2 Kings
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2 Kings 20
2 Kings 20
Commentary · verses 1-21
1In 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.
1In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
Commentary · verse 1
In those days, Hezekiah was sick unto death. He was going to die that day or very soon. Isaiah told him that God said he shalt die and not live. God did not say Hezekiah "maybe" would die. This sickness would end in death soon enough that Hezekiah needed to put his house in order.
2Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto Jehovah, saying, 3Remember 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.
2Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,
3I 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 sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
4And 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,
4And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
Commentary · verse 4
Before Isaiah was out of the middle court, God gave him a word.
5Turn 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.
6And 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.
5Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith 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.
6And 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.
Commentary · verses 5-6
In response to Hezekiah's prayer, through Justice, God said He would heal Hezekiah and add fifteen years to his life. The result: Hezekiah actually did live fifteen more years. That point proved Hezekiah was going to die very soon after the original word was given (vs.1). God wasn't speaking of the final death that Hezekiah would eventually experience as all men do. God was speaking specifically of Hezekiah dying very soon.
To say that God had always planned on healing Hezekiah and adding fifteen years to his life is calling God a liar. Again, in verse 1 God said "thou shalt die and not live." Then God said He would add fifteen years and Hezekiah lived fifteen more years. Either Hezekiah was going to die (because God had to add fifteen years to avoid him dying) or God did not add fifteen years (meaning God lied) and Hezekiah was always going to live fifteen more years.
The only explanation that was non-contradictory with the rest of God's Word was: Hezekiah's prayer and his righteousness (Reward) caused God to move and heal Hezekiah...and God did not know everything that will happen ahead of time.
Omniscient, according to the Bible, meant that God knew all the causes that existed and their effects. God did not know the causes that did not yet exist. At the beginning of this story, the causes that existed were that Hezekiah would die. Hezekiah's prayer provided a new cause and God stated the effect of that new cause.
Also, this story proved it was possible to pray against God's Will and have God answer a prayer that was against His Will. The key? The person praying needed to have enough spiritual value.
If you doubt this non-contradictory explanation, this story was told from Isaiah's perspective in Isaiah 38. In that chapter, Isaiah even documented a song that Hezekiah sang that gave further proof that God added fifteen years to Hezekiah's life.
Doctrines on this passage
7And Isaiah said, Take a cake of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
8And 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?
7And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
8And 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?
Commentary · verses 7-8
Hezekiah wanted a sign to confirm his healing. Would he need this sign if his death was far off?
9And 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?
10And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to decline ten steps: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten steps.
9And 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?
10And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.
Commentary · verses 9-10
The sign would be for the shadow to return backward ten steps, also translated as degrees.
11And Isaiah the prophet cried unto Jehovah; and he brought the shadow ten steps backward, by which it had gone down on the dial of Ahaz.
11And 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.
Commentary · verse 11
The "dial of Ahaz" was a type of sundial.
12At 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.
13And 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.
12At 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.
13And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, 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 house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.
Commentary · verses 12-13
It didn't seem like Hezekiah handled his extra time well. 2 Chronicles 32:24-26 speaks to this part of the story even stating, "But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up."
Commentary · verses 14-18
Verses 14-18: God, through Isaiah, rebuked Hezekiah.
14Then 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.
15And 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.
16And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of Jehovah.
17Behold, 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.
18And 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.
14Then 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.
15And he said, What have they seen in thine 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.
16And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD.
17Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.
18And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
Commentary · verse 18
Hezekiah showed the Babylonians all the treasure he had. God told Hezekiah, through Isaiah, that Judah would be carried away to Babylon, their sons would be taken away and would be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. The events of this prophecy were documented in the Book of Daniel.
19Then 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?
20Now 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?
21And Hezekiah slept with his fathers; and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
19Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?
20And 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?
21And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
Commentary · verses 19-21
Hezekiah was happy that he would have peace during his own time.
Hezekiah's story continued.