CHAPTER 20
. HEZEKIAH'S
LIFE LENGTHENED.
1. In those days was Hezekiah
sick—As his reign lasted twenty-nine years (), and his kingdom was invaded in the fourteenth (), it is evident that this sudden and severe illness must
have occurred in the very year of the Syrian invasion. Between the
threatened attack and the actual appearance of the enemy, this
incident in Hezekiah's history must have taken place. But according
to the usage of the sacred historian, the story of Sennacherib is
completed before entering on what was personal to the king of Judah
(see also ).
Set thine house in
order—Isaiah, being of the blood royal, might have access to
the king's private house. But since the prophet was commissioned to
make this announcement, the message must be considered as referring
to matters of higher importance than the settlement of the king's
domestic and private affairs. It must have related chiefly to the
state of his kingdom, he having not as yet any son (compare 2 Kings 20:6;
2 Kings 21:1).
for thou shall die, and not
live—The disease was of a malignant character and would be
mortal in its effects, unless the healing power of God should
miraculously interpose.
2. he turned his face to the
wall—not like Ahab (), in fretful discontent, but in order to secure a better
opportunity for prayer.
3. remember now how I have walked
before thee, c.—The course of Hezekiah's thoughts was evidently
directed to the promise made to David and his successors on the
throne (1 Kings 8:25). He had kept
the conditions as faithfully as human infirmity admitted and as he
had been all along free from any of those great crimes by which,
through the judgment of God, human life was often suddenly cut short,
his great grief might arise partly from the love of life, partly from
the obscurity of the Mosaic dispensation, where life and immortality
had not been fully brought to light, and partly from his plans for
the reformation of his kingdom being frustrated by his death. He
pleaded the fulfilment of the promise.
4. afore Isaiah was gone out into
the middle court—of the royal castle.
5. Thus saith . . . the God of David
thy father—An immediate answer was given to his prayer,
containing an assurance that the Lord was mindful of His promise to
David and would accomplish it in Hezekiah's experience, both by the
prolongation of his life, and his deliverance from the Assyrians.
on the third day—The
perfect recovery from a dangerous sickness, within so short a time,
shows the miraculous character of the cure (see his thanksgiving
song, Isaiah 38:9). The disease
cannot be ascertained; but the text gives no hint that the plague was
raging then in Jerusalem; and although Arab physicians apply a
cataplasm of figs to plague-boils, they also do so in other cases, as
figs are considered useful in ripening and soothing inflammatory
ulcers.
Isaiah 38:9. THE SUN
GOES TEN
DEGREES BACKWARD.
8-11. Hezekiah said unto Isaiah,
What will be the sign that the Lord shall heal me—His recovery
in the course of nature was so unlooked for, that the king asked for
some token to justify his reliance on the truth of the prophet's
communication; and the sign he specified was granted to him. The
shadow of the sun went back upon the dial of Ahaz the ten degrees it
had gone down. Various conjectures have been formed as to this dial.
The word in the original is "degrees," or "steps,"
and hence many commentators have supposed that it was a stair, so
artfully contrived, that the shadows on the steps indicated the hours
and course of the sun. But it is more probable that it was a proper
instrument, and, from the Hebrews having no term to designate it,
that it was one of the foreign novelties imported from Babylon by
Ahaz. It seems to have been of such magnitude, and so placed in the
court, that Isaiah could point to it, and the king see it, from his
chamber. The retrogression of the sun's shadow on the dial was
miraculously accomplished by the omnipotent power of God; but the
phenomenon was temporary, local, confined to the notice, and intended
for the satisfaction, only of Hezekiah and his court.
