20:2 Then he turned his face to the a wall, and prayed unto
the LORD, saying,
(a) That his mind might not be troubled.
20:3 I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked
before thee in truth and with a b perfect heart, and have
done [that which is] good in thy sight. And Hezekiah c
wept sore.
(b) Meaning, without all hypocrisy.
(c) Not so much for his own death, as for fear that
idolatry would be restored which he had destroyed, and
so God's Name be dishonoured.
20:5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people,
Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have
heard thy d prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will
heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the e
house of the LORD.
(d) Because of his true repentance and prayer, God turned
away his wrath.
(e) To give thanks for your deliverance.
20:7 And Isaiah said, Take a f lump of figs. And they took and
laid [it] on the boil, and he recovered.
(f) He declares that though God can heal without other
medicines, he will not have these inferior means
contemned.
20:10 And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow
to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow g return
backward ten degrees.
(g) Let the sun go so many degrees back, that the hours
may be fewer in the king's dial.
20:11 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
made.
20:12 At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of
Babylon, sent letters and a i present unto Hezekiah: for
he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
(i) Moved by the favour that God showed to Hezekiah, and
also because he had declared himself an enemy of
Sennacherib who was now destroyed.
20:13 And 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
k dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.
(k) Being moved by ambition and vain glory, and also
because he seemed to rejoice in the friendship of him
who was God's enemy and an infidel.
20:19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good [is] the word of the
LORD which thou hast l spoken. And he said, [Is it] not
[good], if m peace and truth be in my days?
(l) He acknowledges Isaiah to be the true prophet of God
and therefore humbles himself to his word.
(m) Seeing that God has shown me this favour to grant me
quietness during my life: for he was afraid lest the
enemies would have had opportunity to rejoice if the
Church had decayed in his time, because he had
restored religion.
