Skip to Content
Nach YomiIsaiah ยท ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื•Chapter 38

Isaiah 38

ื™ืฉืขื™ื”ื• ืคืจืง ืœืดื—

Section: ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ยท ื ื‘ื™ืื™ื ืื—ืจื•ื ื™ื | Book: Isaiah | Chapter: 38 of 66 | Day: 185 of 742

Date: August 15, 2026

ืงืœืื•ื“ ืขืœ ื”ื ืดืš

Chapter 38 turns from the great deliverance from Assyria (chapters 36-37) to a more intimate crisis: the mortal illness of King Hezekiah and his recovery. Its narrative frame closely parallels the account in II Kings 20, but Isaiah preserves at its heart a feature the Kings version omits entirely - a personal psalm, the michtav (ืžึดื›ึฐืชึธึผื‘), which Hezekiah composed after his recovery. The chapter thus moves from prophecy of doom to prayer, from divine reprieve to a poetic meditation on mortality, and finally to the practical remedy and the kingโ€™s request for a sign. Radak on verse 9 notes that this writing is a ketav hodaโ€™ah, a document of thanksgiving, meant to stand as a lasting memorial (mazkeret) of the kindness God showed in adding to Hezekiahโ€™s days.

The opening scene is stark. Isaiah delivers a verdict of unqualified finality: set your house in order, for you shall die and not live (ืฆึทื• ืœึฐื‘ึตื™ืชึถืšึธ ื›ึดึผื™ ืžึตืช ืึทืชึธึผื” ื•ึฐืœึนื ืชึดื—ึฐื™ึถื”). Rashi, drawing on the Talmud (Berachot 10b), reads the doubled formula as death in this world and in the world to come, tied to Hezekiahโ€™s failure to marry and have children. Hezekiahโ€™s response is to turn his face to the wall and pour out his heart, invoking his sincere and wholehearted walk before God (ื‘ึถึผืึฑืžึถืช ื•ึผื‘ึฐืœึตื‘ ืฉึธืืœึตื). The reversal is immediate and gracious: God has heard the prayer and seen the tears, and grants fifteen additional years along with deliverance of the city from Assyria. The sign confirming the promise is cosmic - the shadow on the sundial of Ahaz (ืžึทืขึฒืœื•ึนืช ืึธื—ึธื–) retreats ten degrees. Rashi preserves the striking aggadic tradition that the day had once been shortened by ten hours when Ahaz died so he would not be eulogized, and now those hours are restored to the day of Hezekiahโ€™s healing.

The bulk of the chapter, verses 10 through 20, is the michtav itself, one of the most affecting pieces of psalmody in the prophetic books. Hezekiah recalls standing at the brink: in the noontide of his days he must depart through the gates of Sheol, his life plucked up like a shepherdโ€™s tent (ื›ึฐึผืึนื”ึถืœ ืจึนืขึดื™) and rolled up like a weaver severing the thread from the loom. The imagery is relentlessly domestic and fragile - a lion crushing his bones through the night, his own voice reduced to the chirp of a swallow and the moan of a dove (ืึถื”ึฐื’ึถึผื” ื›ึทึผื™ึผื•ึนื ึธื”). Radak and Metzudat David alike unfold these metaphors as the physical and emotional agony of a man convinced his years are cut off before their time. Yet the psalm pivots on a theology of praise: the dead cannot thank God, and so the living, only the living, give thanks (ื—ึทื™ ื—ึทื™ ื”ื•ึผื ื™ื•ึนื“ึถืšึธ) - a father teaching his children Godโ€™s faithfulness. The michtav closes in confident song, the LORD ready to save, so that the king and his people will make music all the days of their lives in the House of the LORD.

The chapter ends, somewhat abruptly, with two verses that Radak observes belong chronologically earlier in the story (their natural place is beside verse 6, as they appear in Kings): Isaiahโ€™s prescription of a cake of pressed figs (ื“ึฐึผื‘ึถืœึถืช ืชึฐึผืึตื ึดื™ื) laid upon the boil, and Hezekiahโ€™s question about the sign that he will go up to the House of the LORD. Rashi highlights the remedy as a miracle within a miracle, since figs would ordinarily damage healthy flesh, let alone an infected wound - God deliberately applies a harmful substance to accomplish healing. Placed after the psalm of thanksgiving rather than before it, these closing verses let the chapter culminate not in the mechanics of the cure but in Hezekiahโ€™s yearning to ascend to the Temple, binding his personal recovery to the worship of Israel and the broader Isaianic vision of Zion delivered and restored.

ืคืจืง ืœืดื— ยท Chapter 38

ืคืกื•ืง ืืณ ยท Verse 1

Hebrew:

ื‘ึผึทื™ึผึธืžึดึฃื™ื ื”ึธื”ึตึ”ื ื—ึธืœึธึฅื” ื—ึดื–ึฐืงึดื™ึผึธึ–ื”ื•ึผ ืœึธืžึ‘ื•ึผืช ื•ึทื™ึผึธื‘ึฃื•ึนื ืึตึ ืœึธึ ื™ื• ื™ึฐืฉืึทึฝืขึฐื™ึธึจื”ื•ึผ ื‘ึถืŸึพืึธืžึœื•ึนืฅ ื”ึทื ึผึธื‘ึดึ—ื™ื ื•ึทื™ึผึนึจืืžึถืจ ืึตืœึธึœื™ื• ื›ึผึนึฝื”ึพืึธืžึทึคืจ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธื”ึ™ ืฆึทึฃื• ืœึฐื‘ึตื™ืชึถึ”ืšึธ ื›ึผึดึ›ื™ ืžึตึฅืช ืึทืชึผึธึ–ื” ื•ึฐืœึนึฅื ืชึดึฝื—ึฐื™ึถึฝื”ืƒ

English:

In those days Hezekiah fell dangerously ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came and said to him, โ€œThus said GOD: Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die; you will not get well.โ€