12-19. Berodach-baladan— (), the first king of Babylon mentioned in sacred history;
formerly its rulers were viceroys of the Assyrian monarchs. This
individual threw off the yoke, and asserting his independence, made
with varying success, a long and obstinate resistance [RAWLINSON,
Outlines]. The message of congratulation to Hezekiah, was, in
all likelihood, accompanied with proposals for a defensive alliance
against their common Assyrian enemy. The king of Judah, flattered
with this honor, showed the ambassadors all his treasures, his armory
and warlike stores; and his motive for this was evidently that the
Babylonian deputies might be the more induced to prize his
friendship.
13, 14. the silver, and the gold—He
paid so much tribute to Sennacherib as exhausted his treasury
(compare 2 Kings 18:16). But,
after the destruction of Sennacherib, presents were brought him from
various quarters, out of respect to a king who, by his faith and
prayer, saved his country; and besides, it is by no means improbable
that from the corpses in the Assyrian camp, all the gold and silver
he had paid might be recovered. The vain display, however, was
offensive to his divine liege lord, who sent Isaiah to reprove him.
The answer he gave the prophet (2 Kings 18:16) shows how he was elated by the compliment of their visit;
but it was wrong, as presenting a bait for the cupidity of these
rapacious foreigners, who, at no distant period, would return and
pillage his country, and transfer all the possessions he
ostentatiously displayed to Babylon, as well as his posterity to be
court attendants in that country—(see on 2 Kings 18:16).
12-19. Berodach-baladan— (), the first king of Babylon mentioned in sacred history;
formerly its rulers were viceroys of the Assyrian monarchs. This
individual threw off the yoke, and asserting his independence, made
with varying success, a long and obstinate resistance [RAWLINSON,
Outlines]. The message of congratulation to Hezekiah, was, in
all likelihood, accompanied with proposals for a defensive alliance
against their common Assyrian enemy. The king of Judah, flattered
with this honor, showed the ambassadors all his treasures, his armory
and warlike stores; and his motive for this was evidently that the
Babylonian deputies might be the more induced to prize his
friendship.
19. Good is the word of the Lord
which thou hast spoken—indicating a humble and pious
resignation to the divine will. The concluding part of his reply was
uttered after a pause and was probably an ejaculation to himself,
expressing his thankfulness, that, though great afflictions should
befall his descendants, the execution of the divine judgment was to
be suspended during his own lifetime.
20. pool and a conduit—(See on
).
CHAPTER 20
. HEZEKIAH'S LIFE LENGTHENED.
1. In those days was Hezekiah sick—As his reign lasted twenty-nine years (), and his kingdom was invaded in the fourteenth (), it is evident that this sudden and severe illness must have occurred in the very year of the Syrian invasion. Between the threatened attack and the actual appearance of the enemy, this incident in Hezekiah's history must have taken place. But according to the usage of the sacred historian, the story of Sennacherib is completed before entering on what was personal to the king of Judah (see also ).
Set thine house in order—Isaiah, being of the blood royal, might have access to the king's private house. But since the prophet was commissioned to make this announcement, the message must be considered as referring to matters of higher importance than the settlement of the king's domestic and private affairs. It must have related chiefly to the state of his kingdom, he having not as yet any son (compare 2 Kings 20:6; 2 Kings 21:1).
for thou shall die, and not live—The disease was of a malignant character and would be mortal in its effects, unless the healing power of God should miraculously interpose.
2. he turned his face to the wall—not like Ahab (), in fretful discontent, but in order to secure a better opportunity for prayer.
3. remember now how I have walked before thee, c.—The course of Hezekiah's thoughts was evidently directed to the promise made to David and his successors on the throne (1 Kings 8:25). He had kept the conditions as faithfully as human infirmity admitted and as he had been all along free from any of those great crimes by which, through the judgment of God, human life was often suddenly cut short, his great grief might arise partly from the love of life, partly from the obscurity of the Mosaic dispensation, where life and immortality had not been fully brought to light, and partly from his plans for the reformation of his kingdom being frustrated by his death. He pleaded the fulfilment of the promise.
4. afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court—of the royal castle.
