HEZEKIAH HEALED FROM HIS SICKNESS, THEN FELL INTO VAIN PRIDE In the last chapter we saw how king Hezekiah, by his living faith and his humility, together with putting his life in the hands of God, could defeat Sennacherib king of Assyria, not by military might, nor by joining forced with Egypt against Assyria, but through the exalted work of the Lord. We saw how he got a divine promise and a prophecy that Sennacherib will never enter into Jerusalem, nor shoot an arrow on it, or come before it with shield, nor build a siege mound against it . By the way that he came, by the same way shall he return, and will be assassinated in the temple of the idol on the hands of his own sons. Now Hezekiah challenges death as the last enemy to confront man (1 Corinthians 15: 28); and gets a divine promise to add fifteen years to his age. And when he sought a sign from the prophet that this will happen, he gave it to him.. … That man, great in his faith, who fled before the roaring lion who walks about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5: 8); now falls into the deception of the serpent, namely in vain pride, when he revealed his secrets to the enemy, cherishing his house, storehouses, and his weapons. And his fall destroyed his own sons and his kingdom, even after his death. 1- Hezekiah falls sick and healed 1 - 6 2- Isaiah prescribes a medication for Hezekiah 7 3- Hezekiah requests a sign that the Lord will heal him 8 - 11 4- Berodach-Baladan king of Babylon honors Hezekiah 12 5- Hezekiah falls into vain pride 13 6- The Lord chastises Hezekiah for his vain pride 14 - 18 7- The Lord postpones the execution of His chastisement on Hezekiah19 8- Hezekiah dies, and Manasseh his son sits on the throne 20 – 21 1- HEZEKIAH FALLS SICK AND HEALED: “ In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’” (1) It is clear from verse 6, that Hezekiah’s sickness happened during the time Sennacherib the Assyrian invaded Jerusalem.. Some may wonder: Could it happen that God alters His decision concerning the life of Hezekiah, as proclaimed on the tongue of the prophet Isaiah?... What God proclaimed on Isaiah’s tongue was not a divine decision, but was according to what should happen according to the natural laws, put by God, Himself, who has the right to change if He so wished. The extension of Hezekiah’s life was previously known by God , and proclaimed as a fruit of the humility shown by the king and his crying out to God. God, therefore did not alter His decision, but presented to the king what is beyond the laws of nature. For according to the sickness that inflicted him, he should die; but God, who allowed for his sickness, granted him healing. + Do you wish to know the power of repentance? … Do you wish to know the strong weapon of salvation; and to perceive the power of confession? By confession, Hezekiah struck 185,000 of his enemies (2 kings 19: 35). What an amazing thing!, yet it would be counted as nothing if compared to what I shall tell you. For by repentance, the king could get an alteration of the divine utterance already proclaimed. For when Hezekiah got sick, the prophet Isaiah said to him: “Thus says the Lord, Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live” (1) … Could there be any exemption after that? ……….Could there be any hope for healing after he said to him: “For you shall die”?! But Hezekiah did not cease to repent; and by remembering what is written: “In returning and rest (weeping) you shall be saved” (Isaiah 30: 15), “while in bed ,he turned his face toward the wall, lifting his mind up to heaven (Where no wall could hinder prayers from reaching heaven), and prayed to the Lord” (Isaiah 38), saying to Him: Remember me O Lord, You do not submit to time, for You are the Creator of everything; You are the Grantor of the laws of life according to Your will; for our life does not depend upon the day we were born; nor upon the bonding of stars together in one, as some foolishly believe, According to some fathers, God decides the age of man by His divine wisdom that is beyond the human perception; and sets the natural laws that control his age. If it is God, therefore, who sets the laws, he can over-ride them for the sake of his love for man, ……….There are, as well, many other factors, among which is the spiritual life of man; It is allowed for the both the righteous and the wicked to live a long or a short life, to give every chance for the repentance of man, for his salvation, and his enjoyment of the glory. + “Who were cut down before their time; whose foundations were swept away by a flood” (Job 22: 16). Every man is taken from this life in a time already known before the time began by a divine authority; but it should be known that the Mighty God, in