This part of 2 Chronicles is subject to a wide variety of interpretations – with almost every commentator connecting it up with 2 Kings in a different way. It is my understanding that the whole of this is focused on the story of the visit of the Babylonian envoys – seen as a test from God.
This is the literary structure of the passage as I see it:
Background: 32:24 – “In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign.”
A. Hezekiah’s heart: 32:25-26 – “But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.”
B. Hezekiah’s greatness: 32:27-30 – “And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of costly vessels; storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great possessions. This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.”
`A. Hezekiah’s heart: 32:31 – “And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.”
Here is my understanding of the logic of this arrangement. It is all designed to give commentary on the story of the envoys as a test from God.
Background: The writer assumes that the reader knows this story of the healing and the sign, which is why it is only briefly mentioned. It has to be mentioned because this is why (or one reason why) the envoys came – 32:31. And their coming is what sets up the test for Hezekiah.
B. Hezekiah’s greatness: This middle section speaks to his exaltation in the sight of the nations. It is again, background to the story of the envoys, for Hezekiah’s greatness is what makes him worth visiting, and the envoys come bearing gifts in 2 Kings. This greatness and wealth is an essential part of the test of Hezekiah.
A & `A: Hezekiah’s heart: On both sides of the section on his greatness come the commentary on the visit of the envoys. This is a chiastic structure, focused on Hezekiah’s heart (mentioned in both sections), with the wealth and greatness in between, which is the source of the test of his heart.
Again in this case, as with the story of the healing and sign, the story of the envoys is assumed. It is not told. It is simply commented on to bring out the true meaning of what is going on.
Hezekiah failed because of his pride. He did not make return to God for all the benefit done to him. This connects up with the story in 2 Kings 20 when he showed the Babylonians “all his treasure house” – v. 13.
This should not be seen as connected to the story of his healing, for as Isaiah 38:9-20 records, Hezekiah was grateful. He wrote a Psalm that gives thanks for the healing.
Rather, given that Deuteronomy 8 is most certainly in the background of this story (testing, wealth, lifted up heart, forgetting God, thinking that wealth is from one’s own hand) the focus is surely on the story of the envoys. Deuteronomy 8 speaks of testing and also talks about having lots of food, herds and flocks, good houses, silver and gold. It says, “Take care lest . . . your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God” – vs. 11-14. It says, “Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’” – v. 17. This is exactly what Hezekiah did. The writer of 2 Chronicles simply makes explicit what is subtle in the pronouns used throughout the story in 2 Kings with reference to “his” treasures.
The wrath that comes connects up with Isaiah’s confrontation with Hezekiah about this. The humility spoken of in 2 Chronicles has to do with Hezekiah’s allowing the prophet to confront him, and his speaking the truth to Isaiah about what happened. He also shows humility by accepting the word of the Lord of Isaiah. The delay of the wrath until the future fits perfectly with what Isaiah spoke – that it will come upon his sons in the future.
The second `A section finally explicitly mentions the incident of the Babylonian envoys and sums up – this was a test from God.
From the Chronicler’s point of view, Hezekiah initially failed, but then through humility he was able to recover. He received mercy.
William Higgins
Christian teaching 