'Set your house in order, for you shall die' — Hezekiah turns his face to the wall and weeps, and fifteen years are added; the shadow returns ten degrees on the dial of Ahaz; but the envoys of Babylon see all the treasures, and Isaiah names the exile to come.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
In those days was Hezekiah sick to death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him: ‘Thus says Hashem: Set your house in order; for you shall die, and not live.’
verse value 4021
Insights
Verse structure: 21 words, 85 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "command" (צַ֣ו, 2 letters) and the longest is "Hezekiah" (חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 47: to·him, to·him. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "to·die" (לָמ֑וּת), "command" (צַ֣ו), "to·your·house" (לְבֵיתֶ֔ךָ). The root מות appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "and·came" (root בוא, 146x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·die', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 16 words.
Rashi
In those days. Three days before the overthrow of Sennacherib:
Hezekiah was sick. And on the third day, when he went up to the House of the Lord, was the day of the overthrow of Sennacherib, and it was a festival day of Passover (Seder Olam chapter 23):
For you shall die. In this world:
And you shall not live. To the coming world, because you did not take a wife, as it is in Berachot (11a):
Radak
"For you shall die, and not live." You will not recover from this illness, for from this illness you will die. And the Targum says: "And you will not recover from your sickness." And our Sages of blessed memory said: "For you shall die in this world, and not live in the World to Come." What is the reason? Because you did not engage in procreation. And it is true, for his sons were born after his illness, as it is stated: "Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign."
Ralbag
In those days Hezekiah became ill unto death. I consider that this occurred after the preceding narrative, and you should not be astonished by what is stated, "And I will deliver you from the hand of the king of Assyria," for it is quite possible that Esarhaddon was menacing Jerusalem.
Metzudat David
"In those days." Our Sages of blessed memory said (Seder Olam, Chapter 23) that it was three days before the downfall of Sennacherib.
To die. This means: a severe and life-threatening illness, one that is sufficient to cause death.
"Set in order." [Isaiah] was giving command concerning the affairs of your house.
Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed to Hashem, saying:
verse value 1855
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 32 letters. The shortest word is "and·he·turned" (וַיַּסֵּ֥ב, 4 letters) and the longest is "his·face" (אֶת־פָּנָ֖יו, 6 letters). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "to·Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "against·the·wall" (root איל, 153x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'against·the·wall', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיַּסֵּ֥ב [and·he·turned] (78) + אֶת־פָּנָ֖יו [his·face] (547) + אֶל־הַקִּ֑יר [against·the·wall] (346) + וַיִּ֨תְפַּלֵּ֔ל [and·he·prayed] (556) + אֶל־יְהֹוָ֖ה [to·Hashem] (57) + לֵאמֹֽר [saying] (271) = 1855.
Radak
“to the wall” — in order to direct his heart in prayer, for he was perplexed in his heart as to why God was shortening his days, since he was only thirty-nine years old when he fell ill with this sickness. And the Targum [renders]: “to the wall” — to the wall of the House of the Sanctuary.
’Remember now, O Hashem, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart, and have done that which is good in Your sight.’ And Hezekiah wept sore.
verse value 4406
Insights
Verse structure: 17 words, 74 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֗ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "where?" (אָנָּ֣ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "I·walked" (הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי, 7 letters). 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "remember·now" (זְכׇר־נָ֞א), "I·walked" (הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי), "in·truth" (בֶּאֱמֶת֙). The root בכה appears 2 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "I·did" (root עשה, 142x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'I·did', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 4 words.
Radak
"I walked before You." This refers to the service of the heart, and afterward he recalls the deed:
“And I have done that which is good in Your sight.” This is as the verse testified concerning him: “And he did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father David had done,” and it says: “And he kept His commandments which the Lord had commanded Moses.” And in the midrashic exposition: “And I have done that which is good in Your sight”—this refers to the fact that he hid away the book of remedies that Solomon had composed, and the people relied upon it and did not seek the Lord in their heart.
And it came to pass, before Isaiah was gone out of the inner court of the city, that the word of Hashem came to him, saying:
verse value 2213
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 47 letters. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֣א, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·the·word·of·Hashem" (וּ֨דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 31: and·it·was, not. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "court" (חָצֵ֖ר), "middle" (הַתִּיכֹנָ֑ה), "and·the·word·of·Hashem" (וּ֨דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה). The root היה appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "saying" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "and·the·word·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "and·it·was" (root היה, 119x in II Kings). First appearance of the root חצר ("court") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'middle', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיְהִ֣י [and·it·was] (31) + יְשַֽׁעְיָ֔הוּ [Isaiah] (401) + לֹ֣א [not] (31) + יָצָ֔א [went·out] (101) + (העיר) [excitement] (285) + חָצֵ֖ר [court] (298) + הַתִּיכֹנָ֑ה [middle] (490) + וּ֨דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֔ה [and·the·word·of·Hashem] (238) + הָיָ֥ה [was] (20) + אֵלָ֖יו [to·him] (47) + לֵאמֹֽר [saying] (271) = 2213.
