2 Kings 20

Hizkia being sick, is threatned of God by Isaia with death, verse 1, &c but having prayed to the Lord hath fifteen years more added to his alife, 2 of which he is assured by a miracle, 8. Beodach Baladan visiteth hizkia by Ambassadours, who Isaia foretelleth him the Babylonish captivity. 14. He dieth and mansseh becameth King, 20.

1. In those dayes [to wit, after that the host of the Assyrians was smitten and Juda deliverd from them: which is conceived to have been in the fourteenth year of Hizkia’s reign] hizkia was sick unto death: and the prophet Isaia the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him; thus saith the Lord: give command to thine house; [i.e. take order concerning thy last will, for the disposing of thine state, as thou wilt have the same to go after thy decade. That is as much, as make thy last will and testament, so 2 Sam. 17.23. Isaia 38.1.] for thoushalt dye. [Heb. Thou art dead, or dying; that is, thou shalt die straightway. See Genesis 20 on v. 2. understand this threatening with a concealed condition, if he humbled not himself, and prayed unto God for mercy. Compare Jonah 3:4,10.]

2. Then he turned his face about, towards the wall; [to wit, that having turned away his eyes from men he might the better turn his mind to God, to pray earnestly and servently] and he prayed unto the Lord, saying;

3. Oh Lord, remember, I pray that I have walked before thy face in truth, [Or, in faithfulness, faithfully] and with a perfect heart, [see 1 Kings 8 on v. 61.] and have done that which is Gooding thine eyes: And Hizkia wept very sore. [Heb. Wept a great weeping or with a great weeping. He wept not so much through fear of death as because he was troubled to think what would become of God’s people, the pure worship of God, and the state of the kingdome after his death.]

4. Now it came to pass when Isaia was not (yet) gone out of the middle court, [To wit, of the king’s house: which court is called the second court, 1 Kings 7:8 oth. Out of the middle city, that is, out of the middle part of the city, which was between the fort and utmost part of the city. It’s conceived that the city of Jerusalem consisted of thre parts; first the city of David on Mont Zion, where the royal fort was. Secondly, the middle part of the city, thirdly, the remaining and utmost part thereof. Compare below chaper 22.14. 2 chron. 34.22. Zeph.1.10.] that the word of the Lord came to him, saying;

5. Turn again,and tell Hizka the leader of my people, thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father; I have heard thy prayer, I have see thy tears; behold I will heal thee; on the third day thou shalt go up into the house of the Lord.

6. And I will adde fifteen years unto thy dayes, [understand this in respect to the nature of the sickness which was mingled with death and not in respect of God’s purpose who had determined by the almighty fifteen years longer] and will deliver thee out of the hand of the King of Assyria; [to wit, by hindering the Assyrians from re-assuring the war] together with this city and I will defend this city for mine own sake, [see above chapter 19 on v. 34.] and for my servant David’s sake. [see 1 Kings 11 on v. 12.]

7. Then said Isaia; take a lump of figs; and they took it and they laid it on the sore, and he was healed. [Heb. Lived so above chapter 8 on v. 8 that is, he recovered, not so much by the natural virtue of the figs (which indeed are a conducible means thereunto) as chiefly by the special and super-natural power and blessing of the almighty.]

8. Now hizkia said into Isaia, which is token that the Lord will heal me and that I shall go up into the house of the Lord in the third day? [he spake this not out of unbelief, as the scribes and Pharises defied a token, Math. 12.38. but of an upright inclination or affection to strengthen his faith, because this promise of life did directly to oppose and contradict the former threatening of death. Compare Judges 6:17.]

9. And Isaia said, this shall be a token unto thee from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he hath spoken; shall the shadow [which is made by the shinning of the sun on the dyal, which is on the out-side of the clock] go forward [i.e. speedily and as it were in a moment, in an extraordinary manner, toward the west] ten degrees? [Heb. Ascensions, steps. Understand the marks or stroaks, or lines in the clock by which the hours were distinguished and pourtraied on the daill. This was a wonderful work of God. Concerning the degrees or lines, whether they signify half or whole hours and the like circumstance more, thereof are divers opinions.] or return backward [i.e. toward the east] ten degrees? [or the shadow is gone forward ten degrees, shall it go back ten degrees.]

10. Then saith Jezhizkia; it is a light thing [as more agreeing with the ordinary course of the fun, although also miraculous] for the shadow to go down ten degrees: Nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.

11. And Isaia the prophet called on the Lord; and he caused the shadow to return backward ten degrees, in the degrees, which it had gone downward, in the degrees (of the-fun dial) of Achaz. [I.e. in the fun-dial, which Achaz his father had caused to be made.]

12. And that time berdach Baladan [The King of Babylon, called also Merodach, Isaia 39.1 and in prophane histories] the son of baladan, the king of Babel, sent letters and a present to Hizkia: [viz to congratulate Hizkia in regard of his recovery and to inquire of the miracle that happened in the fun, Isaia 38.8 and was also taken notice of in Chaldea, 2 chron. 32.31.]] for he had heard that Hizkia had been sick,

13. And Hizkia hearkened [To wit, with joy. See Isaia 39.2] unto them, [understand the messgengers or Lords that had brought the fore-mentioned letters and present. To these did hizkia carefully listen, concerning that which was presented to him, or inquired of him] and he shew them all his treasury, [or spice-house. Understand an house, wherein all manner of pleasant drugs and spices, and costly wares were laid up] the silver and the gold and the spices and the best oil and his armory [Heb. An house of vessels or instruments. Understand weapons, or silver and gold jewels and all manner of precious furniture and Jewels] and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that he shewed him not.

14. then came the prophet Isaia unto King Hizkia and said unto him what said those men and from whence they unto thee? And Hizkia said; they are come from a far countrey from Babel.

15. And he said; what have they seen in thy house? And Hizkia said; they have seen all that is in mine house, there is nothing in my house, there is nothing in my treasures, that I have not shewed them.

16. Then said Isaia to Hizkia; heard the word of the Lord, [To wit, which the Lord in his due time will make good, because thou hast prided thy self in the lofty shewing of thy treasures and riches.]

17. Behold, the dayes come, that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up (in store) unto this day, shall be carried away to Babel; [see the accomplishment hereof below chapter 24.13 and 25.13. Jer.52.17.] there shall be nothing left saith the Lord.

18. Before they shall take thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beger, to be courtiers [i.e court-ministers, or court-servants. See gen. 37 on verse 36.] in the place of the King of Babel. [see the accomplishment hereof below chapters 24 and 25.]

19. but Hizkia said unto Isaia, the word of the Lord, which thou hast spoken, is good: he said also; should it not? [To wit, be good? Or is it not (so)? See the like phrase, 1 Sam 10.1. that is called here good, which is called righteous and gracious, righteous, because he and the land had deserved judgement; gracious, because God was still bountiful to him and his people though unworthy] seeing peace and truth shall be in my daies.

20. Now the rest of the acts of hizkia and all his might and how he made the pool. [see of this pool above chapter 18.17. neh.3.16.] and the conduit and brought water into the city, [to wit, to cut if off from the enemy. See 2 Chron.32.3,4,30.] are they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Juda?

21. And Hizkia fell asleep with his father: and Menasseh his son became in his stead.