HEZEKIAH'S SICKNESS; PERHAPS CONNECTED WITH THE PLAGUE OR BLAST WHEREBY THE ASSYRIAN ARMY HAD BEEN DESTROYED. (Isa. 38:1-22) Set . . . house in order--Make arrangement as to the succession to the throne; for he had th…
1En aquellos días Ezequías enfermó de muerte. Y vino a él el profeta Isaías hijo de Amoz, y le dijo: Jehová dice así: Ordena tu casa, porque morirás, y no vivirás.
2Entonces volvió Ezequías su rostro a la pared, e hizo oración a Jehová,
3y dijo: Oh Jehová, te ruego que te acuerdes ahora que he andado delante de ti en verdad y con íntegro corazón, y que he hecho lo que ha sido agradable delante de tus ojos. Y lloró Ezequías con gran lloro.
4Entonces vino palabra de Jehová a Isaías, diciendo:
5Ve y di a Ezequías: Jehová Dios de David tu padre dice así: He oído tu oración, y visto tus lágrimas; he aquí que yo añado a tus días quince años.
6Y te libraré a ti y a esta ciudad, de mano del rey de Asiria; y a esta ciudad ampararé.
7Y esto te será señal de parte de Jehová, que Jehová hará esto que ha dicho:
8He aquí yo haré volver la sombra por los grados que ha descendido con el sol, en el reloj de Acaz, diez grados atrás. Y volvió el sol diez grados atrás, por los cuales había ya descendido.
9Escritura de Ezequías rey de Judá, de cuando enfermó y sanó de su enfermedad:
10Yo dije: A la mitad de mis días iré a las puertas del Seol; privado soy del resto de mis años.
11Dije: No veré a JAH, a JAH en la tierra de los vivientes; ya no veré más hombre con los moradores del mundo.
12Mi morada ha sido movida y traspasada de mí, como tienda de pastor. Como tejedor corté mi vida; me cortará con la enfermedad; me consumirás entre el día y la noche.
13Contaba yo hasta la mañana. Como un león molió todos mis huesos; de la mañana a la noche me acabarás.
14Como la grulla y como la golondrina me quejaba; gemía como la paloma; alzaba en alto mis ojos. Jehová, violencia padezco; fortaléceme.
15¿Qué diré? El que me lo dijo, él mismo lo ha hecho. Andaré humildemente todos mis años, a causa de aquella amargura de mi alma.
16Oh Señor, por todas estas cosas los hombres vivirán, y en todas ellas está la vida de mi espíritu; pues tú me restablecerás, y harás que viva.
17He aquí, amargura grande me sobrevino en la paz, mas a ti agradó librar mi vida del hoyo de corrupción; porque echaste tras tus espaldas todos mis pecados.
18Porque el Seol no te exaltará, ni te alabará la muerte; ni los que descienden al sepulcro esperarán tu verdad.
19El que vive, el que vive, este te dará alabanza, como yo hoy; el padre hará notoria tu verdad a los hijos.
20Jehová me salvará; por tanto cantaremos nuestros cánticos en la casa de Jehová todos los días de nuestra vida.
21Y había dicho Isaías: Tomen masa de higos, y pónganla en la llaga, y sanará.
22Había asimismo dicho Ezequías: ¿Qué señal tendré de que subiré a la casa de Jehová?
JAMIESON-FAUSSET-BROWN BIBLE COMMENTARY
I
Versículo 2
I. The couches in the East run along the walls of houses. He turned away from the spectators to hide…
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.
II
Versículo 3
II. He mentions his past religious consistency, not as a boast or a ground for justification; but acc…
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., Exo 20:12) 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" (Gen 5:24; Kg1 9:4).
perfect--sincere; not absolutely perfect, but aiming towards it (Mat 5:45); single-minded in walking as in the presence of God (Gen 17:1). The letter of the Old Testament legal righteousness was, however, a standard very much below the spirit of the law as unfolded by Christ (Mat. 5:20-48; Co2 3:6, Co2 3:14, Co2 3:17).
wept sore--JOSEPHUS says, the reason why he wept so sorely was that being childless, he was leaving the kingdom without a successor. How often our wishes, when gratified, prove curses! Hezekiah lived to have a son; that son was the idolater Manasseh, the chief cause of God's wrath against Judah, and of the overthrow of the kingdom (Kg2 23:26-27).
III
Versículo 4
III. In Kg2 20:4, the quickness of God's answer to the prayer is marked, "afore Isaiah had gone out in…
In Kg2 20:4, 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 Isa 65:24; Psa 32:5; Dan 9:21).
IV
Versículo 5
IV. God of David thy father--God remembers the covenant with the father to the children (Exo 20:5; Ps…
God of David thy father--God remembers the covenant with the father to the children (Exo 20:5; Psa 89:28-29).
tears-- (Psa 56:8).
days . . . years--Man's years, however many, are but as so many days (Gen 5:27).
V
Versículo 6
V. In Kg2 20:8, after this verse comes the statement which is put at the end, in order not to interr…
In Kg2 20:8, after this verse comes the statement which is put at the end, in order not to interrupt God's message (Isa 38:21-22) by Isaiah (Isa 38:5-8).
will deliver--The city was already delivered, but here assurance is given, that Hezekiah shall have no more to fear from the Assyrians.
VI
Versículo 7
VI. sign--a token that God would fulfil His promise that Hezekiah should "go up into the house of the…
sign--a token that God would fulfil His promise that Hezekiah should "go up into the house of the Lord the third day" (Kg2 20:5, Kg2 20:8); the words in italics are not in Isaiah.
VII
Versículo 8
VII. bring again--cause to return (Jos 10:12-14). In Kg2 20:9, Kg2 20:11, the choice is stated to have…
bring again--cause to return (Jos 10:12-14). In Kg2 20:9, Kg2 20:11, the choice is stated to have been given to Hezekiah, whether the shadow should go forward, or go back, ten degrees. Hezekiah replied, "It is a light thing (a less decisive miracle) for the shadow to go down (its usual direction) ten degrees: nay, but let it return backward ten degrees"; so Isaiah cried to Jehovah that it should be so, and it was so (compare Jos 10:12, Jos 10:14).
sundial of Ahaz--HERODOTUS (2.109) states that the sundial and the division of the day into twelve hours, were invented by the Babylonians; from them Ahaz borrowed the invention. He was one, from his connection with Tiglath-pileser, likely to have done so (Kg2 16:7, Kg2 16:10). "Shadow of the degrees" means the shadow made on the degrees. JOSEPHUS thinks these degrees were steps ascending to the palace of Ahaz; the time of day was indicated by the number of steps reached by the shadow. But probably a sundial, strictly so called, is meant; it was of such a size, and so placed, that Hezekiah, when convalescent, could witness the miracle from his chamber. Compare Isa 38:21-22 with Kg2 20:9, where translate, shall this shadow go forward, &c.; the dial was no doubt in sight, probably "in the middle court" (Kg2 20:4), the point where Isaiah turned back to announce God's gracious answers to Hezekiah. Hence this particular sign was given. The retrogression of the shadow may have been effected by refraction; a cloud denser than the air interposing between the gnomon and dial would cause the phenomenon, which does not take from the miracle, for God gave him the choice whether the shadow should go forward or back, and regulated the time and place. BOSANQUET makes the fourteenth year of Hezekiah to be 689 B.C., the known year of a solar eclipse, to which he ascribes the recession of the shadow. At all events, there is no need for supposing any revolution of the relative positions of the sun and earth, but merely an effect produced on the shadow (Kg2 20:9-11); that effect was only local, and designed for the satisfaction of Hezekiah, for the Babylonian astronomers and king "sent to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land" (Ch2 32:31), implying that it had not extended to their country. No mention of any instrument for marking time occurs before this dial of Ahaz, 700 B.C. The first mention of the "hour" is made by Daniel at Babylon (Dan 3:6).
VIII
Versículo 9
VIII. The prayer and thanksgiving song of Hezekiah is only given here, not in the parallel passages of …
The prayer and thanksgiving song of Hezekiah is only given here, not in the parallel passages of Second Kings and Second Chronicles. Isa 38:9 is the heading or inscription.
IX
Versículo 10
IX. cutting off--ROSENMULLER translates, "the meridian"; when the sun stands in the zenith: so "the p…
cutting off--ROSENMULLER translates, "the meridian"; when the sun stands in the zenith: so "the perfect day" (Pro 4:18). Rather, "in the tranquillity of my days," that is, that period of life when I might now look forward to a tranquil reign [MAURER]. The Hebrew is so translated (Isa 62:6-7).
go to--rather, "go into," as in Isa 46:2 [MAURER].
residue of my years--those which I had calculated on. God sends sickness to teach man not to calculate on the morrow, but to live more wholly to God, as if each day were the last.
X
Versículo 11
X. Lord . . . Lord--The repetition, as in Isa 38:19, expresses the excited feeling of the king's mind.
Lord . . . Lord--The repetition, as in Isa 38:19, expresses the excited feeling of the king's mind.
