Hezekiah, the twelfth King of Judah. He succeeded Ahaz about 726 BC, when he was 25 years of age, and died about 698 BC. Upon ascending the throne he instituted many reforms and improvements. The aqueducts of Jerusalem were constructed during his reign. Hezekiah showed much zeal in taking the offensive against the Philistines, whereby he re-won many of the cities lost by his father. The greater part of the Scripture story bearing on the reign of Hezekiah relates the two invasions of his country by Sennacherib, in the last of which Judah was delivered through the prayers of the pious Hezekiah. But the king did not long survive this deliverance, for after a reign of nearly 29 years he died at the age of fifty-four. His death was universally mourned, for he was one of the great rulers of Judah. Hezekiah's reign has been called the golden age of prophetic poetry, for among his contemporaries were the prophets Isaiah, Nahum and Micah. Much literary activity prevailed during Hezekiah's reign, though it is not known that he wrote anything.

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