Introduction To The Reign of Hezekiah, King of Judah (2 Kings 18:1-3).
‘Now it came about in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.'
In the twelfth year of Ahaz's co-regency with Jotham, Hoshea ‘began to reign' (2 Kings 17:1), thus this is describing when Hezekiah's co-regency with Ahaz began in c.729-8 BC, not the commencement of his sole reign in c 716 BC. It was the practise in Judah for each king to bring his heir into co-regency with him, both in order that he may gain experience in the running of the kingdom and so that he might be well established on the throne with the reins of authority in his hands when his father died.
‘He was twenty five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty nine years in Jerusalem, and his mother's name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah.'
We now learn that at twenty five years old Hezekiah became sole ruler and reigned as sole ruler for a further twenty nine years (716-687 BC). (He had become co-regent as soon as he had attained to ‘manhood' when he was around thirteen years of age). The name of the queen mother was Abi (short for Abijah) daughter of Zechariah.
‘And he did what was right in the eyes of YHWH, in accordance with all that David his father had done.'
Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of YHWH in accordance with all that David had done. He was thus pleasing to YHWH. The ones who prior to this were spoken of similarly were Asa (1 Kings 15:11), and by inference Jehoshaphat, who walked in the ways of his father Asa (1 Kings 22:43). Compare also Josiah (2 Kings 22:2). These were the ones whom YHWH especially blessed.