Westminster Annotations, Isaiah · Chapter 38 – Chapter 39
CHAP. XXXVIII.
Vers. 1. IN those dayes was Hezekiah sick] 2 Kin. 20. 1, 2. 2 Chron. 32. 24. Shortly after the deliverance from the Assyrian, Chap. 37. Thus will God have his in continuall exercise; that thereby he may enure them, to depend constantly upon him alone, and to aspire unto heaven, 2 Cor. 1. 9. & 5. 2. 4.
unto death] His disease being in its own nature deadly.
Set thine house in order] Heb. Give charge concerning thine house. Chap. 48. 5.
thou shalt die and not live] Heb. thou art dead. no better then a dead man; as sure to die, as if already dead. So Gen. 20. 3. Joh. 3. 18. Rom. 7. 30. Yet a secret reservation there was, though the message was peremptorie to humble and trie him: as Jon. 3. 4.
V. 2. turned his face toward the wall] As he lay in his bed; not out of sullennesse and discontent; as Ahab, 2 King. 21. 4. but out of seriousnesse and devotion; that he might be the more retired, and lesse distracted in prayer, 1 King. 18. 42.
V. 3. how I have walked before thee] How I have carried my selfe carefully and faithfully, as in thy sight, Gen. 5. 22. & 6. 9. and 17. 1. Psal. 16. 8. & 119. 168. 1 King. 15. 5, 14. 2 Chron. 25. 2.
in thy sight] Heb. eyes. Jer 26. 14.
wept sore] Heb. with great weeping. 2 Sam. 13. 36. As being much troubled; partly that he should die so soon after deliverance from so great a calamitie, as deemed unworthy to enjoy the blessed fruit of it, 2 King. 7. 2, 19, 20. partly foreseeing the danger, likely to befall Church and State, should he then be taken away, having as yet no issue; for his sonne Manasseh was not yet born. See vers. 5. 18. 2 King. 21. 1.
V. 4. Then came the word of the LORD to Isaiah] Before he was gotten back to his own house, ere he was out of the Kings court, 2 King. 20. 4.
V. 5. I have seen thy tears] Taken speciall notice of them, and taken them to heart, Exod. 3. 7. Psal. 56. 8.
V. 6. I will deliver thee] He promiseth, not to prolong his life onelyonly, but to give him rest and quietnesse from the Assyrians; who might have returned to revenge their former discomfiture.
I will defend this citie] Chap. 37. 35.
V. 7. a sign] For Hezekiah had craved a sign, for the confirmation of his faith, vers. 22. and this sign, being put to his choice, 2 King. 20. 8, 10.
V. 8. the shadow] Together with the body of the Sunne it self making that shadow on the diall.
in the sunne-diall] Heb. in the degrees by, or, with the Sunne.
of Ahaz] Set up by him for publike use in some part of his palace.
the sunne returned ten degrees] These degrees were each of them, as is supposed, halfe an hour: so that day was seventeen hours long at least; if we suppose the sunne to have retired back suddenly so many degrees; or two and twenty full; if it went back in its ordinary pace; for then five hours must be spent in his regresse, and as many in his renewed progresse unto that point, from whence he retired: whereas their ordinarie day was but of twelve hours, Joh. 11. 9. and this then within two houres twice as long as the ordinary.
by which degrees it was gone down] Or, in the diall by which it had gone on. So that if we take the word of going down properly and strictly, it may seem, that this miraculous work began about five of the clock after noone, some houre before Sunne-set, the Sunne having then declined so many degrees. Howbeit, if we understand the words, not of the Sunnes, but of the shadows descending on the diall, it might commence from noon; some sort of dials being so composed, that the shadow descendeth. as the Sunne ascendeth; and ascendeth again as it descendeth. But the plainest way of interpretation will be, if the word of going down be understood to signifie any progresse simply, without consideration of ascent or descent properly so tearmed: as Judg. 11. 37. & 15. 11. 1 Sam. 23. 6. 2 Sam. 23. 21. 2 King. 8. 29. Jer. 18. 2. and 22. 1.
V. 9. The writing of Hezekiah] This song of lamentation and gratulation, was left by him to posteritie, as a monument of his thankfulnesse; as the 51. Psalm by David, of his repentance.
was recovered of] Heb. lived from. vers. 16. 21.
V. 10. in the cutting off of my dayes] When I was told I should die, vers. 1. 12. Lam. 3. 54.
the gates of the grave] Psal. 9. 13.
the residue of my yeers] Of what time I might have further lived, vers. 12.