In those days Hezekiah falls mortally ill, and Isaiah comes to him with a stark divine verdict: set your house in order, for you shall die and not live. Rashi places this three days before Sennacherib's downfall and reads the doubled 'die and not live' as death in this world and the next, tied to Hezekiah's not having married.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื‘ื™ืžื™ื ื”ื”ื. ืฉืœืฉื” ื™ืžื™ื ืœืคื ื™ ืžืคืœืชื• ืฉืœ ืกื ื—ืจื™ื‘ ื—ืœื” ื—ื–ืงื™ื”ื• ื•ื™ื•ื ื’' ื›ืฉืขืœ' ื‘ื™ืช ื”' ื”ื•ื ื™ื•ื ืžืคืœืชื• ืฉืœ ืกื ื—ืจื™ื‘ ื•ื”ื•ื ื™"ื˜ ืจืืฉื•ืŸ ืฉืœ ืคืกื—: ื›ื™ ืžืช ืืชื” ื•ืœื ืชื—ื™ื”. ืžืช ืืชื” ื‘ืขื•ื”"ื– ื•ืœื ืชื—ื™ื” ืœืขื”"ื‘ ืžืฉื•ื ื“ืœื ื ืกื‘ืช ืื™ืชืชื ื›ื•' ื›ื“ืื™ืชื ื‘ื‘ืจื›ื•ืช:
In those days Three days before Sennacherib's downfall, Hezekiah became ill, and the third day, when he went up to the house of the Lord, was the day of Sennacherib's downfall, and it was the first festive day of Passover. for you are going to die and you shall not live You are going to die in this world, and you shall not live in the world to come, for you have not married, as it is stated in Berachoth 10b.

ืคืกื•ืง ื‘ืณ ยท Verse 2

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึทืกึผึตึงื‘ ื—ึดื–ึฐืงึดื™ึผึธึ›ื”ื•ึผ ืคึผึธื ึธึ–ื™ื• ืึถืœึพื”ึทืงึผึดึ‘ื™ืจ ื•ึทื™ึผึดืชึฐืคึผึทืœึผึตึ–ืœ ืึถืœึพื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึฝื”ืƒ

English:

Thereupon Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to GOD.

ืคืกื•ืง ื’ืณ ยท Verse 3

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึนืืžึทึ—ืจ ืึธื ึผึธึคื” ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธื”ึ™ ื–ึฐื›ื‡ืจึพื ึธึžื ืึตึฃืช ืึฒืฉืึถึงืจ ื”ึดืชึฐื”ึทืœึผึทึฃื›ึฐืชึผึดื™ ืœึฐืคึธื ึถึ—ื™ืšึธ ื‘ึผึถึฝืึฑืžึถืชึ™ ื•ึผื‘ึฐืœึตึฃื‘ ืฉืึธืœึตึ”ื ื•ึฐื”ึทื˜ึผึฅื•ึนื‘ ื‘ึผึฐืขึตื™ื ึถึ–ื™ืšึธ ืขึธืฉื‚ึดึ‘ื™ืชึดื™ ื•ึทื™ึผึตึฅื‘ึฐืšึผึฐ ื—ึดื–ึฐืงึดื™ึผึธึ–ื”ื•ึผ ื‘ึผึฐื›ึดึฅื™ ื’ึธื“ึฝื•ึนืœืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

โ€œPlease, O ETERNAL One,โ€ he said, โ€œremember how I have walked before You sincerely and wholeheartedly, and have done what is pleasing to You.โ€ And Hezekiah wept profusely.

Hezekiah pleads with God to remember how he walked before Him sincerely and wholeheartedly and did what was pleasing, then weeps profusely. Rashi reads the cry 'Anna Hashem' as an appeal to God's mercy: where is Your compassion?
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืื ื” ื”'. ืื™ื” ืจื—ืžื ื•ืชืš:
Please, O Lord (ืึธื ึผึธื”) Where is Your mercy?

ืคืกื•ืง ื“ืณ ยท Verse 4

Hebrew:

ื•ึทึฝื™ึฐื”ึดื™ึ™ ื“ึผึฐื‘ึทืจึพื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ”ื” ืึถึฝืœึพื™ึฐืฉืึทึฝืขึฐื™ึธึ–ื”ื•ึผ ืœึตืืžึนึฝืจืƒ

English:

Then the word of GOD came to Isaiah:

ืคืกื•ืง ื”ืณ ยท Verse 5

Hebrew:

ื”ึธืœึžื•ึนืšึฐ ื•ึฐืึธืžึทืจึฐืชึผึธึฃ ืึถืœึพื—ึดื–ึฐืงึดื™ึผึธึ—ื”ื•ึผ ื›ึผึนึฝื”ึพืึธืžึทึคืจ ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธื”ึ™ ืึฑืœึนื”ึตื™ึ™ ื“ึผึธื•ึดึฃื“ ืึธื‘ึดึ”ื™ืšึธ ืฉืึธืžึทึ™ืขึฐืชึผึดื™ึ™ ืึถืชึพืชึผึฐืคึดืœึผึธืชึถึ”ืšึธ ืจึธืึดึ–ื™ืชึดื™ ืึถืชึพื“ึผึดืžึฐืขึธืชึถึ‘ืšึธ ื”ึดื ึฐื ึดื™ึ™ ื™ื•ึนืกึดึฃืฃ ืขึทืœึพื™ึธืžึถึ”ื™ืšึธ ื—ึฒืžึตึฅืฉื ืขึถืฉื‚ึฐืจึตึ–ื” ืฉืึธื ึธึฝื”ืƒ

English:

โ€œGo and tell Hezekiah: Thus said GOD, the God of your forefather David: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears. I hereby add fifteen years to your life.

God tells Isaiah to return to Hezekiah with a reversal of the verdict: invoking the God of his forefather David, He declares that He has heard the prayer and seen the tears and will add fifteen years to the king's life. Rashi notes the phrasing means God Himself is the One who will add to his days.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ื ื ื™ ื™ื•ืกืฃ. ื”ื ื ื™ ื”ื•ื ืืฉืจ ื™ื•ืกื™ืฃ ืขืœ ื™ืžื™ืš:
Behold I will add (ื™ื•ึนืกึดื™ืฃ, lit., he will add.) Behold I am He Who will add to your life.

ืคืกื•ืง ื•ืณ ยท Verse 6

Hebrew:

ื•ึผืžึดื›ึผึทึคืฃ ืžึถึฝืœึถืšึฐึพืึทืฉืึผื•ึผืจึ™ ืึทืฆึผึดึฃื™ืœึฐืšึธึ” ื•ึฐืึตึ–ืช ื”ึธืขึดึฃื™ืจ ื”ึทื–ึผึนึ‘ืืช ื•ึฐื’ึทื ึผื•ึนืชึดึ–ื™ ืขึทืœึพื”ึธืขึดึฅื™ืจ ื”ึทื–ึผึนึฝืืชืƒ

English:

I will also rescue you and this city from the hands of the king of Assyria. I will protect this city.

