Isaiah 38:1
THUS SAITH, etc.] The passage affords a striking illustration of the conditional nature of prophetic utterance, for at Hezekiah's intercession the sentence was revoked.... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS SAITH, etc.] The passage affords a striking illustration of the conditional nature of prophetic utterance, for at Hezekiah's intercession the sentence was revoked.... [ Continue Reading ]
TO HEZEKIAH IN HIS SICKNESS ISAIAH promises 15 more years of life, and confirms the promise by a sign. 9-20. Hezekiah's song of thanksgiving. 21, 22. The remedy for the king's disease was suggested by Isaiah, and the sign was given at the king's request.... [ Continue Reading ]
SICKNESS AND RECOVERY OF HEZEKIAH Continuation of the historical appendix to Isaiah's prophecies. The chapter is parallel to 2 Kings 20:1 (where see notes), but contains a considerable addition in the shape of Hezekiah's song of thanks-giving upon his recovery. Chronologically this chapter precedes... [ Continue Reading ]
FIFTEEN YEARS] Hezekiah's sickness therefore befell him in his 14th year (714): see on Isaiah 36:1. Though some long time before Sennacherib's great invasion, danger was already apprehended from Assyria (Isaiah 38:6).... [ Continue Reading ]
The. account in 2 Kings 20:8 is fuller. DEGREES.. SUN DIAL] RV 'steps.. steps.' Some kind of clock is evidently indicated, probably a pillar standing upon steps and casting a shadow in such a way that a particular portion of time was represented by a step.... [ Continue Reading ]
CUTTING OFF] RV 'noontide.' 11. See the Lord] Hezekiah is probably thinking of the Temple worship. The v. illustrates the gloomy conception of the Hebrews as to the state of man after death: cp. Isaiah 38:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
CUT OFF] RV 'rolled up.' WITH PINING SICKNESS] RV 'from the loom.' FROM DAY.. NIGHT] i.e. in one day. The words refer to the swiftness with which the end comes, not to prolongation of suffering.... [ Continue Reading ]
I RECKONED.. LION] RV 'I quieted myself until morning; as a lion,' etc.... [ Continue Reading ]
MOURN] i.e. moan, referring to the sound made by the dove. UNDERTAKE FOR ME] RV 'be thou my surety': Genesis 43:9; Genesis 44:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
SOFTLY] RM 'as in solemn procession' (Psalms 42:4). IN] RV 'because of.'... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THESE THINGS] i.e. the word of God and the action of His providence. The reference is to the first part of Isaiah 38:15 : cp. Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4. SO WILT THOU] RV 'wherefore.'... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD.. BITTERNESS] RV 'Behold it was for my peace that I had,' etc. He sees on looking back that the chastisement had been for his good. MY SINS] God's favour in restoration to health is viewed as a sign of forgiveness.... [ Continue Reading ]