It is not certain whether Hezekiah's conflict with the Philistines as far as Gaza or his preparations to secure for Jerusalem a good water supply (xviii. 8, xx. 20; 2 Chron. xxxii. 30; Ecclus. xlviii. 17 sq.)[9] should precede or follow the events which have been discussed. On the other hand, the reforms which the compiler of the book has attributed to the early part of the reign were doubtless much later (2 Kings xviii. 1-8). Not the fall of Samaria, but the crisis of 701, is the earliest date that could safely be chosen, and the extent of these reforms must not be overestimated. They are related in terms that imply an acquaintance with the great "Deuteronomic" movement (see DEUTERONOMY), and are magnified further with characteristic detail by the chronicler (2 Chron. xxix.-xxxi.). The most remarkable was the destruction of a brazen serpent, the cult of which was traditionally traced back to the time of Moses (Num. xxi. 9).[10] This persistence of serpent-cult, and the idolatry (necromancy, tree-worship) which the contemporary prophets denounce, do not support the view that the apparently radical reforms of Hezekiah were extensive or permanent, and Jer. xxvi. 17-19 (which suggests that Micah had a greater influence than Isaiah) throws another light upon the conditions during his reign. Hezekiah was succeeded by his son MANASSEH (q.v.).
See further W. R. Smith, _Prophets_, 359-364, and HEBREW RELIGION. According to PROV. xxv. 1, Hezekiah was a patron of literature (see PROVERBS). The hymn which is ascribed to the king (Isa. xxxviii. 9-20, wanting in 2 Kings) is of post-exilic origin (see Cheyne, _Introd. to Isaiah_, 222 sq.), but is further proof of the manner in which the Judaean king was idealized in subsequent ages, partly, perhaps, in the belief that the deliverance of Jerusalem was the reward for his piety. For special discussions, see Stade, _Zeits. d. alttest. Wissenschaft_, 1886, pp. 173 sqq.; Winckler, _Alttest. Untersuch_., 26 sqq.; Schrader, _Cuneiform Inscr. and Old Test_. (on 2 Kings, _l.c_.); Driver, _Isaiah, his Life and Times_, pp. 43-83; A. Jeremias, _Alte Test_. 304-310; Nagel, _Zug d. Sanherib gegen Jerus_. (Leipzig, 1903, conservative); and especially Prásek, Sanherib's "Feldzüge gegen Juda" (_Mitteil. d. Vorderasiat. Gesell_., 1903, pp. 113-158), K. Fullerton, _Bibliotheca sacra_, 1906, pp. 577-634, A. Alt, _Israel u. Ägypten_ (Leipzig, 1909); also the bibliography to ISAIAH. (S. A. C.)