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Wesley's Explanatory Notes

2 Kings 20:11

Degrees — These degrees were lines in the dial: but whether each of these lines or degrees noted an hour, or half an hour, or a quarter of an hour, is uncertain. But the sun itself went back, and the shadow with it. This miracle was noted by the Babylonians, who, having understood that it was done for Hezekiah's sake, sent to enquire into the truth and manner of it, 2 Chronicles 32:31. Of Ahaz — Which Ahaz had made in the king's palace. This dial he mentions, because the truth of the miracle might be best and soonest discovered there, this dial possibly being visible out of the king's chamber, and the degrees being most distinct and conspicuous in it.

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See also 2 Kings 20:11 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse 2 Kings 20:11. _HE BROUGHT THE SHADOW TEN DEGREES BACKWARD_] We cannot suppose that these _ten degrees_ meant _ten hours_; there were _ten_ _divisions of time_ on this dial: and perhaps it woul...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    3. HEZEKIAH'S ILLNESS, RECOVERY, FAILURE, AND DEATH CHAPTER 20 _ 1. Hezekiah's illness and recovery (2 Kings 20:1; 2 Chronicles 32:24)_ 2. Hezekiah's failure (2 Kings 20:12;...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    SICKNESS OF HEZEKIAH. This is related in the parallel passage, Isaiah 38, in a much abbreviated form, save that it adds the prayer of Hezekiah after his recovery. Isaiah 38 omits 2 Kings 20:4 (Isaiah...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    DIAL. degrees. AHAZ. See note on 2 Kings 20:8....

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the Lord_ This verse and the two preceding are much compressed in the narrative of Isaiah, and nothing is said of Isaiah's supplication, nor of the alternatives offe...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    III. HEZEKIAH'S PERSONAL CRISIS 20:1-19 The chronological placement of the episode related in chapter 20 is problematic. That the events of this chapter are earlier than the crushing defeat of Sennach...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND ISAIAH SAID, THIS SIGN SHALT 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?_ NO JFB COMMENTARY ON THE...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    20:11 dial (d-25) Lit. 'degrees.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    HEZEKIAH'S SICKNESS AND RECOVERY 1. In those days] The incidents related in this chapter probably took place _before_ Sennacherib's invasion, for (_a_) the deliverance from the Assyrians is still futu...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE DIAL OF AHAZ] Probably a platform surrounded by steps and surmounted by a pillar, the shadow of which fell upon a smaller or larger number of the steps according as the sun mounted or declined in...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE LAST KINGS OF *ISRAEL AND *JUDAH BOOK OF 2 KINGS _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 20 HEZEKIAH’S ILLNESS V1 During that time, Hezekiah became ill. He almost died. The *prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, wen...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    AND ISAIAH THE PROPHET CRIED UNTO THE LORD. — Thus the sign is evidently regarded by the historian as something directly involving the Divine agency, _i.e.,_ as a miracle. HE BROUGHT... AHAZ. — Litera...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּקְרָ֛א יְשַׁעְיָ֥הוּ הַ נָּבִ֖יא אֶל ־י

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    HEZEKIAH'S SICKNESS, AND THE EMBASSY FROM BABYLON 2 Kings 20:1 "Thou hast loved me out of the pit of nothingness," - Isaiah 38:17 (A.V, margin) "See the shadow of the dial In the lot of every one...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    THE SHADOW TURNED BACK ON LIFE'S DIAL 2 Kings 20:1 What a contrast between Hezekiah and the Apostle Paul! To the great Christian hero, death seemed infinitely desirable. He was ready to be offered; i...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In this chapter we have the account of the last days of Hezekiah. From a severe sickness he was delivered in answer to prayer and by the intervention of the prophet. He again manifested weakness durin...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the (h) dial of Ahaz. (h) Which was set at the top of the stairs that Ahaz had...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    Dial. Hebrew also, "steps." St. Jerome confesses that he followed Symmachus in Isaias xxxviii. 7. Whether this dial resembled one of ours, (Grotius) or was made in the form of steps, (St. Cyril, hom....