V. 11. I shall not see the LORD] I shall not visit his Temple any more among the faithfull, Psal. 27. 4. 13. & 42. 2. & 116. 9. vers. 22. Chap. 53. 4.
V. 12. Mine age is departed] The ordinary tearm of yeers, which in course of nature I might have attained unto, is shortned, Psal. 55. 23. & 89. 45. & 102. 24.
as a shepherds tent] Which is soon and suddenly taken down and removed, Jer. 4. 20. Lam. 2. 6.
I have cut off like a weaver my life] As a Weaver cutteth off the web from the loame, when he hath wrought it out: or, as if he should cut it off from the loam, before it be wrought out, vers. 10.
with pining sicknesse] Or, from the thrum.
from day even to night] This very day; shortly, speedily, without longer delay, vers. 13. Or, continually, incessantly; untill thou hast made an end of me, Job 4. 20.
V. 13. I reckoned till morning] Or, while morning was yet. I made account over-night, that I should live till morning; but my pangs in the night perswaded me the contrary. Or, I made full account, ere the morning (that is, day, as Gen. 1. 5.) was over, to have an end made of me.
that] Or, but.
as a lion] Jer. 50. 17.
will he break] Or, he brake. Lam. 3. 4.
from day, &c.] See vers. 12.
V. 14. so did I chatter] I was so opprest with sorrow, that I could not speak, but sigh and groane, Psal. 77. 4. Or, I was so full of pain, that my prayers were very quick and short.
mourn as a dove] Chap. 59. 11. Ezek. 7. 16.
upward] Towards heaven, to God, for ease and relief, 2 Chron. 20. 12. Psal. 69. 3. & 119. 82. & 123. 1, 2.
I am oppressed, undertake for me] Or, ease me. Sorrow and grief both of body and mind do so oppresse me, and as deaths Sergeants, arrest me; that I cannot escape, unlesse thou bail, or rescue me, Job 17. 3. Psal. 119. 122.
V. 15. he hath both spoken unto me] Or, concerning me. as Gen. 20. 13. He hath passed a sentence of death upon me, vers. 1. which he will also put in execution, 2 Cor. 1. 9. Or, he hath passed his word for my recovery; and made it good, vers. 5.
I shall go softly all my yeers in the bitternesse of my soul] Or, quietly; or, cheerfully, Psal. 42. 4. after (as Jer. 31. 13.) the bitternesse of my soul, Job. 7. 11. & 10. 1. I shall from hence-forward have no joy of my life, as vers. 117. 1 King. 21. 27. Or, I shall passe the residue of my life quietly, after this bitter brunt is over, vers. 6. See Chap. 53. 8.
V. 16. by those things] By thy free promises and gracious performances of them, Deut. 8. 3. Matt. 4. 4. Chap. 64. 5.
to live] Or, make me whole. Vers. 9.
V. 17. for peace I had great bitternesse] Or, on my peace came great bitternesse. Heb. bitter bitternesse. Whereas I made account to live at rest, being delivered from the enemy, I had unexpected grief upon grief, Job 29. 18. and 30. 15. Jer. 8. 15. and 14. 19.
thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit] Heb. thou hast loved my soul from the pit. that is, loved me, and saved me from it. A defective speech, such as ver. 14. 21. Chap. 1. 4. Jer. 46. 27.
from the pit] Psal 30. 3. and 103. 4.
thou hast cast all my sinnes behind thy back] As no more minding, or remembring them, then we are wont to doe those things, that we cast out of sight behind our backs, Psal. 50. 17. Chap. 43. 25. Jer. 31. 34. He valueth the remission of his sinnes, and Gods favour therein shewed him, above life it self, Psal. 32. 1. 5. and 63. 3. and 103. 3.
V. 18. the grave cannot praise thee] Since that God hath placed man in this world to glorifie him, the godly take it as a sign of his wrath, when their dayes are shortned; either for that God seemeth to deeme them unworthy for their sinnes to do him service; or out of their zeal to Gods glory, seeing so few on earth that seek it, vers. 3. Psal. 6. 5. and 30. 9. and 80. 18. and 88. 10,—12. and 102. 24 and 115. 17, 18.
V. 19. the father to the children] All posteritie shall acknowledge (parents informing their children of it) thy mercy and goodnesse shewed unto me, Psal. 78. 3, 4. Joel 1. 3.