Rashi
He had not gone out of the court, etc. The Holy One hastened to announce his healing, before a rumor could spread in the city that death had been decreed upon him, as is stated in the Jerusalem Talmud (Sanhedrin, chapter 10, halakha 2):
Radak
"He did not leave the intermediate city." The term "city" is written, and "courtyard" is read; and in the statements of our Sages of blessed memory, it is written "city" and we read "courtyard." From here we learn that the thoroughfares of kings are like intermediate-sized towns. And in another place, the Jerusalem Talmud states: It is written "city" to teach that the Holy One, blessed be He, hastened to inform him of his healing before the sound of the decree had spread throughout the city, for which he had been sentenced to death.
’Return, and say to Hezekiah the prince of My people: Thus says Hashem, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you; on the third day you shall go up to the house of Hashem.
verse value 7503
Insights
Verse structure: 21 words, 97 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָה֙) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "to·you" (לָ֔ךְ, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·Hezekiah" (אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 26: Hashem, Hashem. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "leader·nation" (נְגִיד־עַמִּ֗י), "prayer" (אֶת־תְּפִלָּתֶ֔ךָ), "tears" (אֶת־דִּמְעָתֶ֑ךָ). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·you·shall·say" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "to·Hezekiah" (root איל, 153x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'tears', dividing the verse into phrases of 13 and 8 words.
And I will add to your days fifteen years; and I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for Mine own sake, and for My servant David’s sake.’
verse value 5787
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 82 letters. Notable word values: "my·servant" (עַבְדִּֽי) = 86, equal to Elohim. The shortest word is "five" (חֲמֵ֤שׁ, 3 letters) and the longest is "king·of·Assyria" (מֶֽלֶךְ־אַשּׁוּר֙, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 413: this, this. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·I·will·add" (וְהֹסַפְתִּ֣י), "upon·your·days" (עַל־יָמֶ֗יךָ), "I·will·deliver·you" (אַצִּ֣ילְךָ֔). The root עיר appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "year" (root שנה, 109x in II Kings); "upon·your·days" (root יום, 79x in II Kings); "my·servant" (root עבד, 70x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'this', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 7 words.
Rashi
And from the hand of the king of Assyria I will deliver you. We learned that before the overthrow of Sennacherib he was sick:
Radak
"And I will add to your days." These were the days that had been decreed for you. On this matter, there is a dispute among the words of our Sages of blessed memory: Some say that He added to him from his own allotment, for his originally decreed days were greater, but they were being subtracted from him as punishment for his sin. And there are those who say that He made an addition for him beyond what had been decreed for him. In the Book of Samuel, in the verse "If the Lord strikes him," we explained this matter.
"And I will deliver you from the hand of the king of Assyria." This is proof that Hezekiah fell ill prior to Sennacherib's defeat.
And Isaiah said: ‘Take a cake of figs.’ And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.
verse value 2718
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 45 letters. Verse gematria: 2718 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "take" (קְח֖וּ, 3 letters) and the longest is "upon·the·boil" (עַֽל־הַשְּׁחִ֖ין, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "fig cake" (דְּבֶ֣לֶת), "figs" (תְּאֵנִ֑ים), "upon·the·boil" (עַֽל־הַשְּׁחִ֖ין). The root לקח appears 2 times in this verse. 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "take" (root לקח, 72x in II Kings); "and·they·put" (root שום, 23x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'figs', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר [and·said] (257) + יְשַׁעְיָ֔הוּ [Isaiah] (401) + קְח֖וּ [take] (114) + דְּבֶ֣לֶת [fig cake] (436) + תְּאֵנִ֑ים [figs] (501) + וַיִּקְח֛וּ [and·took] (130) + וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ [and·they·put] (372) + עַֽל־הַשְּׁחִ֖ין [upon·the·boil] (473) + וַיֶּֽחִי [and·he·lived] (34) = 2718.
Rashi
A cake of figs. When they are moist they are called figs, and when they are pressed into a round shape they are called a cake:
And they placed it on the boil and he lived. And a miracle within a miracle, for behold even living flesh when you place upon it a cake of figs, it becomes rotten, and the Holy One, blessed be He, gives a thing that harms into a thing that was harmed, and it is healed (Mechilta Exodus 15):
Radak
"A cake of figs." Our Sages of blessed memory stated: "If you were to apply the sap of figs to meat, the meat would immediately become spoiled." Rather, it was a miracle within a miracle, similar to the case where "the Lord showed him a tree, and it was a bitter tree." Such is the way of the Holy One, blessed be He: through bitterness, He sweetens the bitter.
Ralbag
"Take dried figs." It is known that when God, blessed be He, performs miracles, He seeks to provide them with some natural causes, where possible, so that there will be less strangeness in them relative to nature. For this reason He commanded to take dried figs, because although they do not possess the power to effect this cure, they do contain some element of relevance to the remedy for boils, and to bringing them to a head [ripening them].