God adds that He will also rescue Hezekiah and the city from the hand of the king of Assyria and will shield Jerusalem. Rashi observes that this promise shows Hezekiah's illness preceded Sennacherib's downfall.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื•ืžื›ืฃ ืžืœืš ืืฉื•ืจ ืืฆื™ืœืš. ืœืžื“ื ื• ืฉืœืคื ื™ ืžืคืœืช ืกื ื—ืจื‘ ื—ืœื”:
And from the hand of the king of Assyria will I save you We deduce that he became ill before the downfall of Sennacherib.

ืคืกื•ืง ื–ืณ ยท Verse 7

Hebrew:

ื•ึฐื–ึถื”ึพืœึผึฐืšึธึฅ ื”ึธืึ–ื•ึนืช ืžึตืึตึฃืช ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ‘ื” ืึฒืฉืึถืจึ™ ื™ึทืขึฒืฉื‚ึถึฃื” ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ”ื” ืึถืชึพื”ึทื“ึผึธื‘ึธึฅืจ ื”ึทื–ึผึถึ–ื” ืึฒืฉืึถึฅืจ ื“ึผึดื‘ึผึตึฝืจืƒ

English:

And this is the sign for you from GOD that GOD will do the thing that was promised:

God promises Hezekiah a confirming sign that He will fulfill what He has spoken. Rashi explains the sign attests both that Hezekiah will be cured and that his days will be increased, and connects it to Hezekiah's later question about the sign that he will go up to the Temple.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื•ื–ื” ืœืš ื”ืื•ืช. ืฉืชืชืจืคื ื•ื™ืชื•ืกืคื• ื™ืžื™ืš ื›ืžืคื•ืจืฉ ืœืžื˜ื”, ื•ื‘ืžืœื›ื™ื (ื‘' ื›') ืฉืืœ ืœื• ืžื” ืื•ืช ื›ื™ ืืขืœื”:
And this is your sign That you shall be cured, and that your days shall be increased, as is explained below (v. 22), and in Kings (2 20:8) he asked, "What is the sign that I will go up?"

ืคืกื•ืง ื—ืณ ยท Verse 8

Hebrew:

ื”ึดื ึฐื ึดึฃื™ ืžึตืฉืึดึฃื™ื‘ ืึถืชึพืฆึตึฃืœ ื”ึทึฝืžึผึทืขึฒืœึกื•ึนืช ืึฒืฉืึถึฃืจ ื™ึธืจึฐื“ึธื”ึฉ ื‘ึฐืžึทืขึฒืœึจื•ึนืช ืึธื—ึธึฅื– ื‘ึผึทืฉืึผึถึ›ืžึถืฉื ืึฒื—ึนืจึทื ึผึดึ–ื™ืช ืขึถึฃืฉื‚ึถืจ ืžึทืขึฒืœึ‘ื•ึนืช ื•ึทืชึผึธึคืฉืื‡ื‘ ื”ึทืฉืึผึถึ™ืžึถืฉืึ™ ืขึถึฃืฉื‚ึถืจ ืžึทืขึฒืœึ”ื•ึนืช ื‘ึผึทึฝืžึผึทืขึฒืœึ–ื•ึนืช ืึฒืฉืึถึฅืจ ื™ึธืจึธึฝื“ึธื”ืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

I am going to make the shadow on the steps, which has descended on the dialadial Heb. โ€œsteps.โ€ A model of a dial with steps has been discovered in Egypt. of Ahaz because of the sun, recede ten steps.โ€ And the sun[โ€˜s shadow] receded ten steps, the same steps as it had descended.

The sign is dramatic: God will make the shadow on the sundial of Ahaz retreat ten degrees, and the sun's shadow indeed reverses. Rashi preserves the tradition that the day had once been shortened by ten hours when Ahaz died so he would not be eulogized, and now those hours are restored on the day of Hezekiah's healing; Metzudat David explains the maalot as steps built to measure the hours of the day.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ื ื ื™ ืžืฉื™ื‘. ืื—ื•ืจื ื™ืช ืขืฉืจ ืžืขืœื•ืช ืืช ื”ืฆืœ ืืฉืจ ื™ืจื“ื”: ืฆืœ ื”ืžืขืœื•ืช. ื›ืžื™ืŸ ืžื“ืจื’ื•ืช ืขืฉื•ื™ื•ืช ื›ื ื’ื“ ื”ื—ืžื” ืœื‘ื—ื•ืŸ ื‘ื”ื ืฉืขื•ืช ื”ื™ื•ื ื›ืขื™ืŸ ืื•ืจืœื•ื’ื™ืŸ ืฉืขื•ืฉื™ืŸ ื”ืื•ืžื ื™ืŸ: ืืฉืจ ื™ืจื“ื”. ืžื™ื”ืจื” ืœื™ืจื“ ื•ื ืชืงืฆืจ ื”ื™ื•ื ื™' ืฉืขื•ืช ื‘ื™ื•ื ืฉืžืช ืื—ื– ื›ื“ื™ ืฉืœื ื™ื”ื• ืžืกืคื™ื“ื™ืŸ ืื•ืชื• ื•ืขืœื• ืขื›ืฉื™ื• ืœืื—ื•ืจื™ื”ื ื‘ื™ื•ื ืฉื ืชืจืคื ื—ื–ืงื™ื”ื• ื•ื ื™ืชื•ืกืคื• ืขืœ ื”ื™ื•ื ื™' ืฉืขื•ืช:
Behold I return the shade backwards ten steps which it went down. the shade of the steps A sort of steps made opposite the sun to determine the hours of the day, like the clocks (horloge in French) that craftsmen make (sectarians make [Parshandatha]). that it went down It hastened to go down, and the day was shortened by ten hours on the day Ahaz died, in order that they should not eulogize him, and now they went backwards on the day Hezekiah recovered, and ten hours were added to the day.