creating us, and His ordinance of our affairs, fixes the limits of our life according to the worthiness of each one of us. He may commit the wicked to live only a short life, lest he would harm those who live uprightly; and He may grant the good man a longer life to be of help to others by his good deeds. Or He may commit the wicked to live a longer life to add more wicked works; and the good man to practice more good works; Or He may hasten to take away the good man, lest, if he lives longer, he may corrupt his innocence. But it should be taken into consideration that the Almighty God has prior knowledge of the time of death of everyone; no one will die before his designated time. If fifteen years were added to the life of Hezekiah (20: 38), the duration of his life exceeded the limit according to his worthiness, and God knows exactly when He will take him away. What does it mean: “He cuts the wicked before their time”, but that those who love the present world, and set themselves for a long life; when their time comes to be taken away from the present life, the long life they imagined would be as though cut away from them to pieces before their time. It is truly said about them: “Their foundation is swept away by a flood”. It was said that Cain was the first man to build a city on earth (Genesis 4: 17); In that he made it clear that, being a stranger to the eternal world; he set his foundation on earth; …..being a stranger to the higher things, he founded himself and his heart upon the lowly things, the earthly pleasures. (Pope Gregory the Great) + The long suffering of God, will judge man. For by His perseverance in anticipating the repentance of the sinner, and not of his death; “For He desires mercy and not sacrifice” (Hosea 6: 6); He turned His sight from the destruction of the people of Ninevaeh, He already uttered against them (Jonah 3: 10); and granted Hezekiah an extension of his life (20: 1) (The scholar Tertullian) “Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD” (2) Contrary to what Ahazia did when he got sick, Hezekiah resorted to Isaiah, the man of God; and not to Beelzebub, god of Ekron. Hezekiah was a man of prayer (19: 1, 14, 15) Hezekiah, even though he perceived that there is no point of comparison between his weapons and those of Assyria; nor between his military possibilities and theirs; yet the battle does not depend on the weapons nor on the military possibilities, but rather upon the face of God He turns toward His people, to let them enjoy conquest; or turn it away from them, that the weapons in their hands would lose their might and mission, and would turn from giving protection against the enemy to the contrary. .As “All things work together for good to those who loved God” (Romans 8: 28); So will all things work together for the perdition of those who deny Him; and for the conquest of those who fear Him. “ “Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly” (3). The main reason for his weeping was that he still had no son to succeed him on the throne, something that caused him anxiety and confusion; as how would the divine promise to the house of David to endure forever, be fulfilled if he has no son to succeed him?. In this Hezekiah’s faith was weak, contrary to that of Abraham, who offered his only son a sacrifice without fear, trusting that God’s promise to him will surely be fulfilled by raising his son from the dead…. It so happened that Hezekiah, after having his life extended, gave birth to his son Manasseh, who, being an idol-worshipper, brought forth God’s wrath over Judah (2 kings 23: 26). Anyway, being a man of prayer, he did not lose hope in the Lord, but prayed and wrestled; turned his face toward the wall, probably toward the temple, according to the custom of the Jews, to pray to the Lord, saying: “Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and has done what was good in Your sight” (3). Hezekiah looked at his life as being a journey during which he walked with God (Genesis 5: 24; I kings 9: 4), with a loyal heart, though not in absolute perfection, but aiming toward it (see Mathew 5: 45), with one mind, with no hesitation nor perversion. He was only preoccupied in his severe illness, not with his authority, riches, wealth,, or pleasures, but with his faithful attachment to God. Verecundus, an African author, who died in the year 522 AD, cared to discuss the three chapters that bore a Nesturian thought, says that God, with His mercy, looked at Hezekiah, not only to take away death that was about to dwell on him, but He added fifteen years to his life; for which Hezekiah offered Him the praise mentioned in Isaiah 38: 10-20; which he ended by a pledge to God who healed him, saying: “The Lord was ready to save me. Therefore I will sing my songs with stringed instruments; all the days of my life, in the house of the Lord” (Isaiah 38: 20). + Hearing that he was going to die, Hezekiah did not pray to God to give him more years, but to allow him to stand before God’s judgment as he should. Having known how Solomon pleased God by not seeking a longer life, Hezekiah, preparing to his ultimate journey to the Lord, paraded his works, how he walked before the Lord in truth, and with a loyal heart. Happy is the conscience that remembers the good works in the time of affliction. