1. Hezekiah became king of Judah at the age of 25, and he ruled in Jerusalem for 29 years. His mother was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.
2. Following the example of his ancestor King David, he did what was pleasing to the Lord.
3. In the first month of the year after Hezekiah became king, he re-opened the gates of the Temple and had them repaired.
4. He assembled a group of priests and Levites in the east courtyard of the Temple
5. and spoke to them there. He said, “You Levites are to consecrate yourselves and purify the Temple of the Lord, the God of your ancestors. Remove from the Temple everything that defiles it.
6. Our ancestors were unfaithful to the Lord our God and did what was displeasing to him. They abandoned him and turned their backs on the place where he dwells.