Westminster Annotations, 2 Kings (4 Kings) · Chapter 20
CHAP. XX.
Vers. 1. IN th…se dayes was Hezekiah si…k] 2 Chron. 32. 24. Isai. 38. 1. Anon after God had preserved Jerusalem from the attempt of the king of Assyria. For he reigned but twenty nine yeers (chap. 18. 2.) In the fourteenth yeer Sennacherib came against him (chap. 18. v. 1….) In this yeer f…ll our this sicknesse: for he lived fifteen yeers after this, v. 6.
unto death] In regard of the kinde, and strength of the disease which had c…ized upon him. See v. 7.
Set thine house in order] Heb. Give charge concerning thine house. Make thy will, and give order about thy family and kingdom, after thy decease. See 2 Sam. 17. 23.
shalt die] Such is thy disease, as no means that any creature can use, can recover thee. See the notes on chap. 8. v. 10.
V. 2. to the wall] That he might be the more free from distracting objects.
V. 3. remember] Not as any meritorious cause, but as a condition annexed to the covenant. See 1 King. 2. 4. So as herein be pleads Gods truth in keeping covenant. So Exod. 32. 13. Nehe. 13. 22.
perfect] See the notes on 1 King. 8. 61.
wept] Because he had not a son to succeed him, according to the promise, 1 King. 2. 4. Compare the yeers which Hezekiah lived after this (v. 6.) with the age of his son that succeeded him, chap. …. 1.
s…e] Heb. with a great weeping.
V. 4. middle court] Or, citie. Of the kings palace. See 1 King. 7. 8. or, into the midst of the city: so as God gave a speedy answer to Hezekiahs prayer.
V. 5. captain] Governour and chief commander, as in time of peace, so also of war.
heal thee] Perfectly recover thee of this mortall disease.
go up] An evidence of health and strength.
V. 6. deliver] From further attempts.
f… mine own] See the notes on chap. 19. v, 34.
V. 7. lump of figs] Figs have a mollifying and ripning vertue: they are a sit remedy for an hard boil: yet had they here an extraordinary vertue put into them, as the meal, chap. 4. v. 41.
boil] It is probable that this was a plague sore.
V. 8. said] Before he recovered.
What sign] This in faith he asketh to strengthen his faith, as Judg. 6. 17, 37.
V. 9. shall the shadow] This was to be an evidence of the suns sudden being in such a degree of heaven, before the accustomed course thereof, or of its sudden starting back so far. And because it was all one with the LORD to do the one or the other, he refers it to Hezekiahs choice, lest he should renew his desire, as Gideon did, Judg. 6. 39.
ten degrees] This message might be brought to the king at high noon, when the sun might go forward or backward ten degrees: whence is inferred that the diall here mentioned was divided into twenty four equall parts, each of them being half an hour.
V. 10. It is a light] In mans apprehension, and comparatively to going backward: but simply in it self it was a very great matter, extraordinary and miraculous. In regard that both of them were above nature, in the truth of the case, neither of them was lighter then other. Such an one is noted, Josh. 10. 13.
V. 11. cryed] Earnestly prayed: for warranted means must be used for obtaining things promised, 1 King. 18. 42. Exod. 14. 15.
the shadow] By causing the sun to go so far back, Isai. 38. 8.
by which it had gone down] See on Isai. 38. 8.
diall of Ahaz] Heb. degrees. Ahaz had made a fair, lasting diall, which was common for all of all sorts to look upon: by which diall the course of the sun was openly, and distinctly discerned.
V. 12. Berodach] Called Merodach, Isai. 39. 1. This is supposed to be a name common to the kings of Babylon, as Pharaoh to the kings of Egypt, Jere. 50. 2. Evil-merodach (chap. 25. 27.) had his name thence.
son of Baladan] Supposed to be the first that raised the Babylonian monarchy upon the ruine of the Assyrians.
sent letters] To congratulate Hezekiahs victory and recovery (as 2 Sam. 8. 10. and 10. 2.) and to enquire after that great wonder of the suns going back-ward (2 Chron. 32. 31.)
he had heard] By reason of the great wonder, v. 11.
V. 13. hearkned] To their kinde salutations, and to their questions about the miracle.
shewed them] With a minde too too vainglorious, 2 Chron. 32. 25.
precious] Or, spicery.
armour] Or, jewels. Heb. vessels.
nothing] Rare, and worthy to be shewed to such Ambassadours: and he had many rare and precious things, 2 Chron. 32. 27.
V. 14. What said, &c.] These interrogations are made not so much for information, as for the greater conviction.
V. 15. All, &c.] Though he dealt foolishly, yet he concealeth nothing.
V. 16. Hear, &c.] This preface is to make him heed what he should hear.
V. 17. fathers] Ancestors.
carried] See this accomplished, chap. 24. 13. and 25. 13. Jere. 27. 22.
V. 18. shalt beget] Or immediately (as Manasseh and his brothers (2 Chron. 33. 11.) or successively, as Jehojachin and his brothers, chap. 24. 12.
eunuchs] See the notes on 1 King. 22. 9.
V. 19. Good] Just: no other then what I and my people have deserved. See such an acknowledgement, 1 Sam. 3. 18. Job 1. 21.
Is it not good, if peace and truth, &c.] Or, Shall there not be peace and truth, &c.
Is it not] This interrogation is a confirmation of the point.
if peace] This is added not simply as a reason of the justice of the cause, but as an amplification of mercy mixed with justice.
V. 20. a pool, and a conduit] Hereof see chap. 18. v. 17.
brought water] Both for their own use, and also to withdraw it from the enemy (2 Chro. 32. 3, 4, 30.) which he might well do by bringing it in pipes under ground.
V. 21. slept] See 1 King. 2. 10.