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืณ ยท Verse 9

Hebrew:

ืžึดื›ึฐืชึผึธึ–ื‘ ืœึฐื—ึดื–ึฐืงึดื™ึผึธึฃื”ื•ึผ ืžึถืœึถืšึฐึพื™ึฐื”ื•ึผื“ึธึ‘ื” ื‘ึผึทื—ึฒืœึนืชึ•ื•ึน ื•ึทื™ึฐื—ึดึ–ื™ ืžึตื—ื‡ืœึฐื™ึฝื•ึนืƒ

English:

A poem by King Hezekiah of Judah when he recovered from the illness he had suffered:

This verse introduces the michtav, the personal writing Hezekiah composed after recovering from his illness. Rashi (citing Targum Yonatan), Metzudat David, and Radak all understand it as a document of thanksgiving for the miracle, meant to stand as a lasting memorial of God's kindness in adding to his years.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืžื›ืชื‘. ืช"ื™ ื›ืชื‘ ืื•ื“ืื” ืขืœ ื ื™ืกื ื“ืื™ืชืขื‘ื“ ืœื—ื–ืงื™ื”:
The writing of Hezekiah Jonathan paraphrases: A writing of thanksgiving for the miracle performed for Hezekiah.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืณ ยท Verse 10

Hebrew:

ืึฒื ึดึฃื™ ืึธืžึทึ—ืจึฐืชึผึดื™ ื‘ึผึดื“ึฐืžึดึฅื™ ื™ึธืžึทึ›ื™ ืึตืœึตึ–ื›ึธื” ื‘ึผึฐืฉืึทืขึฒืจึตึฃื™ ืฉืึฐืึ‘ื•ึนืœ ืคึผึปืงึผึทึ–ื“ึฐืชึผึดื™ ื™ึถึฅืชึถืจ ืฉืึฐื ื•ึนืชึธึฝื™ืƒ

English:

bMeaning of verse uncertain in part. I had thought:I must depart in the middle of my days;I have been consigned to the gates of SheolFor the rest of my years.

The psalm opens with Hezekiah's despair: in the midst of his days he thought he must depart to the gates of Sheol, deprived of the rest of his years. Rashi and Radak explain 'bidmi yamai' as the cutting-off of his days, and Radak notes he was only thirty-nine, invoking the rabbinic view that death before fifty is a form of karet.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืื ื™ ืืžืจืชื™ ื‘ื“ืžื™ ื™ืžื™. ื›ืฉืจืื™ืชื™ ื™ืžื™ ื‘ื“ืžื™, ื‘ืฉืžืžื•ืŸ ื•ื—ืจื™ืฉื” ื›ืžื• ื ื“ืžื” ื›ืœ ืขื ื›ื ืขืŸ (ืฆืคื ื™' ื) ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ื›ืฉื—ืœื™ืชื™ ืืžืจืชื™ ืืœื›ื” ื‘ืฉืขืจื™ ืฉืื•ืœ ืขืชื” ืืžื•ืช, ืœืคื™ ืฉืขื“ ืื•ืชื• ื”ื™ื•ื ืœื ื ืชืจืคื ื—ื•ืœื”: ืคืงื“ืชื™ ื™ืชืจ ืฉื ื•ืชื™. ื›ืžื• (ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ืœืดื:ืžืดื˜) ืœื ื ืคืงื“ ืžืžื ื• ืื™ืฉ ื ื—ืกืจืชื™ ืฉืืจ ืฉื ื•ืชื™ ื•ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ืชื™ืจื’ื ืขืœ ื“ื•ื›ืจื ื™ ืœื˜ื‘ ืื™ืชื•ืกืคื• ืขืœ ืฉื ื™ ื ืคืงื“ืชื™ ืœื˜ื•ื‘ื” ื•ื ืชื™ื™ืชืจื• ืฉื ื•ืชื™:
I said, In the desolation of my days (ื‘ึผึดื“ึฐืžึดื™) When I saw my days ื‘ึผึดื“ึฐืžึดื™, in desolation and in silence. Comp. (Zeph. 1:11) "For the entire people of Canaan has been silenced (ื ึดื“ึฐืžึธื”)." That is to say that when I became ill, I said, "I will go into the gates of the grave." Now I will die, since, until that day, no sick person had recovered. I am deprived of the rest of my years (ืคึผึปืงึผึทื“ึฐืชึผึดื™) Comp. "(Num. 31:49) No man was missing (ื ึดืคึฐืงึทื“) of us." I am missing the rest of my years. Jonathan, however, renders: My remembrance has entered for good; years have been added to my years. I have been visited (ื ึดืคึฐืงึทื“ึฐืชึผึดื™) for good, and my years have been increased.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื ยท Verse 11

Hebrew:

ืึธืžึทึ™ืจึฐืชึผึดื™ึ™ ืœึนืึพืึถืจึฐืึถึฃื” ื™ึธึ”ื”ึผ ื™ึธึ–ื”ึผ ื‘ึผึฐืึถึฃืจึถืฅ ื”ึทื—ึทื™ึผึดึ‘ื™ื ืœึนืึพืึทื‘ึผึดึฅื™ื˜ ืึธื“ึธึ›ื ืขึ–ื•ึนื“ ืขึดืึพื™ึฅื•ึนืฉืึฐื‘ึตื™ ื—ึธึฝื“ึถืœืƒ

English:

I thought, I shall never see Yah,csee Yah I.e., visit Godโ€™s temple. On โ€œYah,โ€ see note at 12.2. Yah in the land of the living,Or ever behold humans againAmong those who inhabit the earth.dearth Or โ€œunderworldโ€; cf. Rashi.

