and its connecting tunnel—as a paramount achievement. This project ensured Jerusalem's water security, demonstrating Hezekiah's foresight and practical leadership in safeguarding his people during times of siege. By referencing the "book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah," the biblical author not only provides historical accountability and invites further consultation of sources available to his original audience but also subtly emphasizes the selective nature of the biblical narrative, which focuses on Hezekiah's spiritual and covenantal faithfulness, alongside key public works, rather than an exhaustive biography. The inclusion of this architectural marvel illustrates human ingenuity often intertwined with divine providence in biblical history, ensuring the very physical survival of God's chosen city.