And for this cause Hezekiah the king, and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz, prayed and cried to heaven.
Hezekiah
2 Kings 19:14-19 And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD…
Isaiah 37:1,14-20 And it came to pass, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he rent his clothes, and covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of the LORD…
the prophet
2 Kings 19:2-4 And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz…
Isaiah 37:2-4 And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz…
prayed
2 Chronicles 14:11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.
2 Chronicles 20:6-12 And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? …
Psalm 50:15 And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
King Hezekiah
Hezekiah was the 13th king of Judah, known for his religious reforms and efforts to restore the worship of Yahweh. His reign is marked by a return to the worship of the God of Israel, tearing down high places, and reinstating the Passover. Hezekiah's leadership during the Assyrian threat is a testament to his faith and trust in God. His actions are often seen as a model of godly leadership, emphasizing the importance of seeking God's guidance in leadership roles.
and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz
Isaiah was a major prophet in the Old Testament, whose ministry spanned the reigns of several kings, including Hezekiah. He is known for his prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah and the salvation of the Lord. Isaiah's involvement in this event underscores the role of prophets as intermediaries between God and His people. His presence with Hezekiah signifies the importance of spiritual counsel and the power of prophetic insight during times of national crisis.
cried out to heaven in prayer,
This phrase highlights the act of prayer as a powerful response to adversity. The act of crying out to heaven signifies earnest and fervent prayer, seeking divine intervention. In the biblical narrative, prayer is often depicted as a means of accessing God's power and presence. The collaboration between a king and a prophet in prayer illustrates the unity and collective faith of the leaders of Judah. This moment is a reminder of the biblical principle that God hears and responds to the prayers of His people, as seen in other scriptures such as 2 Chronicles 7:14 and James 5:16.
“In response …” (2 Chronicles 32:20) flashes us back to the crisis: Sennacherib’s massive Assyrian army ringed Jerusalem (32:1).
• The nation faced an impossible threat, yet their first move was Godward, just as Jehoshaphat had done in 2 Chronicles 20:3–4.
• Trouble became a trigger, not for panic, but for prayer—echoing Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.”
• This response models James 5:13—“Is any one of you suffering? He should pray.”
“King Hezekiah …” takes center stage.
• Hezekiah had already shown practical faith—fortifying the city and blocking springs (32:2–5)—but he knew strategy alone could not save them (Psalm 20:7).
• His personal walk mattered; 2 Kings 18:5–6 says he “trusted in the LORD … held fast to the LORD.” Prayer flowed naturally out of a life of obedience (1 John 3:22).
• His leadership reminds us that godly rulers are to intercede for those they lead (1 Timothy 2:1–2).
“… and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz …” underscores partnership.
• The king represents civil authority; the prophet represents spiritual authority. Together they seek the same Lord—an illustration of Ecclesiastes 4:12, “a cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
• Isaiah had already delivered God’s encouragement (2 Kings 19:6–7). He now stands with the king, showing that true prophecy and prayer are inseparable (Jeremiah 27:18).
• Their unity pictures Matthew 18:19—“if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.”
“… cried out to heaven in prayer.”
• “Cried out” signals fervency, not formality (Psalm 34:17).
• They prayed “to heaven,” fixing their eyes above the enemy ranks (Colossians 3:1–2).
• God answered instantly: “the LORD sent an angel” who wiped out the Assyrian fighting men (2 Chronicles 32:21)—foreshadowing Ephesians 3:20, “able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all we ask or imagine.”
• Their experience validates 2 Chronicles 7:14: humble, united prayer releases heavenly intervention.
2 Chronicles 32:20 spotlights the reflex of faith. Faced with terror, Hezekiah and Isaiah turned instinctively to prayer, modeling:
• Crisis answered by immediate dependence on God.
• Leadership that prays, not just plans.
• Spiritual partnership that unites palace and prophet.
• Fervent, heaven-directed petitions that unleash God’s miraculous deliverance.
Believers today can meet every siege the same way—by crying out to the God who still hears and still saves.
(20) For this cause.--Upon this ('al zoth). The reference is to the Assyrian blasphemies against Jehovah, which Hezekiah urged in his prayer for deliverance (2Kings 19:16), and to which Isaiah referred in his prophetic answer (Isaiah 37:23). The prayer of Hezekiah is given in 2Kings 19:15-19; Isaiah 37:15-20. The parallel passages do not say that Isaiah also prayed; but 2Kings 19:2-4, and Isaiah 37:2-4, report that the king sent a deputation of nobles to the prophet, requesting his prayers "for the remnant that were left." . . . Verse 20. - For the prayer of Hezekiah, see 2 Kings 19:14-19; and for the place of the prayer or prayers of Isaiah, and the indications of their having been offered, see alike 2 Chronicles 19:4-7, and the verses of the grand passage, 20-3 t.