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| 1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Set thy house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. |
In those days – Somewhere in the period of Hezekiah's prosperity and consequent pride. R2382:6
731 BC, 125 years before the removal of the crown from Zedekiah (606 BC); corresponding to the date of the French Revolution, 1789 AD, from which Christendom recovered, though it must have seemed to be a "sickness unto death"; which was 125 years before 1914, when Gentile crowns are removed. R3574:1, 2*
Was Hezeklah sick – Penalty for his failure to render unto the Lord according to his blessings. R2382:6
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| 2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto Jehovah, saying, |
And prayed – Isa. 38:9-22 records in poetic form Hevious prayer. R2382:6
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| 3 Remember now, O Jehovah, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. |
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| 4 And it came to pass, before Isaiah was gone out into the middle part of the city, that the word of Jehovah came to him, saying, |
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| 5 Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the prince of my people, Thus saith Jehovah, 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 Jehovah. |
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| 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 Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake. |
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| 7 And Isaiah said, Take a cake of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered. |
And Isaiah said – Isaiah did not pray with Hezekiah, nor suggest prayer, but was surprised when sent back to inform Hezekiah that he would recover. R2028:6
A lump of figs – A poultice. Many who believe in faith healing today would object to a fig poultice or any other human instrumentality being used. R2029:1
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| 8 And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that Jehovah will heal me, and that I shall go up unto the house of Jehovah the third day? |
Shall be the sign – The Lord's people of the New Creation should avoid putting the Lord to tests and signs. He desires his people to walk by faith and not by sight. R3589:1
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| 9 And Isaiah said, This shall be the sign unto thee from Jehovah, that Jehovah will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps? |
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| 10 And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to decline ten steps: no, but let the shadow return backward ten steps. |
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| 11 And Isaiah the prophet cried unto Jehovah; and he brought the shadow ten steps backward on the steps, by which it had gone down on the steps of Ahaz. |
Brought the shadow – Probably by means of conditions in the upper atmosphere causing two parhelia or mock suns. R2383:1, * R3589:2; Q770:4
Ten degrees backward – Professor Garbet declares that he knew of an afternoon when, on sundials in Southern England, there occurred exactly the same wonder. R2383:1, R3589:4; Q770:4
Perhaps symbolically representing the ten years from the French Revolution to the beginning of the Time of the End. R3574:3*
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| 12 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. |
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| 13 And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and showed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not. |
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| 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. |
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| 15 And he said, What have they seen in thy house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in my house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them. |
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| 16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of Jehovah. |
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| 17 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thy house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith Jehovah. |
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| 18 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, whom thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. |
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| 19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of Jehovah which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, Is it not so, if peace and truth shall be in my days? |
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| 20 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made the pool, and the conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? |
Brought water – This seems to shadow forth the founding of the various Bible Societies at the beginning of the last century. R3574:3*
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| 21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers; and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead. |
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