Isaiahchapter 38

22 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 242 cross-references outward and receives 210 — heaviest partner: Psalms.

Chapter summary

Sick unto death, Hezekiah hears Isaiah's word: set thy house in order. He turns his face to the wall, prays, and weeps, and Jehovah answers through Isaiah: fifteen years added, the city delivered from the king of Assyria, and a sign — the shadow on the dial of Ahaz returns backward ten steps. The chapter then preserves Hezekiah's own writing after recovery: he laments going to the gates of Sheol in the noontide of his days, his life rolled up like a weaver's cloth; he chatters like a swallow and moans like a dove; then he confesses that God has cast all his sins behind his back, for Sheol cannot praise — 'the living, the living, he shall praise thee.' Two closing notes record the cake of figs laid on the boil and Hezekiah's question about a sign for going up to the house of Jehovah.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Prophecy · Isaiah — see the Isaiah overview for the book's full setting.

1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith Jehovah, Set thy house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto Jehovah,

3 and said, Remember now, O Jehovah, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

4 Then came the word of Jehovah to Isaiah, saying,

5 Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.

6 And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city.

7 And this shall be the sign unto thee from Jehovah, that Jehovah will do this thing that he hath spoken:

8 behold, I will cause the shadow on the steps, which is gone down on the dial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps. So the sun returned ten steps on the dial whereon it was gone down.

9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness.