1 Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah became king during the third year Hoshea son of Elah was king of Israel.
2 Hezekiah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he ruled twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah.
3 Hezekiah did what the Lord said was right, just as his ancestor David had done.
4 He removed the places where gods were worshiped. He smashed the stone pillars and cut down the Asherah idols. Also the Israelites had been burning incense to Nehushtan, the bronze snake Moses had made. But Hezekiah broke it into pieces.