See the Lord (Jehovah)--figuratively for "to enjoy His good gifts." So, in a similar connection (Psa 27:13). "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living"; (Psa 34:12), "What man is he that desireth life that he may see good?"
world--rather, translate: "among the inhabitants of the land of stillness," that is, Hades [MAURER], in parallel antithesis to "the land of the living" in the first clause. The Hebrew comes from a root, to "rest" or "cease" (Job 14:6).
XI
Versículo 12
XI. age--rather, as the parallel "shepherd's tent" requires habitation, so the Arabic [GESENIUS].
age--rather, as the parallel "shepherd's tent" requires habitation, so the Arabic [GESENIUS].
departed--is broken up, or shifted, as a tent to a different locality. The same image occurs (Co2 5:1; Pe2 1:12-13). He plainly expects to exist, and not cease to be in another state; as the shepherd still lives, after he has struck his tent and removed elsewhere.
I have cut off--He attributes to himself that which is God's will with respect to him; because he declares that will. So Jeremiah is said to "root out" kingdoms, because he declares God's purpose of doing so (Jer 1:10). The weaver cuts off his web from the loom when completed. Job 7:6 has a like image. The Greeks represented the Fates as spinning and cutting off the threads of each man's life.
he--God.
with pining sickness--rather, "from the thrum," or thread, which tied the loom to the weaver's beam.
from day . . . to night--that is, in the space of a single day between morning and night (Job 4:20).
XII
Versículo 13
XII. I reckoned . . . that--rather, I composed (my mind, during the night, expecting relief in the "mo…
I reckoned . . . that--rather, I composed (my mind, during the night, expecting relief in the "morning," so Job 7:4): for ("that" is not, as in the English Version, to be supplied) as a lion He was breaking all my bones [VITRINGA] (Job 10:16; Lam 3:10-11). The Hebrew, in Psa 131:2, is rendered, "I quieted." Or else, "I made myself like a lion (namely, in roaring, through pain), He was so breaking my bones!" Poets often compare great groaning to a lion's roaring, so, Isa 38:14, he compares his groans to the sounds of other animals (Psa 22:1) [MAURER].
XIII
Versículo 14
XIII. Rather, "Like a swallow, or a crane" (from a root; "to disturb the water," a bird frequenting the…
Rather, "Like a swallow, or a crane" (from a root; "to disturb the water," a bird frequenting the water) [MAURER], (Jer 8:7).
chatter--twitter: broken sounds expressive of pain.
dove--called by the Arabs the daughter of mourning, from its plaintive note (Isa 59:11).
looking upward--to God for relief.
undertake for--literally, "be surety for" me; assure me that I shall be restored (Psa 119:122).
XIV
Versículo 15
XIV. The second part of the song passes from prayer to thanksgiving at the prayer being heard.
The second part of the song passes from prayer to thanksgiving at the prayer being heard.
What shall I say?--the language of one at a loss for words to express his sense of the unexpected deliverance.
both spoken . . . and . . . done it-- (Num 23:19). Both promised and performed (Th1 5:24; Heb 10:23).
himself--No one else could have done it (Psa 98:1).
go softly . . . in the bitterness--rather, "on account of the bitterness"; I will behave myself humbly in remembrance of my past sorrow and sickness from which I have been delivered by God's mercy (see Kg1 21:27, Kg1 21:29). In Psa 42:4, the same Hebrew verb expresses the slow and solemn gait of one going up to the house of God; it is found nowhere else, hence ROSENMULLER explains it, "I will reverently attend the sacred festivals in the temple"; but this ellipsis would be harsh; rather metaphorically the word is transferred to a calm, solemn, and submissive walk of life.
XV
Versículo 16
XV. by these--namely, by God's benefits, which are implied in the context (Isa 38:15, "He hath Himsel…
by these--namely, by God's benefits, which are implied in the context (Isa 38:15, "He hath Himself done it" "unto me"). All "men live by these" benefits (Psa 104:27-30), "and in all these is the life of my spirit," that is, I also live by them (Deu 8:3).
and (wilt) make me to live--The Hebrew is imperative, "make me to live." In this view he adds a prayer to the confident hope founded on his comparative convalescence, which he expressed, "Thou wilt recover me" [MAURER].
