Hezekiah began reigning as his father Ahaz"s vice-regent in729 B.C. and ruled as such for14years. In715 B.C. he began his sole rule over Judah that lasted until697 B.C. (18 years). He then reigned with his son Manasseh who served as his vice-regent for11more years (697-686 B.C.). His29-year reign ( 2 Kings 18:2) was from715-686 B.C. [1][source]
The writer recorded that only three other kings did right as David had done: Asa ( 1 Kings 15:11), Jehoshaphat ( 2 Chronicles 17:3), and Josiah ( 2 Kings 22:1-2). These were the other three of Judah"s four reforming kings. The only other king, beside Hezekiah, that the writer said removed the high places ( 2 Kings 18:4), was Jehoshaphat ( 2 Chronicles 17:6). Someone must have rebuilt them after Hezekiah removed them. Nehushtan ( 2 Kings 18:4) was the name that someone had given to Moses" bronze serpent. This word in Hebrew sounds similar to the Hebrew words for bronze, snake, and unclean thing. The Israelites had come to worship the object that had been a symbol of Yahweh"s healing grace. [source][source][source]
Regarding his faith, Hezekiah was the greatest Judahite king ( 2 Kings 18:5). He did not depart from Yahweh later in life ( 2 Kings 18:6). Consequently God"s blessing rested on him ( 2 Kings 18:7; cf2Chronicles29-31). His rebellion against Sennacherib ( 2 Kings 18:7) precipitated Assyria"s invasion of Judah ( 2 Kings 18:3 to 2 Kings 19:36). This was a reversal of his father Ahaz"s policy of allying with Assyria ( 2 Kings 16:7-9). God gave him consistent victory over the Philistines ( 2 Kings 18:8). [source][source][source]2 Kings 18:9-12 serve a double purpose. They relate the Assyrian defeat of Samaria to Hezekiah"s reign, and they explain again the spiritual reason for that defeat ( 2 Kings 18:12). Hezekiah"s fourth year ( 2 Kings 18:9) was725 B.C, the fourth year of his coregency with Ahaz. [source][source][source]