View 2nd Kings 20 in the note window.
Hezekiah's sickness and recovery, ver 1 - 7.
The sign given him, ver. 8 - 11.
He shews the Babylonians all his treasures, ver. 12 - 13.
The Babylonish captivity foretold, ver. 14 - 19.
He dies, ver. 20, 21
1: Those days - In the year of the Assyrian invasion.
Set, &c. - Make thy will, and settle the affairs of thy family and
kingdom. Not live - Such threatenings, though absolutely expressed,
have often secret conditions.
2: Turned his face - As he lay in his bed. He could not retire to
his closet, but he retired as well as he could, turned from the company,
to converse with God.
3: In truth - Sincerely with an honest mind. I am not conscious
to myself of any gross exorbitances, for which thou usest to shorten mens
days. Wept - For that horror of death which is and was common to men,
especially, in the times of the Old Testament, when the grace of God
in Christ was not so fully manifested, as now it is: and, for the distracted
condition in which the church and state were then likely to be left, through
the uncertainty of the succession to the crown.
4: Court - Of the king's palace. This is noted to shew God's great
readiness to hear the prayers of his children.
5: God of, &c. - I am mindful of my promise made to David and his
house, and will make it good in thy person. Shalt go - To give me solemn
praise for this mercy.
6: Fifteen years - We have not an instance of any other, who was told
before - hand just how long, he should live. God has wisely kept us at
uncertainties, that we may be always ready.
10: Go down - In an instant: for that motion of the sun is natural
for the kind of it, though miraculous for the swiftness of it; but the
other would be both ways miraculous.
11: Degrees - These degrees were lines in the dial: but whether
each of these lines or degrees noted an hour, or half an hour, or a
quarter of an hour, is uncertain. But the sun itself went back, and
the shadow with it. This miracle was noted by the Babylonians, who,
having understood that it was done for Hezekiah's sake, sent to enquire
into the truth and manner of it, (2Ch 32:31).
Of Ahaz - Which Ahaz had made in the king's palace. This dial he
mentions, because the truth of the miracle might be best and soonest
discovered there, this dial possibly being visible out of the king's
chamber, and the degrees being most distinct and conspicuous in it.
12: Berodach - baladan - He seems to have been the king of
Assyria's vice - roy in Babylon, and upon that terrible slaughter in
the Assyrian host, and the death of Sennacherib, and the
differences among his sons, to have usurped absolute sovereignty over
Babylon. And either himself or his son destroyed the Assyrian
monarchy, and translated the empire to Babylon. Sent - Partly, for
the reasons mentioned, (2Ch 32:31), and partly, to assure himself
of the assistance of Hezekiah against the Assyrians, their common
enemy.
13: His treasures - For though his country had lately been harassed
by the Assyrians, yet he had reserved all his treasures and precious
things, which he and his fathers had gathered in Jerusalem. Besides,
he had considerable spoils out of the Assyrian camp. Also he had many
presents sent to him, (2Ch 32:23).
Shewed - Which he did through pride of heart, (2Ch 32:25,26),
being lifted up by the great honour which God had done him, in working
such glorious miracles for his sake, and by the great respects rendered
to him from divers princes, and now by this great Babylonian monarch.
So hard a matter is it even for a good man to be high and humble.
17: Behold - This judgment is denounced against him for his pride;
for his ingratitude, whereby he took that honour to himself which he
should have given entirely to God; and for his carnal confidence in that
league which he had now made with the king of Babylon, by which, it is
probable, he thought his mountain to be so strong, that it could not be
removed.
18: Thy sons - Of thy grand - children. Eunuchs - They shall be
servants to that heathen monarch, whereby both their bodies will be subject
to slavery, and their souls exposed to the peril of idolatry, and all sorts
of wickedness.
19: Good is, &c. - I heartily submit to this sentence, as being both
just, and merciful. True penitents, when they are under divine rebukes,
call them not only just, but good. Not only submit to, but accept of the
punishment of their iniquity. So Hezekiah did, and by this it appeared,
he was indeed humbled for the pride of his heart.