16
Versículo 17
16. for peace--instead of the prosperity which I had previously.
for peace--instead of the prosperity which I had previously.
great bitterness--literally, "bitterness to me, bitterness"; expressing intense emotion.
in love--literally, "attachment," such as joins one to another tenderly; "Thou hast been lovingly attached to me from the pit"; pregnant phrase for, Thy love has gone down to the pit, and drawn me out from it. The "pit" is here simply death, in Hezekiah's sense; realized in its fulness only in reference to the soul's redemption from hell by Jesus Christ (Isa 61:1), who went down to the pit for that purpose Himself (Psa 88:4-6; Zac 9:11-12; Heb 13:20). "Sin" and sickness are connected (Psa 103:3; compare Isa 53:4, with Mat 8:17; Mat 9:5-6), especially under the Old Testament dispensation of temporal sanctions; but even now, sickness, though not invariably arising from sin in individuals, is connected with it in the general moral view.
cast . . . behind back--consigned my sins to oblivion. The same phrase occurs (Kg1 14:9; Neh 9:26; Psa 50:17). Contrast Psa 90:8, "Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance."
17
Versículo 18
17. death--that is, the dead; Hades and its inhabitants (Job 28:22; see on Isa 38:11). Plainly Hezeki…
death--that is, the dead; Hades and its inhabitants (Job 28:22; see on Isa 38:11). Plainly Hezekiah believed in a world of disembodied spirits; his language does not imply what skepticism has drawn from it, but simply that he regarded the disembodied state as one incapable of declaring the praises of God before men, for it is, as regards this world, an unseen land of stillness; "the living" alone can praise God on earth, in reference to which only he is speaking; Isa 57:1-2 shows that at this time the true view of the blessedness of the righteous dead was held, though not with the full clearness of the Gospel, which "has brought life and immortality to light" (Ti2 1:10).
hope for thy truth-- (Psa 104:27). Their probation is at an end. They can no longer exercise faith and hope in regard to Thy faithfulness to Thy promises, which are limited to the present state. For "hope" ceases (even in the case of the godly) when sight begins (Rom 8:24-25); the ungodly have "no hope" (Th1 4:13). Hope in God's truth is one of the grounds of praise to God (Psa 71:14; Psa 119:49). Others translate, "cannot celebrate."
18
Versículo 19
18. living . . . living--emphatic repetition, as in Isa 38:11, Isa 38:17; his heart is so full of the…
living . . . living--emphatic repetition, as in Isa 38:11, Isa 38:17; his heart is so full of the main object of his prayer that, for want of adequate words, he repeats the same word.
father to the children--one generation of the living to another. He probably, also, hints at his own desire to live until he should have a child, the successor to his throne, to whom he might make known and so perpetuate the memory of God's truth.
truth--faithfulness to His promises; especially in Hezekiah's case, His promise of hearing prayer.
19
Versículo 20
19. was ready--not in the Hebrew; "Jehovah was for my salvation," that is, saved me (compare Isa 12:2).
was ready--not in the Hebrew; "Jehovah was for my salvation," that is, saved me (compare Isa 12:2).
we--I and my people.
in the house of the Lord--This song was designed, as many of the other Psalms, as a form to be used in public worship at stated times, perhaps on every anniversary of his recovery; hence "all the days of our life."
lump of figs--a round cake of figs pressed into a mass (Sa1 25:18). God works by means; the meanest of which He can make effectual.
boil--inflamed ulcer, produced by the plague.
20
Versículo 22
20. house of the Lord--Hence he makes the praises to be sung there prominent in his song (Isa 38:20; …
house of the Lord--Hence he makes the praises to be sung there prominent in his song (Isa 38:20; Psa 116:12-14, Psa 116:17-19).
Next: Isaiah Chapter 39
Antiguo Testamento
Isaiah — Capítulo 38
HEZEKIAH'S SICKNESS; PERHAPS CONNECTED WITH THE PLAGUE OR BLAST WHEREBY THE ASSYRIAN ARMY HAD BEEN DESTROYED. (Isa. 38:1-22) Set . . . house in order--Make arrangement as to the succession to the throne; for he had th…
Texto — Reina-Valera 1960
1En aquellos días Ezequías enfermó de muerte. Y vino a él el profeta Isaías hijo de Amoz, y le dijo: Jehová dice así: Ordena tu casa, porque morirás, y no vivirás.
2Entonces volvió Ezequías su rostro a la pared, e hizo oración a Jehová,
3y dijo: Oh Jehová, te ruego que te acuerdes ahora que he andado delante de ti en verdad y con íntegro corazón, y que he hecho lo que ha sido agradable delante de tus ojos. Y lloró Ezequías con gran lloro.
4Entonces vino palabra de Jehová a Isaías, diciendo:
5Ve y di a Ezequías: Jehová Dios de David tu padre dice así: He oído tu oración, y visto tus lágrimas; he aquí que yo añado a tus días quince años.
6Y te libraré a ti y a esta ciudad, de mano del rey de Asiria; y a esta ciudad ampararé.