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5: 8; and as is also written: “Who can say, ‘I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” (Proverb 20: 9). To Hezekiah, the perfection of heart is referred, for he broke down the idols, removed the articles of Baal from the temple of God (2 kings 23: 4), crushed the bronze serpent (2 kings 18: 4), beside many other things mentioned in the Holy Book. (St. Jerome) + Nothing is more pleasurable than the sound conscience and the good hope. In case you want to learn this, ask an elder in the moments just before his departure from this world. If we remind him of the magnificent banquets, the glory, and the honor he enjoyed; and of the good works he did in his days; and inquire which of them would bring him more gladness; we shall see him cover his face for shame of the former, and jump with exultation for being proud of the later. So did Hezekiah when he was sick; he did not remember the magnificent royal life, but only the righteousness, saying: “Remember, O Lord, I pray, how I walked before Youi n truth, and with a loyal heart” (3) (St. John Chrysostom) “ And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying…” (4) Despite the godliness of king Hezekiah, and his fervent prayers, yet God talked to him through His prophet Isaiah, the way He talked to Jeroboam the second through the prophet Jonah (1: 25). For the personal relationship with God, and the fiery love in the heart of the believer, does not mean his isolation from the church ordinances. ““Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the LORD.” (5) The divine command to Isaiah to return to the king and to tell him the divine message, came very quickly; God probably talked to Isaiah mouth to mouth before he came out from the royal palace; while he was giving spiritual counsel to the men of the royal court, concerning the preparations to be taken after the anticipated death of the king. All along a hundred years of the history of Judah (732-640 BC); Hezekiah was the only king faithful in his relationship with God; and because of his faith, prayers, and tears, God healed him. added years to his life, and saved his land from the Assyrians. + God is “the Father”, and “the Father of mercies” (2 Corinthians 1: 3); described in the prophets as: “full of compassion and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth” (Psalm 86: 15;112: 4; 145: 8; Jonah 4: 2) In the Holy Scripture, we see in book of ‘Jonah’, the magnificent work of mercy that Lord showed to the praying people of Nineveh (Jonah 3: 8); …. Here we see His reaction before the tears of Hezekiah (2 kings 20: 3-4); ……… We see, as well, How the Lord was even ready to forgive Ahab the husband of Isabel on the blood of Naboth the Jezreelite, when His anger calmed down (1 kings 21: 27, 29); ……..And how He instantly forgave David when he confessed his sin (2 Samuel 12: 13). ……….God actually would rather see the repentance of the sinner, rather than his death; for His mercy, full of compassion (Ezekiel 33: 11). + Let us quote the words of the apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 10: 6); written to make us believe that the Lord, who Himself is the keeper of the body, is above and beyond all the natural laws pertaining to the body; (The scholar Tertullian) + Weeping itself can lead to the blessed laughter, (The scholar Origen) + There is a (fifth) baptism, namely the baptism of the tears. Every night, David used to drench his bed with his tears. (St. Gregory the Nezianzen) + Who will acquire joy, but him who often weeps; as though he gets the grace of glory to come by the price of his tears. (St. Ambrose) + The increasing tears of sorrow is a gift from God, given through the diligent prayers. (St. John El-Tabaisy) “ And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David.”’ (6) It so seems that God has altered His words, which he has already told Hezekiah through the prophet Isaiah, for the sake of his prayers and tears emerging from the depth of his heart…………. According to St. Augustine, Hezekiah should die through natural causes like illness; but that addition of fifteen years to his life, was in God’s knowledge before the foundation of the world; He knew what Hezekiah was going to do, and what He was going to grant him. What should preoccupy our minds, is not to research whether God Has already limited Hezekiah’s age, then altered it by adding fifteen years to his life; but to perceive the power of prayer with the spirit of repentance in our life; which gave Hezekiah life instead of his imminent death. And that prayer, being an attachment to God, Grantor of life, is able to achieve anything; including to prevail on death, the death of sin Is there a clearer evidence that, for the sake of mercy and goodness, God may alter His word? The way He did with Hezekiah, His firm and sudden divine utterance to the inhabitants of Nineveh came: “Forty days and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3: 4 LXX), was appeased through their prayers and fasting; . + Having been stricken by immense fear, with the sudden approach of death, Hezekiah’s tears and prayers, brought forth to him a temporary postponement of his death for an additional fifteen years (38) . (St. Jerome) 2- ISAIAH PRESCRIBES A MEDICATION FOR HEZEKIAH: “Then Isaiah said, “Take a lump of figs.” So they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered” (7) The use of figs for healing inflammations came in the records of the Middle East in the old, in tablets that go back to the twentieth century BC, in the days of ‘Ras Shemra. … In a talk by St. Basil the Great, that the art of medicine should not be forsaken, on account of being abused by some; he referred to Isaiah’s request for the use of a lump of figs to heal king Hezekiah. + Not only should we not forsake the art of medicine on account of being abused by some, It is befitting of us not to do the same with all the arts collectively. it is befitting of us not to wrong Him who granted this divine gift, by putting all our hope for healing in the hands of the physician; and not to do like the fools who call their physician ‘savior’. On another aspect, to deny the benefits we may get from the art of medicine, would be a sign of evil nature. No doubt, Hezekiah did not assume that his healing was due to the lump of figs, but he surely glorified God who created the figs. (St. Basil the Great) + The way the vineyard, in many instances, refers to the Lord Himself; the fig tree refers to the Holy Spirit; by which the Lord brings gladness into the hearts of men (Psalm 104: 5). Isaiah commanded them to use a lump of figs , which is the fruit of the Spirit, to heal Hezekiah; For, according to the apostle, healing starts by love; saying: “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,, gentleness, selfcontrol” Galatians 5: 22, 23). Because of the great gifts of these fruits, the prophet calls them ‘spiritual figs’. And the prophet Micah also says: “Everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid” (Micah 4: 4). Now, therefore, those who resort to the Spirit to find comfort under His shade; and under the shade of the Word, shall never be terrified, nor shall fear from those who disturb the hearts of men. (Father Methodeus) 3- A SIGN THAT THE LORD OF HEZEKIAH WILL HEAL HIM: “And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What is the sign that the LORD will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the LORD the third day?” (8) “Then Isaiah said, “This is the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do the thing which He has spoken: Shall the shadow go forward ten degrees or go backward ten degrees?” (9) Hezekiah’s longing to be healed and to have his life extended, shows by seeking a sign that the Lord will fulfill what He promised him through Isaiah the man of God. According to some, that specific gift from God was given to Hezekiah on account of that, so far, he had no son to succeed him on the throne. …. his son Manasseh actually sat on the throne while being twelve years old (2 kings 21: 2); which indicates that he was born some time during the fifteen years added to his father’s life. … Unfortunately, because Manasseh corrupted all the good works in the Lord, that were done by His father,.Hezekiah’s persistence on his demand, therefore, seemed, not for edification. … On another aspect, having been healed of his sickness, when an envoy from the king of Babylon came to honor him and to give him gifts, he fell into vain pride, not befitting of a godly man, as we can see in this chapter. That shows how it is befitting of us to have our demands according to the will of God; to deliver to Him all our affairs, for we do not know what is for our edification and the edification of others. To Isaiah’s question (9), “Hezekiah answered, “It is an easy thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees; no, but let the