20140625 Wednesday, June 25 2014
2 Kings 20: Hezekiah's Healing

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee"

The LORD (Who was and is Jesus Christ - see Genesis 1: In The Beginning Was The Word and The Kingdom Of The LORD God) had delivered the Kingdom of Judah from a massive invasion by the Assyrian Empire (see Sennacherib's Turn From Israel To Judah and What Did Isaiah Do During The Siege Of Judah?) after the fall of the Kingdom of Israel (see The Origin Of The Samaritans).

Some time later, King Hezekiah (see Hezekiah Of Judah) became ill to the point of death. The prophet Isaiah (see also Isaiah: Visions Of The Messiah) delivered the LORD's message to Hezekiah that "thou shalt die, and not live." Hezekiah nevertheless faithfully prayed for healing.

"20:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

20:2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, 20:3 I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now 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." (2 Kings 20:1-3 KJV)

The incident with Hezekiah provides two important lessons. The first is that the LORD will change His mind, for good reason (e.g. repentance) if He deems to do so, and amend a declaration made earlier. The second illustrates the importance of reading the entire Holy Bible, in context - those who don't will find contradictions where none actually exist.

Figs have been known since the very most-ancient times. They are the only fruit that is specifically identified in the Garden of Eden (the "forbidden fruit" could have been that of just one fig tree that was declared off-limits as a test of obedience). Whether there was something medicinal in the figs alone, or whether it was the heat in the poultice ("a medical dressing consisting of a soft heated mass of meal or clay that is spread on a cloth and applied to the skin to treat inflamed areas or improve circulation"), which in that case happened to be made of figs, that caused "the boil" to heal, is unclear. But what is certain is that the healing would not have happened without faith on the part of the one doing what they were told to do by the LORD (see The Healing Spirit).

"20:4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 20:5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. 20:6 And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

20:7 And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered." (2 Kings 20:4-7 KJV)

Hezekiah asked for a further sign - that was given to the faithful king. The shadow on his sun dial was seen to reverse (arc welders see the reason for it happen all the time - a brighter light temporarily shining on an object that is illuminated by sunlight).

"20:8 And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the LORD the third day?

20:9 And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?

20:10 And Hezekiah answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.

20:11 And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz." (2 Kings 20:8-11 KJV)

The Babylonian Empire had not yet risen and overcome the Assyrian Empire. The Babylonians were however by then active in "diplomacy" - then, as even more today, ambassadors and their staff are mostly spies. In Hezekiah's experience with them, "Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them."

"20:12 At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. 20:13 And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

20:14 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee?

And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.

20:15 And he said, What have they seen in thine house?

And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them." (2 Kings 20:12-15 KJV)

Babylon was not yet a threat (the invasions of Judah by Babylon would not happen for another century), but the prophet Isaiah was given to see what Babylon would do to Judah, in due time.

"20:16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD. 20:17 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. 20:18 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

20:19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?

20:20 And the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made a pool, and a conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

20:21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead." (2 Kings 20:16-21 KJV)

Fact Finder: Who was among the "eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon" that Isaiah prophesied to Hezekiah?
See The Prophet Daniel: A Child Of The Exile