1._In those days. _The Prophet now relates that the pious king was violently assailed by a different kind of temptation, namely, that he was seized with a mortal disease and despaired of life; and not only so, but likewise that he suffered dreadful agony, in consequence of having received from God a... [ Continue Reading ]
2._Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall. _He now relates the manner in which Hezekiah was affected when he received this message, that we may see his piety and faith. He does not break out into rage or indignation like unbelievers, but bears this affliction patiently. He does not debate with Go... [ Continue Reading ]
3._And said, I beseech thee, Jehovah. _He appears here to expostulate with God, and to remonstrate with him about his own past life, as if he were undeservedly distressed; but the case is far otherwise. On the contrary, he strengthens and fortifies himself against a heavy and dangerous temptation, w... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Then came the word of Jehovah. _Isaiah had departed, leaving the sting, as the saying is, in the wound, reckoning as abandoned him on whom he had pronounced sentence in the name of God himself. Yet with what trembling uneasiness he was tormented, and even with what terror he was seized, may be pa... [ Continue Reading ]
5._Thus saith Jehovah the God of David thy father. _At first, when he struck terror alone, he reckoned it enough to mention the bare and simple name of God, to whose heavenly judgmentseat he summoned him as a criminal; but now, when he brings consolation, he distinguishes God by a peculiar and honor... [ Continue Reading ]
6._And I will deliver thee. _Those who think that Hezekiah was sick during the time of the siege found an argument on this, that otherwise this promise would appear to be superfluous. But there is little force in that reasoning; for the Assyrian might have recruited his forces, and mustered a fresh... [ Continue Reading ]
7._And this shall be a sign to thee. _The sacred history relates in the proper order that Hezekiah asked a sign from the Lord, (2 Kings 20:8,) and that it was granted to him; which the Prophet will likewise mention at the end of this chapter. But it is no new thing for Hebrew writers to reverse the... [ Continue Reading ]
8._Lo, I bring back the shadow of degrees. _The sign which is here given to Hezekiah is the going back of the shadow on the sundial, along with the sun, _ten degrees by which it had already gone up, _(78) that is, had advanced above the horizon. And this sign bears a resemblance to the event itself,... [ Continue Reading ]
9._The writing of Hezekiah. _Though sacred history gives no account of this writing, yet it deserves to be recorded, and is highly worthy of observation; for we see that Hezekiah was unwilling to pass in silence, or to bury in forgetfulness, so remarkable a blessing which he had received from God. B... [ Continue Reading ]
10._I said in the cutting off of my days. _This is a very melancholy song; for it contains complaints rather than prayers. Hence it is evident that he was oppressed by so great perplexity, that he was weary with groaning, and sunk in lamentations, and did not venture to rise up freely to form a pray... [ Continue Reading ]
11._I said, I shall not see God. _Amidst such earnest longing for an earthly life, Hezekiah would have gone beyond bounds, if his grief had not been aggravated by the conviction of God’s wrath. Since, therefore, he is violently dragged away by his own fault, as if he were unworthy of enjoying the or... [ Continue Reading ]
12._My dwelling is departed. _He proceeds in his complaints, by painting his life under a beautiful metaphor; for he compares it to _a shepherd’s tent. _Such indeed is the condition of human life in general; but he does not relate so much what happens to all universally as what has befallen himself... [ Continue Reading ]
13._I reckoned till the dawn. _Others translate it “I determined,” or “I laid down.” Here it means what we express by the ordinary phrase, _(Je fasoye mon compte,)” _I laid my account.” From this verse it may be inferred that Hezekiah labored two days at least under the disease; for in the preceding... [ Continue Reading ]
14._As a crane, or a swallow. _Hezekiah cannot satisfy himself in explaining the severity of his anguish. He now says that he was reduced so low that he could not utter an articulate voice, but muttered some confused sound, like persons who are almost at the point of death. Hence it is evident that... [ Continue Reading ]
15._What shall I say? _This is generally supposed to be an exclamation, such as frequently bursts forth in a season of joy, as if he congratulated himself on having already obtained his wish. But I think differently. Hezekiah appears to proceed in his complaints; for he speaks as men commonly do whe... [ Continue Reading ]
16._O Lord, even to all who shall live after them. _The concise style of the Prophet has given rise to various interpretations. The interpretation most commonly received is “O Lord, they shall live beyond those years, (90) ” that is, “they shall lengthen their life.” This is equivalent to saying, “W... [ Continue Reading ]
17._Lo, in peace ray bitterness was bitter. _(91) Again, another circumstance aggravates the severity of the distress; for sudden and unexpected calamities disturb us more than those which come upon us in a gradual manner. The grievousness of the disease was the more insupportable, because it seized... [ Continue Reading ]
18._For hell shall not confess thee _(94) When he says that he would not have celebrated the praises of God, if his life had been taken away, he promises that he will be thankful and will keep it in remembrance, and at the same time declares that the highest and most desirable advantage that life ca... [ Continue Reading ]
19._The living, the living, he shall confess thee. _He does not include all men without exception; for many _live, _who yet extinguish the glory of God by their ingratitude, as far as lies in their power, and undoubtedly have nothing farther from their thoughts than that they were born to praise God... [ Continue Reading ]
20._Jehovah to save me. _(95) He acknowledges that he was delivered, not by the aid or industry of men, but solely by the kindness of God. The rendering given by some, “It belongs to the Lord to save me,” does not express enough, and appears to be more remote from the literal meaning; for he praises... [ Continue Reading ]
21._And Isaiah said _Isaiah now relates what was the remedy which he prescribed to Hezekiah. Some think that it was not a remedy, because_figs _are dangerous and hurtful to _boils; _but that the pious king was warned and clearly taught by this sign that the cure proceeded from nothing else than from... [ Continue Reading ]
22._Now, Hezekiah had said. _Some explain this verse as if this also had been a sign given to Hezekiah, and therefore, view it as connected with the preceding verse, and look upon it as an exclamation of astonishment. But it is more probable that in this passage the order has been reversed, as frequ... [ Continue Reading ]