Hezekiah laments that he thought he would no longer behold Yah in the land of the living nor look upon his fellow human beings again. Rashi understands 'the land of the living' as the Temple and 'those who dwell in withdrawal' as the dead, cut off from the living; Radak cites his father that it means the House of God (meon Yah).
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
(ืชื•ืกืคื•ืช ืืžืจืชื™ ืœื ืืจืื” ื™ื”. ืœื ืืฉืชืžืฉ ืขื•ื“ ื‘ืฉื ืฉืœ ื™ื”: ื‘ืืจืฅ ื”ื—ื™ื™ื. ื—ื™ื™ื ืžืฉืชืžืฉื™ืŸ ื‘ื• ืื‘ืœ ื”ืžืชื™ื ืื™ื ื ืจืฉืื™ืŸ ืฉื ืืžืจ ืœื ื”ืžืชื™ื ื™ื”ืœืœื•ื™ื” ื—ืง ืœืžืชื™ื ืฉืื™ืŸ ืžื–ื›ื™ืจื™ืŸ ืฉื ื‘ืŸ ืฉืชื™ ืื•ืชื™ื•ืช ืœืขื•ืœื ืข"ื›): ื‘ืืจืฅ ื”ื—ื™ื™ื. ื‘ื‘"ื”: ืœื ืื‘ื™ื˜ ืื“ื. ื—ื™ ืขื•ื“: ืขื ื™ื•ืฉื‘ื™ ื—ื“ืœ. ืฉืื”ื™ื” ืขื ื”ืžืชื™ื ื”ื™ื•ืฉื‘ื™ื ื‘ืืจืฅ ื—ื“ืœื” ื•ืžื ื•ืข' ืžืŸ ื”ื—ื™ื™ื:
[Addendum: I will not see the Eternal (ื™ึธื”ึผ) I will no longer use the name ื™ึธื”ึผ. in the land of the living The living use it, but the dead are not permitted, as it is said (Ps. 115:17): "The dead shall not praise the Eternal (ื™ึธื”ึผ)." It is a rule for the dead that they may never mention the Name consisting of two letters.] in the land of the living in the Temple. I will no longer look upon man (I.e., I will) no longer (look upon) a living (man). with those who dwell in withdrawal (ื—ึธื“ึถืœ) For I will be with the dead, who dwell in a land withdrawn and withheld from the living.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื‘ ยท Verse 12

Hebrew:

ื“ึผื•ึนืจึดึ—ื™ ื ึดืกึผึทึงืข ื•ึฐื ึดื’ึฐืœึธึ›ื” ืžึดื ึผึดึ–ื™ ื›ึผึฐืึนึฃื”ึถืœ ืจึนืขึดึ‘ื™ ืงึดืคึผึทึจื“ึฐืชึผึดื™ ื›ึธืึนืจึตึคื’ ื—ึทื™ึผึทื™ึ™ ืžึดื“ึผึทืœึผึธึฃื” ื™ึฐื‘ึทืฆึผึฐืขึตึ”ื ึดื™ ืžึดื™ึผึฅื•ึนื ืขึทื“ึพืœึทึ–ื™ึฐืœึธื” ืชึผึทืฉืึฐืœึดื™ืžึตึฝื ึดื™ืƒ

English:

My dwelling is pulled up and removed from meLike a tent of shepherds;My life is rolled up like a webAnd cut from the thrum.Only from daybreak to nightfallWas I kept whole,

Hezekiah portrays his life being plucked up and carried off like a shepherd's tent, and cut short like a weaver severing the woven cloth from the loom, expecting to be finished from day to night. Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak all read the weaver image as his sense that his life was being swiftly severed once its span seemed complete.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื“ื•ืจื™ ื ืกืข ื•ื ื’ืœื” ืžื ื™. ื‘ื ื™ ื“ื•ืจื™ ื ืกืขื• ืžืžื ื•, ื ืกืข ื›ืžื• ื ืกื—ื• ื›ืžื• ื‘ืœ ื™ืกืข ื™ืชื“ื•ืชื™ื• (ืœืขื™ืœ ืœื’): ื›ืื•ื”ืœ ืจืขื™. ื›ืื”ืœ ืจื•ืขื™ ื‘ื”ืžื” ืฉืžืกื™ืขื• ืžื›ืืŸ ื•ืชื•ืงืขื• ื‘ืžืงื•ื ืื—ืจ ื›ืฉื›ืœื” ืžืจืขื” ื–ื”: ืงืคื“ืชื™. ื”ื›ืจืชื™ ืžื”ืจ ื—ื™ื™ ื›ืื•ืจื’ ื”ืžืžื”ืจ ืœืืจื•ื’ ื›ืœ ื–ื” ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืกื‘ื•ืจ, ื•ื™"ืช ื›ื ื—ืœ ื’ื“ื•ื“ื™ืŸ ื›ื ื—ืœ ื”ืžื•ืฉืš ื‘ื™ืŸ ื’ื“ื•ืช ื’ื‘ื•ื”ื™ืŸ ืฉืื™ื ื• ืžืชืคืฉื˜ ื•ืžืชื•ืš ื›ืš ืžื™ืžื™ื• ืงืœื™ื ืœืจื•ืฅ, ื•ืื•ืžืจ ืื ื™ ืฉื”ื•ื ื ื—ืœ ื—ืจื™ืฃ ืฉืฉืžื• ืื•ืจื’ ื•ื”ื•ื ืฉืืžืจ (ืื™ื•ื‘ ื–ืณ:ื•ืณ) ื™ืžื™ ืงืœื• ืžื ื™ ืื•ืจื’ ื—ืœืคื• ืขื ืื ื™ื•ืช ืื‘ื” (ืฉื ื˜): ืžื“ืœื” ื™ื‘ืฆืขื ื™. ืช"ื™ ืžื™ืงืจ ืžืœื›ื•ืชื™ ืื ื ื’ืœื™ ืกื‘ื•ืจ ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืฉืขืชื” ื™ื‘ืฆืขื ื™ ืžื›ืœ ื›ื‘ื•ื“ื™ ื“ืœื” ืœ' ื’ื•ื” ื•ื›ืŸ ื•ื“ืœืช ืจืืฉืš (ืฉื™ืจ ื–): ืžื™ื•ื ื•ืขื“ ืœื™ืœื” ืชืฉืœื™ืžื ื™. ื›ืžื• ืžื–ื›ืจ ื•ืขื“ ื ืงื‘ื” ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ืžื™ืžื™ื ื•ืžืœื™ืœื•ืช ืชื›ืœื ื™ ื•ื›ืŸ ืชื™ืจื’ื ื™ื•ื ืชืŸ ื™ืžืžื™ ื•ืœื™ืœื•ืชื™ ืฉืœื™ืžื•:
My generation was removed and exiled from me The people of my generation were removed from me. was removed (ื ึดืกึผึทืข) synonymous with ื ึดืกึผึฐื—ื•ึผ. Comp. (supra 33:20) "whose pegs shall never be moved (ื™ึดืกึผึทืข)." like a shepherd's tent Like the tent of one who tends animals, which he moves from here and sets up in another pasture when this pasture is depleted. I severed (ืงึดืคึผึทื“ึฐืชึผึดื™) I severed my life quickly, like a weaver who hastens to weave. All this I thought. Jonathan renders: Like a stream with banks, like a stream that flows between high banks, which does not spread out, and consequently, its water flows swiftly. And I say that it is a swift stream named Oreg, and this is what Job (7:6) said, "My days are lighter than Areg," also (ibid. 9:26), "They passed with the ships of Ebeh." from glory He shall deprive me (ืžึดื“ึผึทืœึผึถื” ื™ึฐื‘ึทืฆึผึฐืขึตื ึดื™). Jonathan renders: From the glory of my kingdom I am exiled. I thought that now He would deprive me of all my glory. The word ื“ึทืœึผึธื” is an expression of height. Comp. (Song 7:5) "And the braid (ื•ึฐื“ึทืœึผึทืช) of your head." from day and night You shall finish me (lit., from day to night.) Comp. (Num. 5:3) "Both male and female," (lit., from male to female.) That is to say, from days and nights you shall finish me, and so did Jonathan render: My days and my nights are over.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื’ ยท Verse 13