Metzudat Zion
A cake of figs. They are the figs pressed together:
The boil. A kind of affliction that one becomes ill from, so too (Exodus 9:9): to a boil breaking forth with blisters:
And he lived. A matter of healing, so too (Joshua 5:8): until they were healed:
And Hezekiah said to Isaiah: ‘What shall be the sign that Hashem will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of Hashem the third day?’
verse value 3341
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 59 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֖ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 3341 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "what?" (מָ֣ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·Isaiah" (אֶֽל־יְשַׁעְיָ֔הוּ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 26: Hashem, Hashem. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "sign" (א֔וֹת), "that·will·heal" (כִּֽי־יִרְפָּ֥א), "and·I·will·go·up" (וְעָלִ֛יתִי). The root יהוה appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "to·Isaiah" (root איל, 153x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·me', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֤אמֶר [and·said] (257) + חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ [Hezekiah] (136) + אֶֽל־יְשַׁעְיָ֔הוּ [to·Isaiah] (432) + מָ֣ה [what?] (45) + א֔וֹת [sign] (407) + כִּֽי־יִרְפָּ֥א [that·will·heal] (321) + יְהֹוָ֖ה [Hashem] (26) + לִ֑י [to·me] (40) + וְעָלִ֛יתִי [and·I·will·go·up] (526) + בַּיּ֥וֹם [in·the·day] (58) + הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֖י [third] (655) + בֵּ֥ית [house·of] (412) + יְהֹוָֽה [Hashem] (26) = 3341.
Radak
What is the sign? He asked for a sign because the decree was doubled, as it was said to him, "You shall die and not live." He therefore thought that what Isaiah said to him, "Behold, I will heal you," was said only to comfort him, since he saw that he was weeping with great weeping. And even though he saw that the boil had healed, he did not consider himself healed until he became strong and able to ascend to the House of the Lord, for it is possible that the boil might return, or that the illness had not yet departed from him.
Ralbag
And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “What is the sign that the Lord will heal me?” You ought to know that this was not a lack of faith on Hezekiah’s part when he requested a sign in this matter. For Isaiah had already informed him that the decree of the Lord was that he would die. Now, when it was agreed to add fifteen years to his life, perhaps there was a condition—namely, if Hezekiah were in a state of such perfection that it would be possible for Divine providence to cleave to him. And therefore Hezekiah did not rely on this unless God, blessed be He, would give him a sign, indicating that this gift was granted to him unconditionally.
Metzudat David
What is the sign? He means to say: What a great and wondrous sign it will be considered, when the Lord heals me of all the pain of my illness, and I ascend on the third day to the House of the Lord.
Metzudat Zion
What sign. The word 'what' indicates the greatness and importance of the matter, so too (Psalms 8:9): how great is Your name:
A sign. A wonder:
Cross-references: Isaiah 38:22; II Chronicles 32:24
And Isaiah said: ‘This shall be the sign to you from Hashem, that Hashem will do the thing that He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?
verse value 6130
Insights
Verse structure: 19 words, 76 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֔ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. Verse gematria: 6130 is divisible by 613, the number of the commandments (mitzvot). The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֚י, 2 letters) and the longest is "Isaiah" (יְשַׁעְיָ֗הוּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 570: ten, ten. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "this·to·you" (זֶה־לְּךָ֤), "if·he·returns" (אִם־יָשׁ֖וּב). The root יהוה appears 2 times in this verse. 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings). First appearance of the root צל ("deliver") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'spoke', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 7 words.
Rashi
The shadow shall go down ten steps or shall return ten steps. Behold this is a shortened verse, already the shadow went down the steps that are made for the hours of the day, like sundials in the vernacular, that men make to test the hours of the day, do you desire that it wait in the place that it is there for the measure of ten hours, or shall it return up ten steps, and it shall appear as if it is morning:
Radak
"The shadow went [forward]." [Understood] like "it will go" — he [Isaiah] asked him which sign he would choose: should the shadow advance ten degrees in a single moment, or should it return backward ten degrees? And Hezekiah said: it is easier for the shadow to incline ten degrees, for the [celestial] sphere in its course — it will be easier for the sign that it hastens its course beyond its custom; but the sign will be stronger if it reverses backward from its course.
Ralbag
“The shadow went ten degrees; if it returns, ten degrees.” This means: if it returns to walk ten additional degrees, such that there will be twenty degrees in total.
Metzudat David
"This shall be the sign for you from the Lord." The Omnipresent, of His own accord, said that He would give you a sign concerning this matter, that you shall go up on the third day to the house of the Lord.
