II Kings 20:5

Hezekiah's sickness, and the message of the prophet to him, to prepare for death, Kg2 20:1. His distress and prayer to God, Kg2 20:2, Kg2 20:3. The Lord hears, and promises to add fifteen years to his life, and Isaiah prescribes a means of cure, Kg2 20:4-7. Hezekiah seeks a sign; and to assure him of the truth of God's promise, the shadow on the dial of Ahaz goes back ten degrees, Kg2 20:8-11. The King of Babylon sends a friendly message to Hezekiah, to congratulate him on his recovery; and to these messengers he ostentatiously shows all his treasures, Kg2 20:12, Kg2 20:13. Isaiah reproves him, and foretells that the Babylonians will come and take away all those treasures, and take the people into captivity; and degrade the royal family of Judah, Kg2 20:14-18. Hezekiah bows to the Divine judgment, Kg2 20:19. His acts and death, Kg2 20:20, Kg2 20:21.

Thus saith . . . the God of David thy father--An immediate answer was given to his prayer, containing an assurance that the Lord was mindful of His promise to David and would accomplish it in Hezekiah's experience, both by the prolongation of his life, and his deliverance from the Assyrians. on the third day--The perfect recovery from a dangerous sickness, within so short a time, shows the miraculous character of the cure (see his thanksgiving song, Isa 38:9). The disease cannot be ascertained; but the text gives no hint that the plague was raging then in Jerusalem; and although Arab physicians apply a cataplasm of figs to plague-boils, they also do so in other cases, as figs are considered useful in ripening and soothing inflammatory ulcers.

And I will add unto thy days fifteen years,.... See Gill on Isa 38:5. and I will deliver thee, and this city, out of the hand of the king of Assyria; by which it appears that this sickness and recovery were before the destruction of the Assyrian army: and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake: for the sake of his honour and glory in the temple, and the service of it, that were in Jerusalem, and for the sake of his promise to David and his seed.

In this chapter we have, I. Hezekiah's sickness, and his recovery from that, in answer to prayer, in performance of a promise, in the use of means, and confirmed with a sign (Kg2 20:1-11). II. Hezekiah's sin, and his recovery from that (Kg2 20:12-19). In both of these, Isaiah was God's messenger to him. III. The conclusion of his reign (Kg2 20:20, Kg2 20:21).

20:5 Hezekiah’s commitment to the Lord compared favorably with that of his ancestor David (18:3). Just as God had heard David’s prayers (Pss 6:8-9; 28:6-7; 31:22; 40:1-2), he would answer Hezekiah’s plea.