Jehizkiah
“Yah strengthens (same as Hezekiah)”
Summary
An Ephraimite chief who, at the prophet Oded's urging, insisted on the humane treatment and release of Judean captives taken by Pekah of Israel.
☩His Noble Act
Jehizkiah (a variant form of Hezekiah) was the son of Shallum and one of the chiefs of Ephraim during the reign of Pekah. When the northern kingdom of Israel defeated Judah under Ahaz and brought 200,000 captives to Samaria, the prophet Oded condemned the action. Jehizkiah was one of four leaders who supported the prophet and opposed keeping their Judean brethren in slavery.
☩Care for the Captives
These Ephraimite leaders not only insisted on releasing the captives but also provided for their needs. They clothed the naked from the spoil, gave them food and drink, anointed them, and carried the feeble on donkeys to Jericho, the city of palm trees, on their way back to Judah. This act of mercy stands in stark contrast to the brutal warfare of the time and demonstrated that not all in Israel had forgotten the bonds of brotherhood.
Related Verses1 mention
2 Chronicles· 1 verse
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Jehizkiah," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.George Morrish, "Jehizkiah," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 3.John McClintock and James Strong, "Jehizkiah," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Jehizkiah," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).