2 Reis 20

1 Por aquele tempo Ezequias ficou doente, � morte. O profeta Isaías, filho de Amoz, veio ter com ele, e lhe disse: Assim diz, o Senhor: Põe em ordem a tua casa porque morrerás, e não viverás.

2 Então o rei virou o rosto para a parede, e orou ao Senhor, dizendo:

3 Lembra-te agora, ó Senhor, te peço, de como tenho andado diante de ti com fidelidade e integridade de coração, e tenho feito o que era reto aos teus olhos. E Ezequias chorou muitíssimo.

4 E sucedeu que, não havendo Isaías ainda saído do meio do pátio, veio a ele a palavra do Senhor, dizendo:

5 Volta, e dize a Ezequias, príncipe do meu povo: Assim diz o Senhor Deus de teu pai Davi: Ouvi a tua oração, e vi as tuas lágrimas. Eis que eu te sararei; ao terceiro dia subirás � casa do Senhor.

6 Acrescentarei aos teus dias quinze anos; e das mãos do rei da Assíria te livrarei, a ti e a esta cidade; e defenderei esta cidade por amor de mim, e por amor do meu servo Davi.

7 Disse mais Isaías: Tomai uma pasta de figos e ponde-a sobre a úlcera; e ele sarará.

8 Perguntou, pois, Ezequias a Isaías: Qual é o sinal de que o Senhor me sarará, e de que ao terceiro dia subirei � casa do Senhor?

9 Respondeu Isaías: Isto te será sinal, da parte do Senhor, de que o Senhor cumprirá a palavra que disse: Adiantar-se-á a sombra dez graus, ou voltará dez graus atrás?

10 Então disse Ezequias: É fácil que a sombra decline dez graus; não seja assim, antes volte a sombra dez graus atrás.

11 Então o profeta Isaías clamou ao Senhor, que fez voltar a sombra dez graus atrás, pelos graus que já tinha declinado no relógio de sol de Acaz.

12 Naquele tempo Berodaque-Baladã, filho de Baladã, rei de Babilônia, enviou cartas e um presente a Ezequias, porque ouvira que Ezequias tinha estado doente.

13 E Ezequias deu audiência aos mensageiros, e lhes mostrou toda a casa de seu tesouro, a prata e o ouro, as especiarias e os melhores ungüentos, a sua casa de armas e tudo quanto havia nos seus tesouros; coisa nenhuma houve que lhes não mostrasse, nem em sua casa, nem em todo o seu domínio.

14 Então o profeta Isaías veio ao rei Ezequias, e lhe perguntou: Que disseram aqueles homens, e donde vieram a ti? Respondeu Ezequias: Vieram de um país mui remoto, de Babilônia.

15 E disse ele: Que viram em tua casa? E disse Ezequias: Viram tudo quanto há em minha casa; não há coisa nenhuma nos meus tesouros que eu não lhes mostrasse.

16 Então disse Isaías a Ezequias: Ouve a palavra do Senhor:

17 Eis que vêm dias em que será levado para a Babilônia tudo quanto houver em minha casa, bem como o que os teus pais entesouraram até o dia de hoje; não ficará coisa alguma, diz o Senhor.

18 E até mesmo alguns de teus filhos, que procederem de ti, e que tu gerares, levarão; e eles serão eunucos no paço do rei de Babilônia.

19 Então disse Ezequias a Isaías: Boa é a palavra do Senhor que disseste. Disse mais: Pois não é assim, se em meus dias vai haver paz e segurança?

20 Ora, o restante dos atos de Ezequias, e todo o seu poder, e como fez a piscina e o aqueduto, e como fez vir a água para a cidade, porventura não estão escritos no livro das crônicas dos reis de Judá?

21 E Ezequias dormiu com seus pais. E Manassés, seu filho, reinou em seu lugar.

2 Reis 20 Commentary

Chapter 20

Hezekiah's sickness, His recovery in answer to prayer. (1-11) Hezekiah shows his treasures to the ambassadors from Babylon, His death. (12-21)

Verses 1-11 Hezekiah was sick unto death, in the same year in which the king of Assyria besieged Jerusalem. A warning to prepare for death was brought to Hezekiah by Isaiah. Prayer is one of the best preparations for death, because by it we fetch in strength and grace from God, to enable us to finish well. He wept sorely: some gather from hence that he was unwilling to die; it is in the nature of man to dread the separation of soul and body. There was also something peculiar in Hezekiah's case; he was now in the midst of his usefulness. Let Hezekiah's prayer, see Isa 38. interpret his tears; in that is nothing which is like his having been under that fear of death, which has bondage or torment. Hezekiah's piety made his sick-bed easy. "O Lord, remember now;" he does not speak as if God needed to be put in mind of any thing by us; nor, as if the reward might be demanded as due; it is Christ's righteousness only that is the purchase of mercy and grace. Hezekiah does not pray, Lord, spare me; but, Lord, remember me; whether I live or die, let me be thine. God always hears the prayers of the broken in heart, and will give health, length of days, and temporal deliverances, as much and as long as is truly good for them. Means were to be used for Hezekiah's recovery; yet, considering to what a height the disease was come, and how suddenly it was checked, the cure was miraculous. It is our duty, when sick, to use such means as are proper to help nature, else we do not trust God, but tempt him. For the confirmation of his faith, the shadow of the sun was carried back, and the light was continued longer than usual, in a miraculous manner. This work of wonder shows the power of God in heaven as well as on earth, the great notice he takes of prayer, and the great favour he bears to his chosen.

Verses 12-21 The king of Babylon was at this time independent of the king of Assyria, though shortly after subdued by him. Hezekiah showed his treasures and armour, and other proofs of his wealth and power. This was the effect of pride and ostentation, and departing from simple reliance on God. He also seems to have missed the opportunity of speaking to the Chaldeans, about Him who had wrought the miracles which excited their attention, and of pointing out to them the absurdity and evil of idolatry. What is more common than to show our friends our houses and possessions? But if we do this in the pride of ours hearts, to gain applause from men, not giving praise to God, it becomes sin in us, as it did in Hezekiah. We may expect vexation from every object with which we are unduly pleased. Isaiah, who had often been Hezekiah's comforter, is now is reprover. The blessed Spirit is both, ( john 16:7 john 16:8 ) . Ministers must be both, as there is occasion. Hezekiah allowed the justice of the sentence, and God's goodness in the respite. Yet the prospect respecting his family and nation must have given him many painful feelings. Hezekiah was indeed humbled for the pride of his heart. And blessed are the dead who die in the Lord; for they rest from their labours, and their works do follow them.

Chapter Summary

In this chapter is an account of Hezekiah's sickness, and of the means of his recovery, and of the sign given of it, 2 Kings 20:1 of the king of Babylon's congratulatory letter to him upon it, when he showed to the messengers that brought it his treasures, in the pride and vanity of his heart, 2 Kings 20:12 for which he was reproved by the prophet Isaiah, and was humbled, and submitted to the sentence pronounced on his house, 2 Kings 20:14, and the chapter is concluded with his reign and death, 2 Kings 20:20.