The shadow advanced ten degrees. The degrees were arranged opposite the sun, to test by them the hours of the day, for each hour the shadow would descend one degree. He asked him by which sign he would prefer it to be chosen: whether the shadow should go forward in its course ten degrees, suddenly and in one moment [and "advanced" is like "will advance," past tense used in place of future tense, and there are many such instances in Scripture], or whether you would prefer that the shadow return backward ten degrees.
And Hezekiah answered: ‘It is a light thing for the shadow to decline ten degrees; nay, but let the shadow return backward ten degrees.’
verse value 4633
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 56 letters. The shortest word is "not" (לֹ֣א, 2 letters) and the longest is "Hezekiah" (יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 570: ten, ten. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "Hezekiah" (יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ), "is·light" (נָקֵ֣ל), "to·the·shadow" (לַצֵּ֔ל). The root צל appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "not" (root לא, 106x in II Kings); "for" (root כי, 76x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'ascents', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 7 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ [and·said] (257) + יְחִזְקִיָּ֔הוּ [Hezekiah] (146) + נָקֵ֣ל [is·light] (180) + לַצֵּ֔ל [to·the·shadow] (150) + לִנְט֖וֹת [to·swerve] (495) + עֶ֣שֶׂר [ten] (570) + מַעֲל֑וֹת [ascents] (546) + לֹ֣א [not] (31) + כִ֔י [for] (30) + יָשׁ֥וּב [he·will·return] (318) + הַצֵּ֛ל [deliver] (125) + אֲחֹרַנִּ֖ית [backwards] (669) + עֶ֥שֶׂר [ten] (570) + מַעֲלֽוֹת [ascents] (546) = 4633.
Rashi
And Hezekiah said, it is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps. It is an easy thing for it to extend in its place, and extending and remaining ten steps is not something so noticeable; not so — rather let the shadow go back, and the thing will be a wonder, for they would see that the day had turned to evening, and it returns to being morning:
Ralbag
And Hezekiah said, "It is an easy matter for the shadow to lengthen ten steps." Now this verse is very difficult to explain, and this is because it is known that the movement of the shadow is due to the motion of the sun, and according to the motion of the sun, the shadow moves little by little. This is evident in itself. And since the matter is so, what is the meaning of Hezekiah's statement, "It is an easy matter for the shadow to lengthen ten steps"? How could Hezekiah consider it easy what was in fact a very wondrous miracle, like which we have not seen explained even for Moses, after whom no prophet arose, regarding all the signs and wonders he performed? For those miracles were to alter the order of these lower things, and it is infinitely more wondrous for the order of the upper spheres to be altered. And since the matter is so, this statement of Hezekiah's would be one of extreme foolishness. And how is it fitting that we attribute this to him, given his perfection as evident from his words? And if we say that this miracle was not in the motion of the sun itself, it is difficult to reconcile with what is stated in the Book of Chronicles about the envoys of the princes of Babylon who came to inquire about the miracle that had occurred in the land, for from that passage it appears that this miracle was concerning his illness, since in that place it is stated that he heard that Hezekiah had become ill. And it appears to me, because of all this, that this miracle was in the shadow, not in the sun itself. And you already know that clouds moving beneath the sun sometimes bring the ray of the sun to a place other than its proper location, and this has been found by experience many times. And since Hezekiah saw from the motion of the wind at that time, and from certain vapors that were beneath the sun, that it would be easy for them, in their swift motion, to return the shadow ten steps, for in that direction was their motion, he asked Isaiah that the matter be the opposite of this, so that the miracle of God, blessed be He, would be recognized by him. And the prophet prayed to God, and the shadow went backward ten steps, as Hezekiah had requested. And this miracle could have occurred by God renewing, in the manner of a miracle, vapors that moved in that direction and the ray of the sun was imprinted upon them, and they brought it in their motion with wondrous speed to that place, so that it was already there immediately.
Metzudat David
It is easy for the shadow to lean. This sign, that the shadow leans swiftly, is slight compared to the sign of the shadow’s return, for when the shadow leans swiftly, the sun’s sphere does not depart from its course, but merely hastens to run rapidly, and the sign is not so evident; whereas the shadow’s returning backward is a stronger and more difficult sign.
And Isaiah the prophet cried to Hashem; and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the dial of Ahaz.
verse value 5304
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 67 letters. Verse gematria: 5304 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֨ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "Isaiah" (יְשַׁעְיָ֥הוּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 548: in·the·ascents, in·ascents·of. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "the·shadow" (אֶת־הַצֵּ֗ל). The root מעלה appears 3 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "to·Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "and·brought·back" (root שוב, 53x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·Hashem', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 10 words. Full calculation: וַיִּקְרָ֛א [and·called] (317) + יְשַׁעְיָ֥הוּ [Isaiah] (401) + הַנָּבִ֖יא [the·prophet] (68) + אֶל־יְהֹוָ֑ה [to·Hashem] (57) + וַיָּ֣שֶׁב [and·brought·back] (318) + אֶת־הַצֵּ֗ל [the·shadow] (526) + בַּֽ֠מַּעֲל֠וֹת [in·the·ascents] (548) + אֲשֶׁ֨ר [that] (501) + יָרְדָ֜ה [she·went·down] (219) + בְּמַעֲל֥וֹת [in·ascents·of] (548) + אָחָ֛ז [Ahaz] (16) + אֲחֹרַנִּ֖ית [backwards] (669) + עֶ֥שֶׂר [ten] (570) + מַעֲלֽוֹת [ascents] (546) = 5304.
