Isa 38:1-6 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 38:1-9: 38:1-9 The story of Hezekiah’s healing connects Hezekiah’s extension of life with Jerusalem’s relief from the Assyrians. The events of this story took place before Jerusalem’s rescue from the Assyrians but were placed in a thematic rather than chronological order. One theme is the importance of prayer (see 37:14-20 ; 38:2-3 ). The Lord does listen! Hezekiah had learned the lesson of trust that his father, Ahaz, refused. As a result, Judah and Jerusalem were spared total destruction by the Assyrians. Yet Hezekiah was not the Messiah, the Son of David promised in 7:14 ; 9:1-7 ; 11:1-16 ; 16:5 ; 32:1 , and 33:17-22 . Thus, these accounts of his failure and mortality (chs 38–39 ) prepare the reader for the revelation of the true Messiah that follows (chs 40–66 ). 38:1 About that time (literally in those days ): This is a very general time statement. Hezekiah’s illness and subsequent healing probably preceded Jerusalem’s rescue (chs 36–37 ), even though Isaiah places it afterward. Merodach-baladan’s reign in Babylon (39:1 ) ended before Sennacherib’s invasion in 701 BC . The order in the text indicates a connection between these two events (see 38:6 ).

Summary for Isa 38:1-9: 38:1-9 ^a The story of Hezekiah’s healing connects Hezekiah’s extension of life with Jerusalem’s relief from the Assyrians. The events of this story took place before Jerusalem’s rescue from the Assyrians but were placed in a thematic rather than chronological order. One theme is the importance of prayer (see 37:14-20 ^b; 38:2-3 ^c). The Lord does listen! Hezekiah had learned the lesson of trust that his father, Ahaz, refused. As a result, Judah and Jerusalem were spared total destruction by the Assyrians. Yet Hezekiah was not the Messiah, the Son of David promised in 7:14 ^d; 9:1-7 ^e; 11:1-16 ^f; 16:5 ^g; 32:1 ^h, and 33:17-22 ⁱ. Thus, these accounts of his failure and mortality (chs 38–39 ^j) prepare the reader for the revelation of the true Messiah that follows (chs 40–66 ^k). 38:1 ^l About that time (literally in those days): This is a very general time statement. Hezekiah’s illness and subsequent healing probably preceded Jerusalem’s rescue (chs 36–37 ^m), even though Isaiah places it afterward. Merodach-baladan’s reign in Babylon (39:1 ⁿ) ended before Sennacherib’s invasion in 701 BC. The order in the text indicates a connection between these two events (see 38:6 ^o).
38:3 ^p I have always been faithful to you: Hezekiah’s heart was right with the Lord for most of his reign (2 Kgs 18:1-5 ^q), although his dependence on Egypt was a time of weakness when he did not act faithfully (Isa 31:1-9 ^r).
38:5 ^s the God of your ancestor David: Hezekiah faithfully walked in David’s footsteps (see 37:35 ^t; 38:1-22 ^u).
38:6 ^v I will rescue you ... I will defend this city: This promise refers to the rescue of Jerusalem (chs 36–37 ^w); it also provides a greater context for understanding Hezekiah’s sickness and healing. Just as Hezekiah received another fifteen years, Jerusalem also received a temporary reprieve (see ch 39 ^x).