2 Kings 20

2 Kings 20:12-21

In this chapter we have, 1. Hezekiah’s fishes, and recovery, ver. 1-11. 2. Hezekiah’s sin, and recovery, ver. 12-19. 3. The conclusion of his reign, ver. 20, 21.

1. • In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death: and the prophet Isaiah the son of Amos came to him, and said unto him, Thus faith the LORD, See thine house in order, for thou shalt die and not live. 2. Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, 3. I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy fight: and Hezekiah’s way; 5. 4. And it came to pass after Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 5. Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus faith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee; on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. 6. And I will add unto thy days fifteen years, and I will deliver thee, and this city, out of the hand of the king of Affyria, and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake. 7. And Isaiah said, “Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered. 8. ¶ And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day? 9. And Isaiah said, This sign shall thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: * shall the shadow go forward ten degrees: or go back ten degrees? 10. And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees. 11. And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD, and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the 8 thial of Ahas.

o. 1-11. We have heard the deliverance of Jerusalem from destruction; here we have the recovery of her king from death. 1. Hezekiah is fed of a disease etheread mortal. This must have happened soon before, or soon after the ruin of the Affyrian army; when he could ill be spared, or when in the midst of his triumphs. Nor, (1.) The hell of men are liable to death, and thus humour the plague of sin hath seized their mortal bodies. (2.)

Robert Clark (2.) Every moment of life is uncertain; death pays no more respect to the conqueror than as his prisoners.

2. The prophet is sent to give him notice that he must die, and therefore to prepare for it, by settling his family and affairs. Note, (1.) God’s ministers need often press this argument which men are in health, as a quickening call, to awaken the people’s diligence to provide for death. (2.) When we are ill, they are our best friends, not who flatter us with life, but admonish us to be ready to resign it. (3.) Our souls are infinitely a more important concern than our houses; let them therefore be let in order, through renewed applications to anoning blood, and eleneth’s resignation of them into the hands of God.

3. Hezekiah, struck with the message, turned his face to the wall, either as desiring to be unobserved, or as directing his prayer towards the temple, and cried unto God. He humbly mentions the simplicity of his heart: not as his title to God’s favour, but as a comfortable proof of the grace of which he had been a partake, and begs God would still remember him in mercy in this trying season, whether for life or death. He wears face. The dangerous state of Judah exposed to the Assyrian sword, the reformation from idolatry scarce settled, and no son yet to succeed him; these grieved him for the people’s sake, or his tears were the expression of the fervency of his devotion, rather than the effect of any dismaying fear. Note, (1.) Though all our hopes towards God in a dying hour depend upon the finished work of Jesus, yet will the testimony of our confidence to our simplicity before him afford us to shall consolation. (2.) There is in death something terrible to nature, but grace can make us more than conquerors over its fears. (3.) The bell preparation for death is prayer, when our spirit is departing; then let us look up and say, “Into thy hands I” commend my spirit, for thou hast redeemed me, O Lord.”

4. Isaiah is immediately sent back with a message of peace to him; not that there is any change in God’s mind, but he who gave him notice of the fatal tendency of his disease, designed to stir up Hezekiah’s prayer, and to answer him in mercy. For his people’s sake, over whom Hezekiah presided, and as the God of David, mindful of his covenant, he tells him his prayer is heard, and more than answered: he shall not only recover, but perfectly return to God’s courts to worship, shall enjoy fifteen years longer life, and during that time, he protected from every attack of the king of Assyria, who threatened his country. Note, (1.) God’s gifts exceed our desires as well as deserts. (2.) Life is a blessing, when contended to advance the purposes of God’s glory upon earth, and this is the only end which can make it desirable. (3.) Though we know not the limits of our remaining days, we know they are few, and therefore need diligently improve them.

5. The outward means prescribed for his recovery, was a lamp of figs laid on the boil; not that they could so suddenly operate, or so perfectly effect the cure, but God would restore him to the use of means, though the efficacy was not in the figs, but the faith which applied them. Note, (1.) As we must not tempt God in our sickness, by the neglect of means, we must take care not to trust in them. (2.) When we are sick, the prayers and advice of God’s prophets may do more good than the prescription of our physician.

6. To confirm his faith, Hezekiah asked, and God granted him a sign of his recovering health, and return to the temple. God proposed to him his choice, whether the shadow should go forward or backward ten degrees (or half hours, as it is generally thought) upon the dial of Ahaz, which he might for from his window. As the retrograde motion would appear most miraculous, he chose that; and immediately the sun (as to appearance it seemed, but in fact it must be the earth) at Isaiah’s prayer returned either suddenly to begin its morning course again, or gradually; which supposing it rose at six, and it was then eleven o’clock, would make that day twenty-two hours long. Note, He who first impressed motion on their revolving planets, and keep them in their spheres, can when he pleases arrest their rapid course, and shortly will put a final period to their revolutions.

7. ¶ ‘At that time Berodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon,’ sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. 13. And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and ‘shewed them all the house of his precious things, the River, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his + armour, and all that was found in his treasures: ’there was nothing in his hands, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not. 14. ¶ Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon. 15. And he said, What have they sent in those house? And Hezekiah answered, ‘All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures,

that I have not shewed them. 16. And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD. 17. Behold, the days come, that all that is in mine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in stone unto this day, ‘shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. 18. And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, ‘shall they take away, and ’they shall be cuneous in the palace of the king of Babylon. 19. Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, ‘Good to the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days? 20. ¶ And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and ‘brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? 21. And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and ¶ Manaseth his son is reigned in his stead.

The king of Babylon, hitherto tributary to the king of Assyria, but probably on the late finale on Sionacherh’s forces meditating a revolt, in order to engage Hezekiah’s friendship, concerning whom he had heard such great things.

1. Sends ambassadors to congratulate him on his recovery; with a letter and a present, in token of his high respect for him, and desire to cultivate a correspondence with him. Note, It is wise to gain their favour, who have God for their friend.

2. Hezekiah unobligious of danger, and probably giving way to the vanity of his heart, flattered with such honour done him by so great a king, received them with great cordiality; and to excite a high idea of his riches and magnificence, shewed them his treasures, armoury, palaces, and whatever was curious or noble in his dominions. Note, Our politicians become a snare to us when we pride ourselves on them, take a pleasure in shewing them, and delight to hear them commended.

3. God saw and condemned the pride of his heart, and Isaiah is sent to repasse him for it. He enquiries concerning the persons, whence they came, and what they had seen. Hezekiah without reserve informed him, and receives a threatening sentence from the prophet. The treasures on which he was in vain, the king of Babylon should seize; and the alliance on which he prided himself, would be fatal to his family, v. 18. Note, (1.) They who will walk in pride, God will abide. (2.) That which hath manifested to our vanity and self-confidence, ere long will cover us with confusion.

4. Hezekiah humbly submits to the divine denunciation, Thankful that in judgment God had remembered mercy, and that in his days there should be peace. Note, (1.) We must submit to God’s afflictions not only as just, but gracious; designed not for our destruction, but humiliation. (2.) In the darkest dispositions of Providence we have cause to be thankful, if but that we are out of hell. (3.) The enjoyment of peace and truth, outward quoteness, and gospel-practising, is a singular mercy we can never sufficiently acknowledge.

5. Hezekiah’s reign, according to the prophetic word, ended peaceably and gloriously, of which we shall hear more, 2 Chron. xxix. His supperity, for the supply of Jerusalem with water, is here only mentioned, a noble and useful work. After a life of piety, he left his crown to his son Manaseth, an unworthy successor, who hailened the nation’s ruin. Note, A good man cannot entail his piety on his posterity.