Isaiah 38

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 38:17

Behold, for peace I had great bitterness ,.... Meaning not that instead of peace and prosperity, which he expected would ensue upon the destruction of Sennacherib's army, came a bitter affliction upon him; for he is not now dwelling on that melancholy subject; but rather the sense is, that he now enjoyed great peace and happiness, though he had been in great bitterness; for the words may be rendered, "behold, I am in peace, I had great bitterness"; or thus, "behold my great bitterness is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 38:18

For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee ,.... That is, they that are in the grave, and under the power of death, they cannot celebrate the praises of God with their bodily organs; their souls may praise him in heaven, but they in their bodies cannot till the resurrection morn, or as long as they are under the dominion of the grave; so the Targum, "they that are in the grave cannot confess before thee, and the dead cannot praise thee;' in like manner the Septuagint... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 38:19

The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day ,.... Every one of the living, or such who are both corporeally and spiritually alive; and therefore the word is repeated; none but such who are alive in a corporeal sense can praise the Lord in this world; and none but such who are spiritually alive can praise him aright, and such do under a true sense of the greatness of his mercies, and of their own unworthiness; and such a one was Hezekiah; for the words may be rendered, "as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 38:20

The Lord was ready to save me ,.... Or, "the Lord to save me F25 יהוה להושיעני "Dominus ad servandum me", Montanus; "Jehova est ad salvandum me", Cocceius, Vitringa. "; he was at hand to save him; he was both able and willing to save him; he was a present help in time of need; he arose for his help, and that right early; he very quickly delivered him out of his distress; he, who one day expected death every moment, was the next day in the temple praising God: therefore will we... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 38:21

For Isaiah had said ,.... Before the above writing was made, which ends in the preceding verse; for this and the following are added by Isaiah, or some other person, taken out of 2 Kings 20:7 . The Septuagint version adds, "to Hezekiah"; but the speech seems rather directed to some of his servants, or those that were about him: let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall recover ; which was done, and he did accordingly recover. Aben Ezra, Jarchi,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 38:22

Hezekiah also had said ,.... Unto Isaiah, as in 2 Kings 20:8 , what is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the Lord ? both of his health, and of his going up to the temple with thanksgiving for it; though the former is not here mentioned, as it is elsewhere; partly because it is supposed in the latter, for without that he could not have gone up to the temple; and partly because he was more solicitous for the worship and honour of God in his house, the for his health. The Syriac... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 38

Account of Hezekiah's dangerous sickness and miraculous recovery, Isaiah 38:1-9 . Tender and beautiful song of thanksgiving, in which this pious king breathed out the sentiments of a grateful heart, when his life was, as it were, restored. This ode may be adapted to other cases; and will always afford profit and pleasure to those who are not void of feeling and piety, Isaiah 38:10-22 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 38:1

In those days - The reader is requested to consult the notes on 2 Kings 20 in reference to the principal parts of this chapter. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 38:2

Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall - The furniture of an eastern divan or chamber, either for the reception of company or for private use, consists chiefly of carpets spread on the floor in the middle; and of sofas, or couches ranged on one or more sides of the room, on a part raised somewhat above the floor. On these they repose themselves in the day, and sleep at night. It is to be observed that the corner of the room is the place of honor. Dr. Pococke, when he was introduced to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 38:6

I will defend this city - The other copy, 2 Kings 20:6 , adds:" for mine own sake, and for the sake of David my servant;" and the sentence seems somewhat abrupt without it. read more

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