Hebrew:

ืฉืึดื•ึผึดึคื™ืชึดื™ ืขึทื“ึพื‘ึผึนึ™ืงึถืจึ™ ื›ึผึธืึฒืจึดึ”ื™ ื›ึผึตึฅืŸ ื™ึฐืฉืึทื‘ึผึตึ–ืจ ื›ึผื‡ืœึพืขึทืฆึฐืžื•ึนืชึธึ‘ื™ ืžึดื™ึผึฅื•ึนื ืขึทื“ึพืœึทึ–ื™ึฐืœึธื” ืชึผึทืฉืึฐืœึดื™ืžึตึฝื ึดื™ืƒ

English:

Then it was as though a lionWere breaking all my bones;I cried out until morning.(Only from daybreak to nightfallWas I kept whole.)eOnly from daybreak โ€ฆ all my bones โ€ฆ Was I kept whole Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

Through the night Hezekiah steadied himself until morning, but the illness broke all his bones like a lion, and again he expected to be finished from day to night. Rashi and Metzudat David describe how the more he braced himself, the more the disease overpowered him, crushing his bones as a lion crushes its prey.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืฉื•ื™ืชื™. ืขืฆืžื™ ื›ืœ ื”ืœื™ืœื” ืœืกื‘ื•ืœ ื™ืกื•ืจื™ ื—ื•ืœื™ ื•ื ืชื’ื‘ืจืชื™ ื›ืืจื™ ืœืกื‘ื•ืœ: ื›ืŸ ื™ืฉื‘ืจ ื›ืœ ืขืฆืžื•ืชื™. ื›ืžื• (ืฉืžื•ืช ืืณ:ื™ืดื‘) ื›ืŸ ื™ืจื‘ื” ื•ื›ืŸ ื™ืคืจื•ืฅ ื›ืœ ืžื” ืฉืื ื™ ืžืชื’ื‘ืจ ื›ืŸ ื™ื’ื‘ืจ ื”ื—ื•ืœื™ ืขืœื™ ืœืฉื‘ื•ืจ ื›ืœ ืขืฆืžื•ืชื™:
I made [myself] myself all night to suffer the tortures of the illness, and I strengthened myself like a lion to suffer. so it would break my bones Comp. (Ex. 1:12) "So they would multiply and so they would spread." The more I would strengthen myself, so the illness would overpower me to break all my bones.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื“ ยท Verse 14

Hebrew:

ื›ึผึฐืกึคื•ึผืก ืขึธื’ื•ึผืจึ™ ื›ึผึตึฃืŸ ืึฒืฆึทืคึฐืฆึตึ”ืฃ ืึถื”ึฐื’ึผึถึ–ื” ื›ึผึทื™ึผื•ึนื ึธึ‘ื” ื“ึผึทืœึผึคื•ึผ ืขึตื™ื ึทื™ึ™ ืœึทืžึผึธืจึ”ื•ึนื ืึฒื“ึนื ึธึ–ื™ ืขึธึฝืฉืึฐืงึธื”ึพืœึผึดึฅื™ ืขื‡ืจึฐื‘ึตึฝื ึดื™ืƒ

English:

I piped like a swift or a swallow,I moaned like a dove,As my eyes, all worn, looked to heaven:โ€œMy Sovereign, I am in straits;Be my surety!โ€

Reduced by pain to the sounds of a bird, Hezekiah chirps like a swift or swallow and moans like a dove, his weary eyes lifted to heaven as he cries to God to be his surety. Rashi reads 'oshka li' as a plea to be rescued and redeemed from the hand of the angel of death; Metzudat David and Radak likewise describe the moans of a man in his sickness lifting his eyes on high.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื›ืกื•ืก. ื›ืžื• ื›ืกื•ืก ื•ื”ื•ื ืฉื ืขื•ืฃ: ื›ืกื•ืก ืขื’ื•ืจ. ื›ืžื• ื›ืกื•ืก ื•ืขื’ื•ืจ, (ื“"ื) ื›ืขื•ืฃ ื–ื” ืฉืชืคืฉื•ื”ื• ื‘ื’ืจื•ื ื• ื•ื”ื•ื ืžืฆืคืฆืฃ ื•ื›ืŸ ืช"ื™ ื›ืกื•ืกื™ื ื“ืื—ื™ื“ ื•ืžื ืฆื™ืฃ: ืขืฉืงื” ืœื™. ื›ืžื• ืขืฉื•ืง ืื•ืชื™ ืœืงื—ื ื™ ืžื™ื“ ืžืœืืš ื”ืžื•ืช ื•ืขืจื‘ื ื™ ืœื”ื ืฆืœ ืœ' ืขืจื‘ื•ืช ื’ืจื ื˜ื™ื"ื” ื‘ืœืข"ื– ื›ืžื• (ืชื”ื™ืœื™ื ืงื™ืดื˜:ืงื›ืดื‘) ืขืจื•ื‘ ืขื‘ื“ืš ืœื˜ื•ื‘: ืขืฉืงื” ืœื™. ืขืฉื•ืง ืื•ืชื™ ืžื™ื“ื• ื›ืืฉืจ ืชืืžืจ ืจืคื ื ื ืœื” (ื‘ืžื“ื‘ืจ ื™ืดื‘:ื™ืดื’) ืจืคื ืื•ืชื”:
like a crane (ืกื•ึผืก) same as (Jer. 8:7), ืกึดื™ืก, and that is the name of a bird. like a crane, a swallow like a crane and a swallow. (Alternatively,) like this bird, seized by the neck, and it screeches. So did Jonathan render: Like a crane that is caught and screeches. Rob me (ืขึธืฉืึฐืงึธื”), like ืขึฒืฉืึนืง. Rob me, take me out of the hand of the angel of death, and pledge Yourself to save me. This (ืขึธืจึฐื‘ึตื ึดื™) is an expression of surety (garantieh in O.F.). Comp. (Ps. 119) "Pledge Yourself (ืขึฒืจื•ึนื‘) to Your servant for good." Rob me (ืœึดื™) Rob me from his hand. Comp. (Num. 12:13) "Please cure her (ืœึธื”ึผ)," like, cure her (ืื•ึนืชึธื”ึผ).