Rashi
That went down in the steps of Ahaz. The day that Ahaz died, the day was shortened and the shadow hastened to go down ten steps, so that he should not be mourned, and those ten hours returned now to Hezekiah (Sanhedrin 96a):
Radak
“On the steps that it descended.” That the sun descended and the shadow moved ten steps, and the sun returned backward, and the shadow was on the first step.
"On the steps of Ahaz": For he built those steps. And in the midrashic exposition of "which had descended on the steps of Ahaz" — [it means] that at the death of Ahaz the day was shortened, and the shadow inclined ten steps, and the sun set ten steps before its time, so that they would not eulogize him, since he was wicked; and those same ten steps by which it descended for Ahaz reverted backward for Hezekiah as a sign. And the Targum: "And Isaiah the prophet prayed before the LORD, and He brought back the shadow on the stone sundial that had descended on the ascent of Ahaz — the sun backward ten hours." That is to say: on the steps there was a stone marked to indicate the hours of the day.
Ralbag
Regarding the phrase "the steps of Achaz," it is possible that Achaz built these steps in the royal palace. Now, when the king of Babylon heard that Hezekiah was ill, he sent his envoys there and commanded them also to inquire about the miracle that had occurred in the land at that time, from the army of Sennacherib, all of whom died—not by human hand, but by the angel of the Lord. Therefore, he also said, "the one that was in the land." And if this referred to the miracle of the sun, it would not have been only in the land, but throughout the entire world.
Metzudat David
"And he called," etc. To perform the sign that Hezekiah had chosen:
"On the steps of Ahaz." This means: This sign occurred on the steps that Ahaz had made, and on them the shadow moved backward ten steps. And our Sages of blessed memory said (Sanhedrin 96a) that it moved backward according to the calculation of how quickly it had descended on the steps on the day that Ahaz died, in order to shorten the day and to diminish his eulogy.
At that time Berodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent a letter and a present to Hezekiah; for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
verse value 2723
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 67 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "to·Hezekiah" (אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 30: for, for. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "Berodach-baladan" (בְּרֹאדַ֣ךְ), "Baladan" (בַּ֠לְאֲדָ֠ן), "son·of·Baladan" (בֶּֽן־בַּלְאֲדָ֧ן). The root כי appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king·of·Babylon" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "to·Hezekiah" (root איל, 153x in II Kings); "son·of·Baladan" (root בין, 106x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·Hezekiah', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 5 words.
Rashi
For he heard that he was sick. And until that day there was no person who was sick and lived, and how did he hear, he was accustomed to eat at the third hour of the day, and sleeps until nine, when the sun's wheel returned to Hezekiah, he awoke in the ninth hour and found that it is morning, he sought to kill his servants, he said you left me to sleep day and night, they said, the sun's wheel returned, he said to them: who returned it, they said to him: the God of Hezekiah, as it is in Pesikta:
Radak
"Berodach." And in Isaiah it is written "Merodach" with a mem, and it is one and the same, for they are from a single origin. And "Baladan" is a name attached to his father, whose name was Baladan. And this is the king Esarhaddon, for Sennacherib was king of Babylon. And likewise, in the days of Manasseh it is stated in Chronicles: "And the captains of the army of the king of Assyria came against them, etc.… and carried them to Babylon."
"For he heard that he was sick." The main purpose of my mission was not concerning his illness, but rather concerning the miracle that was performed for him due to his illness. And so it is stated in Chronicles: "to inquire about the miracle that occurred in the land."
Ralbag
"At that time Berodach-baladan sent [envoys with a letter and gift]." You should know that although Sennacherib ruled over Babylon, as will be evident from what was stated earlier, "And the king of Assyria came from Babylon," there was a king there who was subordinate to Sennacherib and paid him tribute year by year, for this was his custom with all the kings whom he conquered. And according to my understanding, the kingship remained with the kings of Assyria until Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came and seized this kingdom, and the kingship continued with him, his son, and his grandson for seventy years.
Books and the Minchah to Hezekiah. He had already recounted in the Book of Chronicles that many were bringing a Minchah to the Lord in Jerusalem, and gifts to Hezekiah. This was so because of what they heard regarding the miracle that the Lord performed against the army of the king of Assyria; then all the kingdoms of the land knew that the Lord is God. Therefore, this account is placed there, following the narrative of this miracle that the Lord performed against the army of the king of Assyria.
