1. _Why was Hezekiah afraid to die?_ Answer: (1.) Even to a
_Christian_ man, death is an event of unutterable solemnity, for
which he feels it necessary to make the most serious preparation, and
which he would not like to have occur to him suddenly. (2.) Hezekiah
had not that _clear_ view of the future which has been granted to us
(ver. 18; 2 Tim. i. 10). (3.) His kingdom was threatened by a
powerful enemy, and the important reforms which he had been
prosecuting were incomplete; and even good men are apt to forget that
God can raise up others to do His work more efficiently than they
have done it. (4.) At that time he had no child, and that he should
die childless appeared inconsistent with God's promise to David
(1 Kings ii. 4). Probably it was a recollection of this promise that
prompted his reference to his integrity (ver. 3). In those words
there is no boastfulness; they are an appeal to the Divine
faithfulness. On all these accounts a prolongation of his life seemed
to Hezekiah desirable, and he sought it from God in prayer.
2. _When we compare vers. 1 and 5, do we not find an astonishing
reversal of a Divine decree altogether inconsistent with the doctrine
of God's unchangeableness?_ No. "The same decree that says, 'Nineveh
shall be destroyed,' means, 'If Nineveh repent, it shall not be
destroyed.' He that finds good reason to say, 'Hezekiah shall die,'
yet still means, 'If the quickened devotion of Hezekiah importune Me
for life, it shall be protracted.' And the same God that had decreed
this addition of fifteen years had decreed to stir up the spirit of
Hezekiah to that vehement and weeping importunity which should obtain
it" (_Bishop Hall_).
3. _What was the nature of the sign given to confirm Hezekiah's
faith?_ For a discussion of this point, see note.[1]