20:1 In those days. This phrase probably includes the whole period of Hezekiah’s involvement with the Assyrians. This is the only place in the Bible where a righteous man was told by God that he had only a short time to live, and there must be a reason for it. The most likely reason was God’s expression of disapproval of Hezekiah’s compromise in giving the gold and silver in the temple to Sennacherib in the unsuccessful hope that this would keep him from invading Judah. Then when Hezekiah prayed—probably including repentance and confession—God not only healed him but promised to deliver the city from the threatened invasion by the Assyrians (II Kings 20:6). This would mean that the events of II Kings 20:1-11 had actually occurred before the events of II Kings 18:17–19:37.