ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for 2 Kings 20

2 Kings 20:1 In those days. Verses 1–19 are a “flashback” to the time around 713–712 b.c., some 12 years before Sennacherib’s invasion and some 15 years before Hezekiah’s death (see v. 6).

2 Kings 20:2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall. Hezekiah is in distress and wants to be left alone.

2 Kings 20:3 please remember. The prayer is somewhat more self-centered than the one in 19:15–19, stressing the king’s own righteousness.

2 Kings 20:4 The middle court was the area between the temple and the palace. Isaiah is on his way back to the temple.

2 Kings 20:5 On the third day. This is a detail not included in Isaiah’s parallel account (Isa. 38:5). you shall go up. God’s response to Hezekiah’s prayer (2 Kings 20:3) shows that many prophecies, though stated in unconditional terms (v. 1), have implied conditions.

2 Kings 20:7 A cake of figs, serving as a medicated bandage, is applied to what may have been an inflamed area. There was a belief that figs had medicinal qualities. The healing of such a serious illness (v. 1) probably included a supernatural work of God as well.

2 Kings 20:8–11 A sign of the promised healing is provided in the unnatural movement of a shadow on some steps associated with Ahaz (it moves back, even though the sun has already caused it to go down the steps).

2 Kings 20:13–18 he showed them all his treasure house. Hezekiah is evidently proud of his wealth. After the kingdom falls, though, nothing shall be left, and even some of the king’s sons (descendants) will be taken away into exile in Babylon. On eunuchs, see note on 9:32. Here the term may be intended symbolically rather than literally (the “sons” will be powerless servants of the king of Babylon).

2 Kings 20:19 Why not? Hezekiah is surprisingly unmoved by Isaiah’s prophecy. All he cares about is peace and security in his days. Even this “king like David” has his dark side.

2 Kings 20:20 the pool and the conduit. The Gihon Spring in the Kidron Valley was Jerusalem’s water source. A quarter-mile-long conduit brought water from there to a reservoir at the southern end of the city of David. Since this water supply lay outside the city’s walls, it could be cut off in time of siege. A tunnel leading from the conduit allowed residents to access its water from inside the city walls. In preparation for the Assyrian attack, Hezekiah had an additional tunnel cut that diverted water from the Gihon Spring directly underground to the Pool of Siloam, within the city walls. On the Chronicles of the Kings, see note on 1 Kings 14:19.