Bible Commentaries
2 Kings 20

Verse 1

those days. About the time of the second invasion (2 Kings 18:13 ), but before the deliverance of 2 Kings 19:35 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

Set thine house in order = Give charge concerning thine house. See the Structure of Isa 36:39 .

die, and not live. Figure of speech Pleonasm ( App-6 ), a double emphasis.

Verse 2

he. Some codices, with four early printed editions, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "Hezekiah".

prayed. See note on 2 Kings 20:15 . See his references to this in his "Songs of the degrees" (Psalms 120:1 ; Psalms 123:1-3 ; Psalms 130:1 , Psalms 130:2 ); and App-67 .

Verse 3

walked = walked to and fro: i.e. habitually walked.

a perfect = whole, or undivided.

wept sore. Hebrew "wept with a great weeping" = wept bitterly. Figure of speech Polyptoton. App-6 . See note on Genesis 26:28 .

Verse 4

came. The only occurrence of this in the case of Isaiah. Compare Genesis 15:1 .

Verse 5

God of David (Hebrew. Elohim. This tells us the nature of Hezekiah's prayer. He had no heir to the throne, but remembered Jehovah's word to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-16 . Hence his anxiety, as manifested in his "Songs of the degrees". Compare Psalms 127:3-5 ; Psalms 138:0 ; Psalms 132:0 . See App-67 . (Manasseh not born till three years later, 600 B.C.)

behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. Introducing the fivefold ( App-10 ) promise and answer to his prayer in verses: 2 Kings 20:5 and 2 Kings 20:6 .

go up, &c. This also must have been a subject of prayer.

Verse 6

fifteen years. 603-588 B.C.

defend = be a shield to. Compare 2 Kings 19:34 .

My servant David's sake. See note on 2 Kings 20:5 and Psalms 132:0 .

Verse 7

lump = cake, or plaister.

Verse 8

What shall be the sign . . . ? Contrast Ahaz (Isaiah 7:11 , Isaiah 7:12 ).

go up into the house of the LORD. See note on 2 Kings 19:14 , and App-67 .

Verse 9

degrees. It is to these degrees that Hezekiah's fifteen Songs refer (Psa 120 - 134). The word "degrees" is repeated here six times (in the history), but five times in Isaiah's gracious words ( 2Ki 38:8 ).

Verse 10

down = forward (2 Kings 20:9 ).

Verse 11

dial = degrees.

Ahaz. See note on 2 Kings 20:8 .

Verse 12

Berodaeh. Some codices, with Septuagint and Syriac, read "Merodach". Compare Isaiah 39:1 .

king of Babylon. First occurrence of this title. Babylon and Nineveh the two great cities competing henceforward for supremacy in Assyria. Finally settled by Nabopolassar and his son Nebuchadnezzar, "the head of gold" (Daniel 2:37 , Daniel 2:38 ).

sent letters and a present. These did what the king of Assyria and the king of terrors could not do.

Verse 13

hearkened. He did not pray as in 2 Kings 20:2 , or as in 2 Kings 19:15 . See the notes and Isaiah 39:2 , "was glad".

all. Some codices, with Syriac and Vulgate, omit this "all".

his. The depletion of 2 Kings 18:15 , 2 Kings 18:16 was not of "his" house, but of the house of Jehovah as well as "the king's house".

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) emphasizing each item.

all the house of his armour = all his armoury.

treasures = treasuries.

Verse 14

Then came Isaiah. He was to Hezekiah what Nathan was to David (2 Samuel 12:1 ).

What said . . . ? Figure of speech Anthropopatheia : for God knew who the men were, and what they had said.

a far country. Some codices, with three early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulg, add "unto me".

Verse 17

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos.

into Babylon. Compare 2 Chronicles 33:11 , and see note on 2 Kings 20:12 . A remarkable prophecy, as Babylon was of little account as yet (compare Isaiah 39:6 ). The return from Babylon was also foretold ( Isa 48:49 ).

Verse 18

they. Hebrew text reads "he". But some codices with 3 early printed editions, read "they". Compare Isaiah 39:7 .

eunuchs: i.e. courtiers, chamberlains, &c. Compare Genesis 37:36 and Daniel 1:3 , Daniel 1:4 .

Verse 19

Good. Hezekiah's submission was like Eli's. Compare 1 Samuel 3:18 .

Is it not good, if: or, Is it not that, &c. Figure of speech Erotesis. Septuagint reads "Let there be good".

Verse 20

a pool = the pool. Compare 2 Kings 18:17 . The pool of Siloam fed by the conduit mentioned below.

a Conduit = the conduit. A long underground channel discovered by Sir Charles Warren (in 1867) running from Gihon (now the Virgin's Fount) down to Siloam. An inscription found in it describes the making of it. Compare 2 Chronicles 32:30 .

brought water = brought the water. This is referred to by Hezekiah in Psalms 46:4 , where it is contrasted with the raging waters of 2 Kings 20:3 . Compare this with Isaiah 8:6-8 .

Verse 21

slept with his fathers. See note on Deuteronomy 31:16 .