2 Kings 20:5-8 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:1-11

Hezekiah's sickness. In order of time, this recovery of King Hezekiah from sickness stands before the destruction of Sennacherib, though in order of narration it comes after it. So with the Babylonian embassy (see on 2 Kings 18:1-13 ). I. WARNING OF DEATH . 1. Unexplained sickness . "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death." His disease was some ulcerous growth, called in the narrative "a boil." We have been accustomed in this history to see troubles of body, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:1-21

ILLNESS OF HEZEKIAH AND EMBASSY OF MERODACH - BALADAN . HEZEKIAH 'S DEATH . The writer proceeds to relate an illness and a recovery of Hezekiah, which happened about the middle of his reign, probably in B.C. 713, and which was accompanied by strange, if not miraculous, circumstances ( 2 Kings 20:1-11 ). Hezekiah's recovery was followed by an embassy of congratulation from Merodach-Baladan, King of Babylon, which led Hezekiah into an act of folly, and brought upon him... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:1-21

Death. "In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death," etc. A thoughtful man might raise many questions on this chapter—indeed, on all the chapters in this book. He might ask—Who was the writer of this chapter, ay, and of the entire Books of Kings? A question this which has not been settled, and, perhaps, never will be. He might ask on what authority certain men, called prophets, such as Isaiah, speak as from heaven, and say, "Thus saith the Lord." Priests and leaders of all sects profess to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:5

Turn again —or, turn back— "retrace thy steps, and enter once more into the bedchamber of the king"— and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people. An unusual title for the Jewish monarch, but one applied in 1 Samuel 9:16 and 1 Samuel 10:1 to Saul, and in 1 Samuel 13:14 and 2 Samuel 5:2 to David. The proper meaning of נָגִיד is "leader"—"one who goes in front." Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father— Hezekiah obtains mercy, both as David's son and as David's imitator... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:6

And I win add unto thy days fifteen years. God "does exceeding abundantly more than we either ask or think" ( Ephesians 3:20 ). Hezekiah had asked for nothing more than immediate escape from death. God grants him fifteen additional years of life, i.e. more than doubles the length of his reign. And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the King of Assyria. If Hezekiah's illness took place in B.C. 713, and Jerusalem was then in danger of being attacked by the Assyrians,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:7

And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. Figs were the usual remedy for boils. Dioscorides says of the fig, διαφορεῖ σκληρίας ; Pliny, " Ulcera aperit; " while Jerome, in his-commentary on Isaiah, has the following: " Juxta artem medicorum omnis sanies siccioribus ficis atque contusis in cutis superficiem provocatur ." The remedy is said to be still in use among Easterns. It can scarcely be supposed to have cured a malignant bell by its intrinsic force; hut under the Divine blessing... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:8

And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me? Having regard to the weakness of human faith, God, under the old covenant, often gave, or offered, near "signs" of promised blessings that were more remote, in order to sustain and encourage the doubtful and the wavering (comp. Exodus 3:12 ; 2 Kings 19:29 ; Isaiah 7:11 , Isaiah 7:14 , etc.). Hezekiah assumes that a near "sign" will now he granted to him, and simply asks what the sign is to be. And that... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 20:5

The captain of my people - This phrase (which does not occur elsewhere in Kings) is remarkable, and speaks for the authenticity of this full report of the actual words of the prophet’s message (abbreviated in Isaiah 38:1, etc.). The title, “Captain נגיד nāgı̂yd of God’s people,” commonly used of David, is applied to Hezekiah, as David’s true follower 2 Kings 18:3. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 20:6

The king of Assyria in 714 and 713 B.C. was Sargon (B.C. 721-705). If then the Biblical and Assyrian chronologies which agree exactly in the year of the taking of Samaria (721 B.C.), are to be depended on, the king of Assyria here must have been Sargon. It may be conjectured that he had taken offence at something in the conduct of Hezekiah, and have threatened Jerusalem about this time (compare Isaiah 20:6). There is, however, no evidence of actual hostilities between Judaea and Assyria in... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 20:7

A lump of figs - The usual remedy in the East, even at the present day, for ordinary boils. But such a remedy would not naturally cure the dangerous tumor or carbuncle from which Hezekiah suffered. Thus the means used in this miracle were means having a tendency toward the result performed by them, but insufficient of themselves to produce that result (compare 2 Kings 4:34 note). read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:1-11

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:1-21

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:1-21

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:5

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:6

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:7

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 20:5

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 20:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 20:7

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