In the midst of his prosperous reign King Hezekiah was suddenly stricken with a fatal malady. "Sick unto death," his case was beyond the power of man to help. And the last vestige of hope seemed removed when the prophet Isaiah appeared before him with the message, "Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live." Isaiah 38:1.

Midt under sin fremgangsrige konger syg, og det stod ikke i menneskers magt at bringe hjælp. Den sidste gnist af håb syntes at forsvinde, da profeten Esajas kom til ham og sagde: "Så siger Herren: Beskik dit hus, thi du skal dø og ikke leve!" Es. 38,1.