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    We can hardly say on this occasion which to admire most, the want of faith in Hezekiah, in asking a sign, or the abundant grace of the Lord in granting one by way of confirming his sacred word. Surely...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    "And he sent Eliakim, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests covered with sackcloth to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz" (2 Kings 19:1-37). He goes to Je...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    We find here again in a figure the principle with which Israel's deliverance, and that of all men, is connected-a principle pointed out in Elisha, and accomplished in Jesus. Hezekiah is raised as from...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND ISAIAH THE PROPHET CRIED UNTO THE LORD,.... Or prayed, as the Targum; and was very earnest in prayer, that what Hezekiah had desired might be granted: AND HE BROUGHT THE SHADOW TEN DEGREES BACKWA...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz. Ver. 11. _And he brought the shadow._] Together with the bod...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Isaiah the prophet cried unto the Lord_ Being moved by God's Spirit, first to offer him this sign, and then to pray for it. _And he brought the shadow ten degrees backward_ “The dial in use among the...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Hezekiah hauing receiued a message of death, by prayer hath his life lengthned. 8 The [HEZEKIAH SICKE.] Sunne goeth tenne degrees backward, for a signe of that promise. 12 Berodach Baladan sendi...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And Isaiah, the prophet, cried unto the Lord; and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz. The miracle consisted either in a supernatural breaking of...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Hezekiah's Sickness...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    FIFTEEN YEARS ADDED TO HEZEKIAH'S LIFE (vv.1-11) "In those days was Hezekiah sick and near death" (v.1). This took place about the time that Assyria captured the fortified cities of Judah (ch.18:13)...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    DIAL: _ Heb._ degrees...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-11 Hezekiah was sick unto death, in the same year in which the king of Assyria besieged Jerusalem. A warning to prepare for death was brought to Hezekiah by Isaiah. Prayer is one of the best prepar...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    ISAIAH CRIED UNTO THE LORD; being moved by God's Spirit first to offer him this sign, and then to pray for it. TEN DEGREES BACKWARD. QUEST. 1. What were these degrees? ANSW. Lines in the dial; but wh...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    2 Kings 20:11 Isaiah H3470 prophet H5030 out H7121 (H8799) LORD H3068 brought H7725 (H8686) shadow H6738 ten...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    HEZEKIAH RECEIVES A REMARKABLE SIGN CONFIRMING THAT YHWH WILL DO ALL THAT HE HAS SAID (2 KINGS 20:8). Prior to his healing in 2 Kings 20:7 a concerned Hezekiah asked for a sign that he would be healed...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Hezekiah's illness and recovery. CHARACTERS: God, Hezekiah, Isaiah, Berodach-baladan. CONCLUSION: Neither greatness nor goodness can exempt us from sickness, yet often when the death sente...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    2 Kings 20:1. _In those days;_ the year after Hezekiah's deliverance from the Assyrians, and the fifteenth of his reign. 2 Kings 20:11. _He brought the shadow ten degrees backward._ Signs of the truth...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _He brought the shadow ten degrees backward._ THE SUNDIAL OF AHAZ Here is the first timepiece of which the world has any knowledge. But it was a watch that did not tick and a clock that did not strik...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death._ THE BLESSING OF SICKNESS A Christian man of intense business enterprise and activity was laid aside by sickness. He who never would intermit his labours...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    2 KINGS—NOTE ON 2 KINGS 20:8 A SIGN of the promised healing is provided in the unnatural movement of a SHADOW on some STEPS associated with AHAZ

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    HEZEKIAH’S SICKNESS AND RECOVERY CRITICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTES.— 2 Kings 20:1. IN THOSE DAYS WAS HEZEKIAH SICK—The Assyrian invasion occurred in the fourteenth year of his reign (2 Kings 18:13), and...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION 2 KINGS 20:1 ILLNESS OF HEZEKIAH AND EMBASSY OF MERODACH-BALADAN. HEZEKIAH'S DEATH. The writer proceeds to relate an illness and a recovery of Hezekiah, which happened about the midd

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Now in those days Hezekiah was very sick (2 Kings 20:1). Actually he was dying. And Isaiah came to him, and said, Thus saith the LORD, Set your house in order; for you're going to die, and not live...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Kings 17:20; 1 Kings 17:21; 1 Kings 18:36; 2 Chronicles 32:24;...

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    How can these verses speak of the visitors from Berodach- Baladan as coming after the invasion of Sennacherib? PROBLEM: According to the sequence of events as they are presented in 2 Kings 20:12-15, t...

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