The last of Hezekiah's life and the succession of Manasseh is a tragic and interesting study in that time of Judah's history. It shows what a godly king and wicked one can do to a nation. It shows what happens when God heals, miraculously, as He sometimes does. It also shows what happens when a king loses focus and perhaps becomes too sure of his own power and not that given by God.

The events of chapter 32 set in motion what would be the ultimate downfall of Judah at the hands of the Babylonians. However, it was because the kings after Josiah would become as corrupt as Manasseh, and Babylon would simply be the instrument to fulfill the prophetic words of Isaiah. The nation of Israel and Judah could have existed, indefinitely, had they kept their focus on their God who protected them. They instead chose a direction of rebellion, failure and misery, though they knew better.