5. Thus saith . . . the God of David thy father—An immediate answer was given to his prayer, containing an assurance that the Lord was mindful of His promise to David and would accomplish it in Hezekiah's experience, both by the prolongation of his life, and his deliverance from the Assyrians.
on the third day—The perfect recovery from a dangerous sickness, within so short a time, shows the miraculous character of the cure (see his thanksgiving song, Isaiah 38:9). The disease cannot be ascertained; but the text gives no hint that the plague was raging then in Jerusalem; and although Arab physicians apply a cataplasm of figs to plague-boils, they also do so in other cases, as figs are considered useful in ripening and soothing inflammatory ulcers.
Isaiah 38:9. THE SUN GOES TEN DEGREES BACKWARD.
8-11. Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What will be the sign that the Lord shall heal me—His recovery in the course of nature was so unlooked for, that the king asked for some token to justify his reliance on the truth of the prophet's communication; and the sign he specified was granted to him. The shadow of the sun went back upon the dial of Ahaz the ten degrees it had gone down. Various conjectures have been formed as to this dial. The word in the original is "degrees," or "steps," and hence many commentators have supposed that it was a stair, so artfully contrived, that the shadows on the steps indicated the hours and course of the sun. But it is more probable that it was a proper instrument, and, from the Hebrews having no term to designate it, that it was one of the foreign novelties imported from Babylon by Ahaz. It seems to have been of such magnitude, and so placed in the court, that Isaiah could point to it, and the king see it, from his chamber. The retrogression of the sun's shadow on the dial was miraculously accomplished by the omnipotent power of God; but the phenomenon was temporary, local, confined to the notice, and intended for the satisfaction, only of Hezekiah and his court.
12-19. Berodach-baladan— (), the first king of Babylon mentioned in sacred history; formerly its rulers were viceroys of the Assyrian monarchs. This individual threw off the yoke, and asserting his independence, made with varying success, a long and obstinate resistance [RAWLINSON, Outlines]. The message of congratulation to Hezekiah, was, in all likelihood, accompanied with proposals for a defensive alliance against their common Assyrian enemy. The king of Judah, flattered with this honor, showed the ambassadors all his treasures, his armory and warlike stores; and his motive for this was evidently that the Babylonian deputies might be the more induced to prize his friendship.
13, 14. the silver, and the gold—He paid so much tribute to Sennacherib as exhausted his treasury (compare 2 Kings 18:16). But, after the destruction of Sennacherib, presents were brought him from various quarters, out of respect to a king who, by his faith and prayer, saved his country; and besides, it is by no means improbable that from the corpses in the Assyrian camp, all the gold and silver he had paid might be recovered. The vain display, however, was offensive to his divine liege lord, who sent Isaiah to reprove him. The answer he gave the prophet (2 Kings 18:16) shows how he was elated by the compliment of their visit; but it was wrong, as presenting a bait for the cupidity of these rapacious foreigners, who, at no distant period, would return and pillage his country, and transfer all the possessions he ostentatiously displayed to Babylon, as well as his posterity to be court attendants in that country—(see on 2 Kings 18:16).
12-19. Berodach-baladan— (), the first king of Babylon mentioned in sacred history; formerly its rulers were viceroys of the Assyrian monarchs. This individual threw off the yoke, and asserting his independence, made with varying success, a long and obstinate resistance [RAWLINSON, Outlines]. The message of congratulation to Hezekiah, was, in all likelihood, accompanied with proposals for a defensive alliance against their common Assyrian enemy. The king of Judah, flattered with this honor, showed the ambassadors all his treasures, his armory and warlike stores; and his motive for this was evidently that the Babylonian deputies might be the more induced to prize his friendship.
19. Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken—indicating a humble and pious resignation to the divine will. The concluding part of his reply was uttered after a pause and was probably an ejaculation to himself, expressing his thankfulness, that, though great afflictions should befall his descendants, the execution of the divine judgment was to be suspended during his own lifetime.
20. pool and a conduit—(See on ).