shadow go backward ten degrees” (10) ‘The sundial of Ahaz’, or ‘the steps of Ahaz’, or ‘the ladder of Ahaz’. Like that of the Egyptians at that time, was little steps on which the shadow ascends and descends. We can deduce from what came in 2 Chronicles 32: 31, how that event was so beyond nature; that when the Astronomers of Babylon, while studying the movements of the stars, perceived that a strange unnatural phenomenon has taken place; and their investigation showed what happened with king Hezekiah, they informed their king about it. “So Isaiah the prophet cried out to the LORD, and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz” (11) Listening to Hezekiah’s prayer, seeing his tears, and remembering His promise to David his father, God gave him his heart’s desire, that he uttered with his tongue; He granted him a longer life, a salvation from the Assyrian king, and the protection of Jerusalem, the capital of his kingdom. God gave Hezekiah a sign according to his request, by which he differed from his wicked father Ahaz, who refrained from seeking a sign from God (Isaiah 7:10). God, the Father of all lights, who moves and guides the sun for our edification, gave a sign that He will fulfill His promise to Hezekiah, by bringing the shadow ten degrees backward (8); which some refer to an eclipse of the sun that happened on 11 January 689 BC. … As the sun is the true measure of time, and as it is in the hand of God, who moves history, events, and time itself; God used it in the time of Joshua (Joshua 10: 12), in the days of Hezekiah; on the day the Lord of glory was crucified, and will use it before His ultimate coming, when the sun will be darkened. … In response to Isaiah’s prayer for the sake of Hezekiah, the Lord stopped the laws of nature, and brought time backwards. It was said: “He commands the sun, and it does not rise; He seals off the stars” (Job 9: 7). Nobody can imagine that the sun would ever fail to rise in its designated time put by the Lord; but, by His command, in the days of Joshua the son of Nun, it stood still to serve His people (Joshua 10: 12); a miracle that proclaims God’s amazing work through His ministers. According to St. Athanasius the apostolic, [If the sun stood still over Gibeon , and the moon, in the Valley of Aijalon, yet, that was not the work of Joshua the son of Nun, but that of the Lord who listened to his prayer, … He who commanded the Red Sea to divide; and, on the cross darkened the sun (Matthew 27: 45); He, alone, who can seal the stars, or hide them from our sight. By His will, He keeps the order of nature, as an extension of the process of creation., and as one of the works of the divine care. Commenting on the amazing signs done by the Lord, both in the old and the new covenants, St. John Chrysostom says: [God can change the nature of things, as He did with the sea (John 14: 12), with the sun here, with the sun and the moon in the time of Joshua the son of Nun (Joshua 13: 10); with the furnace of fire (Daniel 3); and with the hungry lions (Daniel 6: 22). … But the greatest sign of all, is changing the nature of man; when he said to the prophet Moses: “I have made you as god to Pharaoh” Exodus 7: 1); and directs us to make our souls a temple for Him (1 Corinthians 6: 19). If heaven is known as the dwelling place of God, We, as well; by Christ, have become heaven; as according to the Holy Book: “He raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2: 6). And granted us to perform works greater than what He, Himself, has done].. How could the shadow be brought backward? Obviously it was a sign; …. for if a sign is easily performed, it would not be a sign to confirm the word of God (2 kings 20: 10). And any attempt to interpret what did happen, would be no more than guessing. God can force nature to fulfill His will in a way that challenges any natural interpretations. It was claimed that king Hezekiah, rejoiced in God’s amazing work with him, composed ten of the fifteen psalms of Ascension (Psalm 120 -134), in analogy with the ten steps of Ahaz of the sun; the sign presented to him by the prophet Isaiah, as a confirmation that God will heal him (8-10; Isaiah 38). In addition to those ten psalms, four more were written by David, and one written by Solomon, to add up to fifteen psalms, analogous to the fifteen years that the Lord added to Hezekiah’s life. … Those psalms were sung by the priests while ascending the fifteen steps of the temple, in the feast of the tabernacles (7 steps leading up to the outer court; and 8 steps leading to the inner court). It was said the groups of Levites used to stand on each step to sing one of these psalms, as a part of the religious rite. … According to many fathers, these psalms or praises, were the spiritual ladder on which the soul ascends in the heavenlies, from one stage to another, to settle ultimately in the bosom of the Father, ascending from glory to glory; from the land of sojourn, toward the Higher Jerusalem. 