Metzudat David
"For he was ill." Because he had recovered, he sent to inquire after his welfare as an expression of affection; and in Chronicles II (32:31) it is stated that he sent to inquire about the miracle that had occurred during his illness.
And Hezekiah hearkened to them, and showed them all his treasure-house, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures; there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.
verse value 10131
Insights
Verse structure: 26 words, 132 letters. The shortest word is "and" (וְאֵ֣ת, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·in·all·his·dominion" (וּבְכׇל־מֶמְשַׁלְתּֽוֹ, 10 letters). Words sharing gematria 426: and·he·heard, and·the·gold. 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "all·house·of" (אֶת־כׇּל־בֵּ֣ית), "his·treasure" (נְכֹתֹ֡ה), "and·the·spices" (וְאֶת־הַבְּשָׂמִ֜ים). The root בית appears 3 times in this verse. 19 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "all·that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "word" (root דבר, 147x in II Kings); "all·house·of" (root בית, 141x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·his·treasuries', dividing the verse into phrases of 19 and 7 words.
Rashi
A house of treasure. A treasury of his spices, like (Genesis 37:25): spices and balm and lot:
And the good oil. There are those who explain [it as] the anointing oil, and there are those who explain [it as] balsam oil (balsamon), that it is common in the land of Israel, as it is said (in Ezekiel 27:17): Judah and Israel, they are your merchants in wheat of Minnith and pannag. And I saw in the book of Yosefon: pannag is balsam, and it grows in Jericho, and for the name of the fragrance it is called Jericho:
There was nothing. The ark and the tablets and the Torah scroll (Pirkei Rabbi Eliezer chapter 52, see Shir Hashirim Rabbah 3:4):
Radak
"And Hezekiah heeded them." [עליהם is] like אליהם ("to them"); על is like אל, and there are many instances like this, such as "and Elkanah the Ramathite went up to his house" [I Sam. 2:11] — "over his house" is like "to his house." And as for what it says "and he heeded" — it appears that they had requested of him to show them the treasure-house, and he heeded them and did so. And the Targum: "and he accepted from them." And in Isaiah it says: "and he rejoiced over them."
"[He showed them] all his treasure house." [Meaning] all the house of his desired/treasured things — that is, all the things that were his — and afterward it specifies what these desirable things are. And likewise "nekhot, tzori, and lot" [Gen. 37:25] means a desirable/precious item. And in the words of our Sages, of blessed memory: What is "beit nekhotah"? Some of them said: his wife used to serve them drinks. And some of them said: he showed them food that strengthens virility [lit. "member eats member"]. And some of them said: he showed them his treasury.
"Good oil." This is balsam oil, which was not found in all the world except in Jericho. And they said that therefore it was called Jericho. And it was an abomination in the sight of the Lord, because he showed them his treasure house, because he became arrogant when messengers came to him from a distant land, and because he succeeded in all his ways. And so it says in Chronicles that his heart was lifted up, and he said regarding these messengers that they came for his honor. And he should have said that they came for the honor of God, for they came to inquire about the miracle. And so it says in Chronicles, and so too regarding the envoys of the princes of Babylon who were sent to him to inquire about the miracle that had occurred in the land: "The Lord abandoned him to test him, to know all that was in his heart."
Ralbag
“And Hezekiah heard of them”: This means that he had already heard on their account what they had requested of him, and he told them everything they had asked, and showed them all the house of his treasures. Now, this is a gathering of his precious things, and after this he specified what was there, namely, silver and gold, spices and the good oil. And this is balsam oil, which was not found except in his land, and in one place of it alone, and it is called ‘balsami’ in the foreign tongue.
“And his house of treasures, and all that was found in his treasuries.” It is possible that He also showed them the pleasant things that he had in his dominion. And behold, he was evil in the eyes of the Lord because of what he had done, for his heart was lifted up against the Lord. For they had come to inquire about the miracle for the sake of the glory of the Lord and it was not fitting for Hezekiah to exalt himself in this matter. Rather, it was fitting that he should ascribe greatness and honor to the Lord and show them the greatness of the Lord for this is what they had come for, and for this reason he was censured in the Book of Chronicles. For he did not return to the Lord the honor due to Him for this miracle that He performed for him — which added to his days what was fitting. Instead, his heart was lifted up, and therefore wrath was upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. And this wrath was that which the prophet Isaiah said to him concerning this matter.
Metzudat David
"And he heeded them." It is possible that they asked to be shown his entire treasure house, and he heeded them and showed them.
Metzudat Zion
The treasure. A matter of a delightful treasury, so too (Genesis 37:25): spicery and balm, meaning: delightful things:
Cross-references: Isaiah 39:2; II Chronicles 32:25
Then came Isaiah the prophet to king Hezekiah, and said to him: ‘What said these men? and from whence came they to you?’ And Hezekiah said: ‘They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.’
verse value 3106
Insights
Verse structure: 20 words, 92 letters. The shortest word is "what?" (מָ֥ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "Isaiah" (יְשַׁעְיָ֣הוּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 257: and·said, and·said. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "man" (הָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים), "and·from·where" (וּמֵאַ֙יִן֙), "far" (רְחוֹקָ֛ה). The root בוא appears 3 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "to·the·king" (root איל, 153x in II Kings); "and·came" (root בוא, 146x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Hezekiah', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 15 words.