7Y esto te será señal de parte de Jehová, que Jehová hará esto que ha dicho:
8He aquí yo haré volver la sombra por los grados que ha descendido con el sol, en el reloj de Acaz, diez grados atrás. Y volvió el sol diez grados atrás, por los cuales había ya descendido.
9Escritura de Ezequías rey de Judá, de cuando enfermó y sanó de su enfermedad:
10Yo dije: A la mitad de mis días iré a las puertas del Seol; privado soy del resto de mis años.
11Dije: No veré a JAH, a JAH en la tierra de los vivientes; ya no veré más hombre con los moradores del mundo.
12Mi morada ha sido movida y traspasada de mí, como tienda de pastor. Como tejedor corté mi vida; me cortará con la enfermedad; me consumirás entre el día y la noche.
13Contaba yo hasta la mañana. Como un león molió todos mis huesos; de la mañana a la noche me acabarás.
14Como la grulla y como la golondrina me quejaba; gemía como la paloma; alzaba en alto mis ojos. Jehová, violencia padezco; fortaléceme.
15¿Qué diré? El que me lo dijo, él mismo lo ha hecho. Andaré humildemente todos mis años, a causa de aquella amargura de mi alma.
16Oh Señor, por todas estas cosas los hombres vivirán, y en todas ellas está la vida de mi espíritu; pues tú me restablecerás, y harás que viva.
17He aquí, amargura grande me sobrevino en la paz, mas a ti agradó librar mi vida del hoyo de corrupción; porque echaste tras tus espaldas todos mis pecados.
18Porque el Seol no te exaltará, ni te alabará la muerte; ni los que descienden al sepulcro esperarán tu verdad.
19El que vive, el que vive, este te dará alabanza, como yo hoy; el padre hará notoria tu verdad a los hijos.
20Jehová me salvará; por tanto cantaremos nuestros cánticos en la casa de Jehová todos los días de nuestra vida.
21Y había dicho Isaías: Tomen masa de higos, y pónganla en la llaga, y sanará.
22Había asimismo dicho Ezequías: ¿Qué señal tendré de que subiré a la casa de Jehová?
JAMIESON-FAUSSET-BROWN BIBLE COMMENTARY
Versículo 2
I. The couches in the East run along the walls of houses. He turned away from the spectators to hide…
Versículo 3
II. He mentions his past religious consistency, not as a boast or a ground for justification; but acc…
Versículo 4
III. In Kg2 20:4, the quickness of God's answer to the prayer is marked, "afore Isaiah had gone out in…
Versículo 5
IV. God of David thy father--God remembers the covenant with the father to the children (Exo 20:5; Ps…
Versículo 6
V. In Kg2 20:8, after this verse comes the statement which is put at the end, in order not to interr…
Versículo 7
VI. sign--a token that God would fulfil His promise that Hezekiah should "go up into the house of the…
Versículo 8
VII. bring again--cause to return (Jos 10:12-14). In Kg2 20:9, Kg2 20:11, the choice is stated to have…
Versículo 9
VIII. The prayer and thanksgiving song of Hezekiah is only given here, not in the parallel passages of …
Versículo 10
IX. cutting off--ROSENMULLER translates, "the meridian"; when the sun stands in the zenith: so "the p…
Versículo 11
X. Lord . . . Lord--The repetition, as in Isa 38:19, expresses the excited feeling of the king's mind.
Versículo 12
XI. age--rather, as the parallel "shepherd's tent" requires habitation, so the Arabic [GESENIUS].
Versículo 13
XII. I reckoned . . . that--rather, I composed (my mind, during the night, expecting relief in the "mo…
Versículo 14
XIII. Rather, "Like a swallow, or a crane" (from a root; "to disturb the water," a bird frequenting the…
Versículo 15
XIV. The second part of the song passes from prayer to thanksgiving at the prayer being heard.
Versículo 16
XV. by these--namely, by God's benefits, which are implied in the context (Isa 38:15, "He hath Himsel…
Versículo 17
16. for peace--instead of the prosperity which I had previously.
Versículo 18
17. death--that is, the dead; Hades and its inhabitants (Job 28:22; see on Isa 38:11). Plainly Hezeki…
Versículo 19
18. living . . . living--emphatic repetition, as in Isa 38:11, Isa 38:17; his heart is so full of the…
Versículo 20
19. was ready--not in the Hebrew; "Jehovah was for my salvation," that is, saved me (compare Isa 12:2).
Versículo 22
20. house of the Lord--Hence he makes the praises to be sung there prominent in his song (Isa 38:20; …