2 Reis 20:10

10 Disse Ezequias: “Como é fácil a sombra avançar dez degraus, prefiro que ela recue dez degraus”.

2 Reis 20:10 Meaning and Commentary

And Hezekiah answered, it is a light thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees,.... That is, it was comparatively so, otherwise to go down ten degrees at once would be extraordinary and miraculous; but that was more agreeable to the nature and course of it to go forward, and so the miracle would be less apparent:

nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees; which was directly contrary to its natural order and course, whereby the miracle would appear more clear and manifest: these degrees are by some said {x} to be half hours, and not full ones, since it is observed the sun shines not twenty full hours on any dial, unless under the pole; the sun is supposed to have been now at the fifth full hour; the sun was brought back five whole hours, then came forward five, then came forward two degrees, or one hour, to the sixth hour; which made sixteen; then it was six hours to sunset; so that day was prolonged twenty two hours: the Chinese {y} relate, that, in the time of Kingcungus, the planet Mars, for sake of the king, went back three degrees.

{x} Weemse's Christ. Synagog. l. 1. c. 6. sect. 6. p. 167. See his Exposition of the Judicial Laws, c. 25. p. 90. &c. {y} Martin. Sinic. Hist. l. 4. p. 138.

2 Reis 20:10 In-Context

8 Ezequias havia perguntado a Isaías: “Qual será o sinal de que o SENHOR me curará e de que de hoje a três dias subirei ao templo do SENHOR?”

9 Isaías respondeu: “O sinal de que o SENHOR vai cumprir o que prometeu é este: você prefere que a sombra avance ou recue dez degraus na escadaria?”

10 Disse Ezequias: “Como é fácil a sombra avançar dez degraus, prefiro que ela recue dez degraus”.

11 Então o profeta Isaías clamou ao SENHOR, e este fez a sombra recuar os dez degraus que havia descido na escadaria de Acaz.

12 Naquela época, o rei da Babilônia, Merodaque-Baladã, filho de Baladã, enviou cartas e um presente para Ezequias, pois soubera da sua doença.