Rashi
From a far land they came. This was one of three whom the Holy One tested and found to be [worth no more than] a chamber pot of muddy water: Cain, Hezekiah, and Balaam. Cain, (Genesis 4:9) - I do not know, am I my brother's keeper, he should have said Master of the Universe behold all the hidden things are revealed to You, as it is in Tanhuma (see Bamidbar Rabbah 20:6). Balaam - to whom the Omnipresent said (Numbers 22:9) who are these men with you, he should have said Lord God You know, as it is said in Ezekiel (37:3), and he answered in arrogance, Balak son of Zippor - king of Moab sent to me, many seekers there are for me. Hezekiah - he should have answered Isaiah, you are the prophet of the Omnipresent, and you ask me, Hezekiah began to boast and said: from a far land they came to me, therefore he was punished, and for that he rejoiced over them and fed them on his table (Sanhedrin 104a):
And he said: ‘What have they seen in your house?’ And Hezekiah answered: ‘All that is in my house have they seen; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.’
verse value 5067
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 66 letters. The shortest word is "what?" (מָ֥ה, 2 letters) and the longest is "not·I·showed·them" (לֹֽא־הִרְאִיתִ֖ם, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 257: and·said, and·said. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "in·my·house" (בְּבֵיתִי֙), "not·I·showed·them" (לֹֽא־הִרְאִיתִ֖ם), "in·my·treasuries" (בְּאֹצְרֹתָֽי). The root ראה appears 3 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "all·that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "word" (root דבר, 147x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·your·house', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 11 words.
And Isaiah said to Hezekiah: ‘Hear the word of Hashem.
verse value 1467
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 29 letters. The shortest word is "hear" (שְׁמַ֖ע, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Hezekiah" (אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ, 8 letters). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "the·word·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings); "to·Hezekiah" (root איל, 153x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·Hezekiah', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 2 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֥אמֶר [and·said] (257) + יְשַׁעְיָ֖הוּ [Isaiah] (401) + אֶל־חִזְקִיָּ֑הוּ [to·Hezekiah] (167) + שְׁמַ֖ע [hear] (410) + דְּבַר־יְהֹוָֽה [the·word·of·Hashem] (232) = 1467.
Behold, the days come, that all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have laid up in store to this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left, says Hashem.
verse value 4103
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 67 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָֽה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "they" (הִנֵּה֮, 3 letters) and the longest is "until·the·day" (עַד־הַיּ֥וֹם, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "they·stored·up" (אָצְר֧וּ), "your·fathers" (אֲבֹתֶ֛יךָ), "shall·not·be·left" (לֹא־יִוָּתֵ֥ר). The root יום appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "all·that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings). First appearance of the root בבלה ("to·Babylon") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·Babylon', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 4 words.
Rashi
Nothing shall be left. Measure for measure, there was nothing:
Metzudat David
"And it shall be carried off." It shall be [understood as] "borne away" and "taken."
"And that which they stored up." That which they hid away in the treasury.
Not a thing will remain. From all that is in your house:
And of your sons that shall issue from you, whom you shall beget, shall they take away; and they shall be officers in the palace of the king of Babylon.’
verse value 2627
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 52 letters. The shortest word is "that" (אֲשֶׁ֨ר, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·from·your·sons" (וּמִבָּנֶ֜יךָ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: that, that. 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "and·from·your·sons" (וּמִבָּנֶ֜יךָ), "from·you" (מִמְּךָ֛), "you·shall·beget" (תּוֹלִ֖יד). The root אשר appears 2 times in this verse. 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "king" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "and·they·shall·be" (root היה, 119x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'take', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 5 words. Full calculation: וּמִבָּנֶ֜יךָ [and·from·your·sons] (128) + אֲשֶׁ֨ר [that] (501) + יֵצְא֧וּ [they·shall·go·out] (107) + מִמְּךָ֛ [from·you] (100) + אֲשֶׁ֥ר [that] (501) + תּוֹלִ֖יד [you·shall·beget] (450) + (יקח) [will·take] (118) + יִקָּ֑חוּ [take] (124) + וְהָיוּ֙ [and·they·shall·be] (27) + סָרִיסִ֔ים [chamberlains] (380) + בְּהֵיכַ֖ל [in·temple·of] (67) + מֶ֥לֶךְ [king] (90) + בָּבֶֽל [Babylon] (34) = 2627.
