1. Set . . . house in order—Make arrangement as to the succession to the throne; for he had then no son; and as to thy other concerns. thou shall die—speaking according to the ordinary course of the disease. His being spared fifteen years was not a change in God's mind, but an illustration of God's dealings being unchangeably regulated by the state of man in relation to Him. read more
2. The couches in the East run along the walls of houses. He turned away from the spectators to hide his emotion and collect his thoughts for prayer. read more
3. He mentions his past religious consistency, not as a boast or a ground for justification; but according to the Old Testament dispensation, wherein temporal rewards (as long life, c., :-) followed legal obedience, he makes his religious conduct a plea for asking the prolongation of his life. walked—Life is a journey the pious "walk with God" (Genesis 5:24; 1 Kings 9:4). perfect—sincere; not absolutely perfect, but aiming towards it (1 Kings 9:4- :); single-minded in walking as in the... read more
4. In :-, the quickness of God's answer to the prayer is marked, "afore Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, the word of the LORD came to him"; that is, before he had left Hezekiah, or at least when he had just left him, and Hezekiah was in the act of praying after having heard God's message by Isaiah (compare Isaiah 65:24; Psalms 32:5; Daniel 9:21). read more
5. God of David thy father—God remembers the covenant with the father to the children (Exodus 20:5; Psalms 89:28; Psalms 89:29). tears— (Psalms 89:29- :). days . . . years—Man's years, however many, are but as so many days (Psalms 89:29- :). read more
The phrase "In those days" evidently identifies the event in Hezekiah’s reign just referred to in chapters 36 and 37, namely: the siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib (cf. Isaiah 39:1). Isaiah 38:6 clarifies that Hezekiah became mortally ill before God delivered Jerusalem from Sennacherib. Consequently the events of chapters 38 and 39 must predate those of chapters 36 and 37. Since the Lord added 15 years to Hezekiah’s life (Isaiah 38:5), and since Hezekiah died about 686 B.C., [Note: Thiele, A... read more
Hezekiah’s illness 38:1-8 read more
Perhaps Hezekiah turned his face to the wall to concentrate or to make his prayer private. Perhaps he felt completely devastated and withdrew into himself (cf. 1 Kings 21:4). He requested God’s mercy in the form of lengthened life, though he did not voice the request in so many words. He based his appeal on his godly walk before God and his wholehearted devotion to God. Hezekiah was a good king who reformed his nation spiritually (cf. 2 Chronicles 29-31). He appealed for longer life on the... read more
God sent His answer to Hezekiah’s prayer back to him through Isaiah (cf. 2 Kings 20:4). The Lord identified Himself as the God of David, his forefather. Perhaps the reference to David helped Hezekiah remember God’s promises to David about the perpetuity of his dynasty (2 Samuel 7). This reminded the king that God would remain faithful and care for His people.God had noted Hezekiah’s prayer and his tears, and they had touched Him. The Lord graciously promised him 15 more years of life. Long life... read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 38:3
Isaiah 38:3. And Hezekiah wept sore— Under the law, long life and uninterrupted health are promised as rewards of obedience, and immature death is denounced as a punishment. See Exodus 20:12.Deuteronomy 5:16; Deuteronomy 5:16; Deuteronomy 30:16. When we reflect on this, we need not be surprised at the sorrow which this good king expressed at his approaching dissolution. He looked upon it as a punishment, and consequently as a mark of the divine displeasure. Other reasons too might strongly... read more