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื• ยท Verse 15

Hebrew:

ืžึธึฝื”ึพืึฒื“ึทื‘ึผึตึฅืจ ื•ึฐืึธึฝืžึทืจึพืœึดึ–ื™ ื•ึฐื”ึฃื•ึผื ืขึธืฉื‚ึธึ‘ื” ืึถื“ึผึทื“ึผึถึฅื” ื›ื‡ืœึพืฉืึฐื ื•ึนืชึทึ–ื™ ืขึทืœึพืžึทึฅืจ ื ึทืคึฐืฉืึดึฝื™ืƒ

English:

What can I say? It had been promised me,fIt had been promised Meaning of Heb. uncertain. By the One who has wrought it.All my sleep had fledBecause of the bitterness of my soul.

The psalm turns toward gratitude: what can Hezekiah say, when God both promised him consolation and fulfilled it? Rashi and Metzudat David read the verse as the king rousing himself, sleep driven from his eyes, to praise God over the bitterness of soul from which he was rescued.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืžื” ืื“ื‘ืจ. ืฉื‘ื— ื•ืงื™ืœื•ืกื™ืŸ ืœืคื ื™ื• ื•ื”ืจื™ ืืžืจ ืœื™ ื ื—ืžื•ืช ื•ื”ื•ื ืขืฉืืŸ: ืื“ื“ื” ื›ืœ ืฉื ื•ืชื™. ื›ืžื• (ื‘ืจืืฉื™ืช ืœืดื:ืžืณ) ื•ืชื“ื“ ืฉื ืชื™ ืืชื ื•ื“ื“ ืžื›ืœ ืฉื ืชื™ ืœืงืœืก ืœืคื ื™ื•, ื™"ืช ืฉื ื•ืช ืœ' ืฉื ื™ื: ืขืœ ืžืจ ื ืคืฉื™. ืฉื”ื™ืชื” ืžืจื” ื•ื ื—ืžืชื ื™:
What shall I speak praise and adoration before Him? Behold He promised me consolations, and He fulfilled them. I will cause all my sleep to flee Comp. (Gen. 31:40) "And my sleep fled." Jonathan renders ืฉืึฐื ื•ึนืชึทื™ as an expression of years. concerning the bitterness of my soul which was bitter, and You consoled me.

ืคืกื•ืง ื˜ืดื– ยท Verse 16

Hebrew:

ืึฒื“ึนื ึธึ–ื™ ืขึฒืœึตื™ื”ึถึฃื ื™ึดึฝื—ึฐื™ึ‘ื•ึผ ื•ึผืœึฐื›ื‡ืœึพื‘ึผึธื”ึถืŸึ™ ื—ึทื™ึผึตึฃื™ ืจื•ึผื—ึดึ”ื™ ื•ึฐืชึทื—ึฒืœึดื™ืžึตึ–ื ึดื™ ื•ึฐื”ึทื—ึฒื™ึตึฝื ึดื™ืƒ

English:

My Sovereign, for all that and despite itMy life-breath is revived;gAll my sleep โ€ฆ revived Meaning of Heb. uncertain. You have restored me to health and revived me.

Hezekiah affirms that his life-breath has been revived and that God has restored him to health and life. Rashi offers the plain sense that from now on he knows God will heal and strengthen him; Radak reads it as confidence that in the added years God will keep him well.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืื“' ืขืœื™ื”ื ื™ื—ื™ื•. ื™"ืช ื”' ืขืœ ื›ืœ ืžื™ืชื™ื ืืžืจืช ืœืื—ื™ืื”: ื•ืœื›ืœ ื‘ื”ืŸ ื—ื™ื™ ืจื•ื—ื™. ื•ืงื“ื ื›ืœื”ื•ืŸ ืื—ื™ื™ืชื ื—ื™ื™ ืจื•ื—ื™, ื•ืื ื™ ืื•ืžืจ ืœืคื™ ืคืฉื•ื˜ื• ื”' ืขืœื™ื”' ืขืœ ืฉื ื•ืชื™ ื”ื ื–ื›ืจื™' ืœืขื™ืœ: ืื“ื“ื” ื›ืœ ืฉื ื•ืชื™ ื”' ืฉื™ื›ืŸ ืฉื›ื ื• ื•ื—ืกื“ื• ืขืœื™ื”ื ื•ืืžืจ ืœื™ ืขืœ ืคื™ ื ื‘ื™ืื• ื™ื—ื™ื•: ื•ืœื›ืœ ื‘ื”ืŸ ื—ื™ื™ ืจื•ื—ื™. ื•ืœื›ืœ ื“ื‘ืจ ืืฉืจ ืชืœื•ื™ื™ืŸ ื‘ื”ืŸ ื—ื™ื™ ืจื•ื—ื™ ืืžืจ ื”' ืขืœื™ื”ื ื•ื™ื—ื™ื•. ื•ืชื—ืœื™ืžื ื™. ืžืขืชื” ื™ื“ืขืชื™ ืฉืชื—ืœื™ืžื ื™ ื•ืชื—ื™ื™ื ื™, ืชื—ืœื™ืžื ื™, ืชื‘ืจืื ื™ ื•ืชื—ื–ืงื ื™ ื›ืžื• (ืื™ื•ื‘ ืœื˜) ื™ื—ืœืžื• ื‘ื ื™ื”ื:
O Lord! Concerning them, [You said] they shall live Jonathan renders: O Lord! Concerning all the dead, You said to resurrect. and before all of them the life of my spirit And before all of them He resurrected the life of my spirit. But I say according to the simple meaning: The Lord is upon them, upon 'my years' mentioned above. 'How can I serve Him and repay Him for all the years,' He caused His Shechinah and His kindness to rest upon them and said to me through His prophets, that they shall live. and to all upon which the life of my soul depends And to everything upon which the life of my soul depends, the Lord said concerning them and they shall live. and You shall make me well From now on, I know that you shall make me well and give me life. You shall make me well (ืชึผึทื—ึฐืœึดื™ืžึตื ึดื™) You shall make me well and strengthen me. Comp. (Job 39:4) "Their children shall become strong (ื™ึทื—ึฐืœึฐืžื•ึผ)."