Rashi
And of your sons. Hananiah Mishael and Azariah:
Radak
"Which you shall bear, they shall take." It is written as yikakh (third person singular) and read as yikachu (third person plural). And they said that this refers to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
"And they were eunuchs." There is a dispute among the statements of our Sages of blessed memory: some said they were actual eunuchs, and some said that idol worship lost its potency [lit. "was castrated"] in their days, meaning that everyone recognized that there was no substance to it. And Targum Yonatan renders it "rabrevin," like "princes." And regarding Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, he said that they were in the palaces of the king of Babylon, and it is said about them "of the children of Judah," and they were from the royal lineage, for so Nebuchadnezzar said, to seek from the royal lineage and from the noblemen.
Ralbag
“Which shall come out of you, which you shall beget.” This is a hint that Hezekiah had no sons at the time of this prophecy, but only after three years did he beget Manasseh, who reigned after him. And thus it says, “your sons,” referring to his descendants. And even though they are distant, all of a person’s descendants are called his sons, even up to a thousand generations, just as we are called today “the children of Israel.”
Metzudat David
"And from your sons": These are Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
“Which shall go forth from you, which you shall beget.” The duplication of the matter two or three times is in the manner of Scripture.
Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah: ‘Good is the word of Hashem which you have spoken.’ He said moreover: ‘Is it not so, if peace and truth shall be in my days?’
verse value 3436
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 63 letters. The shortest word is "good" (ט֥וֹב, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·Isaiah" (אֶֽל־יְשַׁעְיָ֔הוּ, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 257: and·said, and·said. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "you·spoke" (דִּבַּ֑רְתָּ), "if·that·which·is·to" (אִם־שָׁל֥וֹם), "and·truth" (וֶאֱמֶ֖ת). The root אמר appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·said" (root אמר, 342x in II Kings); "that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "the·word·of·Hashem" (root יהוה, 276x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'you·spoke', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 6 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֤אמֶר [and·said] (257) + חִזְקִיָּ֙הוּ֙ [Hezekiah] (136) + אֶֽל־יְשַׁעְיָ֔הוּ [to·Isaiah] (432) + ט֥וֹב [good] (17) + דְּבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה [the·word·of·Hashem] (232) + אֲשֶׁ֣ר [that] (501) + דִּבַּ֑רְתָּ [you·spoke] (606) + וַיֹּ֕אמֶר [and·said] (257) + הֲל֛וֹא [is·it·not] (42) + אִם־שָׁל֥וֹם [if·that·which·is·to] (417) + וֶאֱמֶ֖ת [and·truth] (447) + יִהְיֶ֥ה [it·will·be] (30) + בְיָמָֽי [in·my·days] (62) = 3436.
Rashi
Good is the word of the Lord. For in My days there shall be peace:
Metzudat David
"The word of GOD is good." [Meaning:] It is good in my eyes. And he explained his words, saying: Is it not that if there will be peace in my days, and GOD confirms this promise of His to me, I do not care what will happen after my death?
Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and all his might, and how he made the pool, and the conduit, and brought water into the city, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
verse value 6358
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 95 letters. The shortest word is "did" (עָשָׂ֗ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·all·his·strength" (וְכׇל־גְּב֣וּרָת֔וֹ, 9 letters). Words sharing gematria 216: words·of, words·of. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in II Kings. Unique to this verse in II Kings (hapax): "the·pool" (אֶת־הַבְּרֵכָה֙), "and·the·conduit" (וְאֶת־הַתְּעָלָ֔ה), "to·the·city" (הָעִ֑ירָה). The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 17 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "of·the·kings·of" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "and·that" (root אשר, 318x in II Kings); "words·of" (root דבר, 147x in II Kings). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·the·city', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 7 words.
Rashi
And that which he made the pool and so on. In Chronicles:
Metzudat David
"The waters." [Referring to] the source of the waters of Gihon, which was outside the city; he brought it into the city.
Metzudat Zion
The pool. A stone structure built for the gathering of waters:
The conduit. A ditch for waters:
Cross-references: II Chronicles 32:30; II Chronicles 32:32
And Hezekiah slept with his fathers; and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.
verse value 2386
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 35 letters. The shortest word is "his·son" (בְנ֖וֹ, 3 letters) and the longest is "with·his·fathers" (עִם־אֲבֹתָ֑יו, 7 letters). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·he·reigned" (root מלך, 407x in II Kings); "his·son" (root בן, 66x in II Kings); "with·his·fathers" (root עם, 65x in II Kings). First appearance of the root מנשה ("Manasseh") in II Kings. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'with·his·fathers', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַיִּשְׁכַּ֥ב [and·he·slept] (338) + חִזְקִיָּ֖הוּ [Hezekiah] (136) + עִם־אֲבֹתָ֑יו [with·his·fathers] (529) + וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ [and·he·reigned] (106) + מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה [Manasseh] (395) + בְנ֖וֹ [his·son] (58) + תַּחְתָּֽיו [in·his·stead] (824) = 2386.
Rashi
Radak
Ralbag
Metzudat David