Hezekiah's Illness, Recovery, and Manasseh's Reign: Day 239 of Immerse Bible Reading Experience

In Day 239 of the Immerse Bible Reading Experience, we explore significant events during the reign of King Hezekiah and the subsequent reign of his son Manasseh. The episode begins with Hezekiah's terminal illness and his heartfelt prayer for healing. God responds by granting him an additional 15 years of life and a miraculous sign involving a sundial. Soon after, Hezekiah shows his treasures to Babylonian envoys, prompting a prophetic warning from Isaiah about future Babylonian exile. After Hezekiah's death, his son Manasseh ascends the throne and commits numerous detestable acts, including idol worship and human sacrifice, arousing God's anger and resulting in dire prophecies against Judah. Following Manasseh's death, his son Amon becomes king but is soon assassinated, leading to Josiah's ascension to the throne. This episode provides a detailed account of faith, prophecy, and the consequences of turning away from God as described in the Book of Kings.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:04 Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery
02:07 Hezekiah's Interaction with Babylonian Envoys
03:03 Prophecy of Babylonian Exile
04:02 Reign of Manasseh: Idolatry and Evil
07:26 Reign of Amon and Assassination
08:21 Josiah Becomes King
08:26 Conclusion and Farewell

Buy Immerse: Kingdoms Now!

Volume 3 — Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel–Kings

Kingdoms

Immerse: Kingdoms is the third of six volumes in Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience. Kingdoms presents a new and unique journey through the story of Israel from the time of its conquest of Canaan (Joshua) through its struggle to settle the land (Judges, Ruth) and the establishment of Israel’s kingdom, which ends in a forced exile (Samuel–Kings). The nation of Israel, commissioned to be God’s light to the nations, falls to division and then foreign conquest for rejecting God’s rule.

4 Questions to get your conversations started:
1. What stood out to you this week?
2. Was there anything confusing or troubling?
3. Did anything make you think differently about God?
4. How might this change the way we live?

QUICK START GUIDE
3 ways to get the most out of your experience

1. Use Immerse: Beginnings instead of your regular chapter and verse Bible. This special reader’s edition restores the Bible to its natural simplicity and beauty by removing chapter and verse numbers and other historical additions. Letters look like letters, songs look like songs, and the original literary structures are visible in each book.
2. Commit to making this a community experience. Immerse is designed for groups to encounter large portions of the Bible together
   for 8 weeks–more like a book club, less like a Bible study. By meeting every week in small groups and discussing what you read in open,
   honest conversations, you and your community can come together to be transformed through an authentic experience with the Scriptures.
3. Aim to understand the big story. Read through “The Stories and the Story” (p. 483) to see how the books of the Bible work together to tell God’s story of his creation’s restoration. As you read through Immerse: Beginnings, rather than ask, “How do I fit God into my busy life?” begin asking, “How can I join in God’s great plan by living out my part in his story?”