4- BERODOCH-BALADAN, KING OF BABYLON HONORS HEZEKIAH: “At that time Berodach-Baladan[a] the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick” (12) According to some scholars, the news of the healing of king Hezekiah reached Babylon, because its Astronomers, through following the movements of the stars, perceived that a strange phenomenon has happened; and through investigations they came to know about the divine sign given to king Hezekiah to confirm his healing. And the news might have also come to Babylon through some Jews who were working as eunuchs (namely prominent officers) in the Babylonian royal court, before Babylon came to be a great empire that overcame Assyria; and before the Babylonian captivation of Judah. Berodach-Baladan was most probably the same Berodach-Baladan, the Chaldean king who reigned twice (721-710 and 703 BC), bore a persistent animosity against Assyria, that defeated him twice; and drove him out of Babylon. He sent that message to king Hezekiah, most probably to seek alliance with Judah against Assyria; particularly after hearing about the amazing salvation of Hezekiah from the Assyrian army (2 Chronicles 32: 31). According to the sequence of events mentioned in 2 kings 2-: 12-15, the envoy sent by Berodach-Baladan (Isaiah 39: 1), came to visit Hezekiah after Sennecharib’s invasion in the year 701 BC; Yet , according to historical evidences, Berodach-Baladan fled to Elan after he was driven out of Babylon in the year 701 BC by Sennacherib. How then could the time sequence conform to those verses? The answer would be: Although the narration concerning Sennacherib’s invasion , mentioned in the second book of the kings and of Isaiah, came before the narration of the visit of the envoy of Berodach-Baladan, that does not mean that this is the right sequence of events. The second chapter of the second book of the kings, starts by the phrase: “It came to pass when …”; but this does not mean that the events referred to, necessarily happened according to that time sequence. For this phrase is often used to move to a new paragraph; as we see in (Judges 17: 6; 18: 1; 19: 1; Esther 1: 2). … The Hebrew syllable ‘hem’ could be translated here as (those) or (these); and the context would choose between the two. Those words could therefore be translated as “In these days”. The visit mentioned in (2 kings 20: 12-15) actually happened before the Sennacherib’s invasion that came in (2 king 18-19); which confirs the fact that Hezekiah died sometime between the years 698 and 696 BC. And as he was given fifteen years extension of his age, it means that his illness was around the year 713 BC., a time sequence which conform to the visit of the envoy of Berodach-Baladan, who later on, driven away by Sennacherib in the year 702 BC. 5- HEZEKIAH FALLS INTO VAIN PRIDE: “And Hezekiah was attentive to them, and showed them all the house of his treasures—the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all] his armory—all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them” (13) One of the distinctive features of the Holy Book is that it sometimes refers to the weaknesses of the heroes of faith like Abraham, David, and Hezekiah. … By his spiritual wisdom, humility, and trust in God, Hezekiah was saved from the Assyrian army; and by his foolishness, having become a captive of ego, he showed all his treasures, and all his armory to foreigners. + When Hezekiah was in affliction, he clothed himself in sackcloth;; while when he became secure, he fell into the vanity of heart (2 kings 19: 20). Hence the Holy Book warns, saying: “When you have eaten, and are full – then beware” (Deuteronomy 6: 11, 12). 6- GOD CHASTISES HEZEKIAH FOR HIS PRIDE:. . “ Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?” So Hezekiah said, “They came from a far country, from Babylon.” (14) “And he said, “What have they seen in your house?” So Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.” (15) “ Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD” (16): ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the LORD” (17) AS THE PROPHET ISAIAH HAS PREVIOUSLY CONVEYED TO KING HEZEKIAH A DIVINE MESSAGE FULL OF COMPASSION AND MERCY (19; 20: 1-11); HE CONVEYS TO HIM NOW< A MESSAGE OF CHASTISEMENT FROM THE LORD. Babylon at that time was a small nation; that no one would ever imagine that it could defeat Assyria; becomes a huge empire, invades Jerusalem, robs all her treasures, and captivates her noble men in the year 586 BC. + Concerning Hezekiah