V. 20. was ready to save me] See vers. 4.
the stringed instruments] Heb. Neginoth, Psal. 4. Hab. 3. 19. Or, hand-instruments. For the word is more generall; and comprehendeth all instruments of musick managed with the hand; not such onelyonly, as being stringed, are touched with the fingers, as Lute and Harp; or struck over with a quill, as the Cittern; or with a bow, as the Viol; but such also as are shaken to and fro, as the Cymbal; or beaten with the hand or stick, as the Timbrel: and are opposed to the Nehiloth, or wind-instruments; that are managed by the wind or breath, Psal. 5.
in the house of the LORD] This being one principall end and use of holy assemblies, to blesse the Lord in them for his benefits, Psal. 9. 14. and 22. 22, 25. and 40. 10. and 66. 13,—15. and 111. 1. and 107. 32. and 149. 1. and 150. 1.
V. 21. Isaiah had said] 2 King. 20. 7.
lay it] Heb. beat or, bruise it to be laid: as vers. 17.
he shall recover,] Heb. live. Vers. 9. Numb. 21. 8, 9.
V. 22. What is the sign] 2 King. 20. 10.
go up to the house of the LORD] He desireth life and health, that he may have libertie to repair to Gods house, vers. 11. Psal. 42. 1, 2. and 84. 2. and 122. 1. Ezek. 46. 2, 10.
CHAP. XXXIX.
Vers. 1. AT that time] 2 King. 20. 12, &c. To wit, when Hezekiah was newly recovered of that dangerous sicknesse, Chap. 38. 1.
Merodach-baladan] Called also Berodach, 2 King. 20. 12. as Dibon Dimon, Chap. 15. 9. and Baladan from his fathers name; as Matt. 16. 17. Mark. 10. 46. Either he, or his Father, seemeth to have been the first Chaldean King, that made head against the the Assyrians, to whom that people had been formerly subject, Chap. 23. 13.
sent] Partly to enquire of the strange miracle wrought by God for Hezekiah, 2 Chron. 32. 31. partly to congratulate with him for his recovery, 2 King. 20. 12. and the overthrow of the Assyrian, 2 Chron. 32. 21, 23. from whom he had revolted: but chiefly to shew himself an enemy to his enemy; and to ingratiate himself with one, whom God so favoured, that he might have his help, when occasion should require it, Psal. 47. 9.
letters] Heb. books. Chap. 37. 13.
was recovered] Heb. grown strong again.
V. 2. was glad of them] Was too much taken, and inwardly puffed up, and tickled with so solemn an embassage, 2 Chron. 32. 25. 31.
precious things] Or, spicerie.
precious oyntment] Heb. good oyl. Eccl. 3. 1.
armour] Or, jewels. Heb. vessels. or, instruments. Chap. 22. 24.
there was nothing in his house] Of speciall note; worthy the seeing.
that Hezekiah shewed them not] In a vain-glorious humour; as to the embassadours of one, with whom he had not formerly had the like intercourse, 2 Chron. 32. 25, 31. and as one glad of such an occasion to make his wealth and magnificence known to forain Princes abroad, vers 2.
V. 3. What said these men, &c.] He demandeth of him those particulars, thereby to bring him to a clearer sight, of their cunning flatterie, and his own folly.
from a farre countrey] Jer. 4. 16.
V. 4. All that is in mine house, &c.] Vers. 2.
V. 6. all that is in thine house, &c.] By the grievousnesse of the punishment is declared how greatly God detesteth pride and vain-glory. See 2 Sam. 24. 10. 13.
that which thy fathers have laid up in store] Jer. 20. 5.
shall be carried to Babylon] This that thou hast done, shall prove but a baite, to entice them, to be dealing with thy people and thy posterity.
V. 7. eunuchs] Officers, and servants, or attendants, Dan. 1. 3, 4. See Gen. 37. 36.
V. 8. Then said, &c.] 2 King. 20. 19.
Good is the word of the LORD] He willingly submitteth himselfe to Gods good pleasure, acknowledging withall the justnesse of Gods judgement, and his goodnesse in the delay of it. So 1 Sam. 30. 18. 2 Sam. 15. 26. Job 1. 21. Psal. 39. 9. and 119. 75, 137. Lam. 3. 22.
For] Or, Yet as Chap. 9. 1.
peace and truth] Or, assured peace. Jer. 14. 13. and 33. 6.