king of Judah, we read that he was a righteous man, perfect in every thing; and yet by one arrow of vain pride, he fell. Boasting and arrogance have overcome him who, by one prayer could have 185,000 soldiers of the Assyrian army killed in one night, by an angel of the Lord.. I shall not display the long list of Hezekiah’s virtues; I shall only mention one of them. After God proclaimed, on the mouth of the prophet Isaiah, the day of his death; Hezekiah, by one prayer, could have his life extended by fifteen year; the sun was brought ten degrees backwards, after it has already advanced toward sunset; and by that huge sign that broke down the laws of nature, the day extended to two days in the whole world. and confirmed to Hezekiah that God will grant him healing and longer life. But following those unbelievable great signs, and those evidences of Hezekiah’s good nature, let us read what the Holy Book says about what brought such a great man down: “But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 32: 24-26) (St. John Cassian) “ ‘And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon” (18) That most probably happened before the rebellion of Babylon against the Assyrian empire; and before Sennacherib destroy it in the year 689 BC; His son Esarhaddon who rebuilt the city of Babylon, did not perceive that it will use the chance of the weakness of the Assyrian kings, to rebel again against Assyria, destroy it in the year 612 BC, and come to be the major power in the world. + Now, calm down, you who boast in yourself… Stop being arrogant! … If your wealth lifts your heart up, it would not be greater than that of Hezekiah, whose haughtiness made it carried whole to Babylon. And if you boast in your children, they will eventually be carried to that monster, like those of king Hezekiah who became eunuchs in the royal court of Babylon (2 kings 20: 18; Isaiah 39: 7). And if you boast in your wisdom, you would never be as wise as the ruler of Tyre; to whom it was said: “’Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; There is no secret that can be hidden from you’” (Ezekiel 28: 3). And if your mind is lifted up because of your long life, its years would not be longer than those of the ruler of Tyre who reigned over his kingdom during the days of many of the kings of Judah; … And because of the many years of the king of Tyre, his heart kept saying to him all the time: “I am a god, and I sit in the seats of gods in the midst of the seas” Yet the prophet Ezekiel said to him: “You are a man, and not a god” (Ezekiel 28: 2). … When the king of Tyre “walked back and forth in the midst of the fiery stones, God said to him: “ You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created; till iniquity was found in you; … I destroyed you , O covering cherub, from the midst of the fiery stones” (Ezekiel 28: 14, 16). + In the parable of the rich man who boasted of the plentiful yield of his land; “But God said to him: :’Fool, this night your soul will be required of you; the whose will those things be which you have provided?(Luke12: 20).The same way king Hezekiah heard from Isaiah the painful destiny of his kingdom, after he glorified himself before the envoy of the king of Babylon by boasting in his precious treasures. (The scholar Tertullian) 7- POSTPONEMENT OF THE EXECUTION OF THE CHATISEMENT ON HEZEKIAH: . “So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good!” For he said, “Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?” (18) Saying “The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good. For He said: Will there not be peace and truth at least in my days?”; means that Hezekiah perceived that he erred by his behavior before the envoy of the king of Babylon; and with humility he bowed before God’s chastisement, although it may seem that he did not care much for the chastisement to fall upon the whole kingdom because of his own sin , as long as it will happen after his death – a pitiful attitude, not befitting of such a great leader, who should care even for the generations to come of his people. + Surely, the righteous Hezekiah did not rejoice in that the calamity of captivity will dwell upon his sons; but he could not protest against the will of God, but, demonstrated his virtue, being a humble servant. So it is befitting of man to receive the judgment of God with perseverance, even while in captivity; as Jeremiah’s happiness did not decrease, even while in captivity (Jeremiah 37-38); nor did Daniel (Daniel 1: 6), nor Ezra (Ezra 7: 6), nor did the happiness of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were less than before they fell in captivity (Daniel 3); into which they fell to provide the people with comfort, together with hope of being released from it. + Once man’s heart does not search itself, it does not perceive the extent of the losses he suffers, nor recognize their seriousness. Hezekiah did not perceive that he erred while showing off his treasures to foreigners. What we do when we err in our hearts, may sometimes be hidden from other people’s perception, but not from the sight of God. 8- HEZEKIAH DIES, AND MANASSEH HIS SON SITS ON THE THRONE: “Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah—all his might, and how he made a pool and a tunnel and brought water into the city—are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah? (20) The tunnel which Hezekiah dug from the Gihon spring to Siloam pool to bring water to the Eastern part of Jerusalem, has been an achievement of great importance, particularly if it so happen that Jerusalem is put under siege. “ So Hezekiah rested with his fathers. Then Manasseh his son reigned in his place” (21). Commenting on that Hezekiah was considered as a symbol of the Lord Christ, St. Aphrahat presents to us a simplified portrait of this symbol, together a comparison between Christ and Hezekiah. + As Hezekiah was prosecuted and reproached by Sennacherib, his enemy; So was Jesus prosecuted by the foolish people; As by praying, Hezekiah overcame his adversary, By Jesus’ cross, the devil, our adversary, was overcome; As Hezekiah was the king of Israel, Jesus was the King of the whole world; As when Hezekiah got ill, the shadow of the sun was brought backward ten steps; With Jesus’ passion, the son was darkened; As Hezekiah’s enemies turned into dead corpses, Jesus’ enemies will be cast under His feet; As Hezekiah was of David’s household; Jesus was the Son of David, according to the flesh; As Hezekiah said: “Peace and truth will be in my days” (19). Jesus said to His disciples: “My peace I leave with you: (John 14: 27); As when Hezekiah prayed, he was healed of his illness, Jesus prayed, and He resurrected from the dwelling place of the dead; As Hezekiah, after he was healed of his illness, had his life extended, Jesus, after His resurrection, has got a great glory; While, after the extension of his life, Hezekiah eventually died; Jesus, on the other hand, after His resurrection, death had no authority on Him forever. --------------------------------------- AN INSPIRATION FROM 2 KINGS 20; BY YOU, I CHALLENGE THE LION; AND WITHOUT YOU, I SHALL BE DECEIVED BY THE SERPENT + As the enemy approached like a vicious lion; King Hezekiah tore his clothes, and showed contrition before God; He resorted to the man of God to support him by his prayers; Sennacherib, the lion who crushed many kingdoms; And counted himself capable of challenging the living God; Utterly collapsed, and could not enter into the city of God; He lost the might of his army, even without entering into a battle; The lion Sennacherib returned to his land, a laughing stock before all nations; His own two sons turned into enemies; They assassinated their own father, while worshipping his idol god. + Grant me, O Lord, the spirit of might, so that I would not be terrified before the roaring lion; Let the devil wander everywhere; but he will find no place for himself in my heart; For, as long as You dwell in me, the kingdom of darkness will not be able to crawl into me; By You I challenge the devil, whom You crushed by Your cross. + Behold, the illness, with his fangs. attacks my weak body; According to the law of nature, I cannot resist it; But, being the heavenly Physician, Your authority is greater than all the natural laws; You allow for the illness, but You heal by Your might; You restore me to life, and bless every second in my life; You grant me, not fifteen years, as a divine gift; But You grant me Your Life , as a deposit of the eternal life; With the spirit of conquest and exultation: I shall sing together with the apostle, “O death, Where is your sting? O Hades, Where is your victory?” (1 Corinthians 15: 55). + I will not seek physical healing; Nor a long life on this earth; But I will seek Your Holy Kingdom in my depths; Guide my life in the holiness that is Yours; Grant me to enjoy You, O the Way, the Truth, and the Life; + Let the life of Your people be in Your hands; Lead the church by Your Spirit; and grant her power, love, and humility; Unfortunately, Hezekiah cared for his own life to be filled with peace; And did not care for what would dwell upon the generations to come after him; Grant Your church love, to embrace all generations to come; Grant Your church peace and help; until the time You come to us on the clouds; We anticipate Your glorious coming on the clouds; When will You come, and carry us into the bosom of Your Father?
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