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื– ยท Verse 17

Hebrew:

ื”ึดื ึผึตึฅื” ืœึฐืฉืึธืœึ–ื•ึนื ืžึทืจึพืœึดึฃื™ ืžึธึ‘ืจ ื•ึฐืึทืชึผึธึžื” ื—ึธืฉืึทึคืงึฐืชึผึธ ื ึทืคึฐืฉืึดื™ึ™ ืžึดืฉืึผึทึฃื—ึทืช ื‘ึผึฐืœึดึ”ื™ ื›ึผึดึฅื™ ื”ึดืฉืึฐืœึทึ›ื›ึฐืชึผึธ ืึทื—ึฒืจึตึฅื™ ื’ึตื•ึฐืšึธึ– ื›ึผื‡ืœึพื—ึฒื˜ึธืึธึฝื™ืƒ

English:

Truly, it was for my own goodThat I had such great bitterness:You saved my lifeFrom the pit of destruction,For You have cast behind Your backAll my offenses.

Hezekiah recognizes that his great bitterness was ultimately for his own good, since God delivered his soul from the pit of destruction and cast all his offenses behind His back. Metzudat David and Radak explain the image of casting behind the back as God concealing and forgiving his sins so they would not be seen.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื”ื ื” ืœืฉืœื•ื ืžืจ ืœื™ ืžืจ. ื›ืฉื ืชื‘ืฉืจืชื™ ืฉืœื•ื ืืฃ ื”ื•ื ืœื™ ืžืจ ืฉื”ืจื™ ืชืœื• ืœื™ ื”ืจืคื•ืื” ื‘ื–ื›ื•ืช ืื—ืจื™ื ื›ื” ืืžืจ ื”' ืืœื”ื™ ื“ื•ื“ ืื‘ื™ืš (ืœืขื™ืœ ืœื–) ืœืžืขื ื™ ื•ืœืžืขืŸ ื“ื•ื“ ืขื‘ื“ื™ ื›ืืŸ ื”ื•ื“ืขืชื ื™ ืฉืื ื™ ื—ื•ื˜ื ื›ืš ืคื™ืจืฉื• ื—ื›ืžื™ื ืื‘ืœ ืœืคื™ ื™ืฉื•ื‘ ื”ืžืงืจื ืžืฉืžืข ื”ื ื” ืœืฉืœื•ื ืžืจ ืœื™ ืžืจ ื›ืฉื ืชื‘ืฉืจืชื™ ืžืืชืš ืœื”ื•ืฉื™ืขื ื™ ืžื™ื“ ืกื ื—ืจื‘ ืžืจ ืœื™ ืžืจ ืขืœ ื—ืœื™ื™ ืฉื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ื ื˜ื•ื™ ืœืžื•ืช ื•ืœื ืฉืžื—ืชื™ ื‘ื‘ืฉื•ืจื” ื•ืืชื” ื‘ื˜ื•ื‘ืš ื—ืฉืงืช ื ืคืฉื™ ืžื‘ืœื™ ืจื“ืช ืฉื—ืช:
Behold for peace, it is bitter for me, yea it is bitter When I was notified of the tidings of peace, even that was bitter for me, for my recovery was dependent upon the merit of others (v. 5): "So has the Lord God of your father David said..."; (supra 37:35) "For My sake and for the sake of David your father." Here You let me know that I am a sinner (See Ber. 10b). (So did the Sages explain it, but in order to reconcile the verse, it appears to mean: Behold for peace, it was bitter for me, yea it was bitter - When I was given the news by You that You would save me from the hand of Sennacherib, it was bitter for me, yea it was bitter because of my illness, that I was close to death, and I did not rejoice with the news.) But You desired my soul, that it descend not to the grave.

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื— ยท Verse 18

Hebrew:

ื›ึผึดึฃื™ ืœึนึฅื ืฉืึฐืึ›ื•ึนืœ ืชึผื•ึนื“ึถึ–ืšึผึธ ืžึธึฃื•ึถืช ื™ึฐื”ึทืœึฐืœึถึ‘ืšึผึธ ืœึนืึพื™ึฐืฉื‚ึทื‘ึผึฐืจึฅื•ึผ ื™ื•ึนืจึฐื“ึตื™ึพื‘ึ–ื•ึนืจ ืึถืœึพืึฒืžึดืชึผึถึฝืšึธืƒ

English:

For it is not Sheol that praises You,Not [the Land of] Death that extols You;Nor do they who descend into the PitHope for Your grace.

Hezekiah reasons that Sheol cannot praise God and those who descend to the Pit cannot hope for His faithfulness. Rashi, Metzudat David, and Radak explain that had he died he could not have thanked God for the downfall of Sennacherib, and clarify that this concerns the body in the grave, not a denial of the resurrection.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื›ื™ ืœื ืฉืื•ืœ ืชื•ื“ืš. ืื ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืžืช ืœื ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืžื•ื“ื” ืœืš ืขืœ ื”ื ืก ืฉืœ ืžืคืœืช ืกื ื—ืจื‘ ื•ืœื ื”ื™ื™ืชื™ ืกื•ื‘ืจ ืืœ ืืžืชืช ื”ื‘ื˜ื—ืชืš ืฉื”ื‘ื˜ื—ืชื ื™ ืขืœื™ื•:
[For the grave shall not thank You Had I died, I would not thank You for the miracle of the downfall of Sennacherib, and I would not hope for the realization of Your promise that You promised me concerning him.]

ืคืกื•ืง ื™ืดื˜ ยท Verse 19

Hebrew:

ื—ึทึฅื™ ื—ึทึ›ื™ ื”ึฅื•ึผื ื™ื•ึนื“ึถึ–ืšึธ ื›ึผึธืžึฃื•ึนื ึดื™ ื”ึทื™ึผึ‘ื•ึนื ืึธึฃื‘ ืœึฐื‘ึธื ึดึ”ื™ื ื™ื•ึนื“ึดึ–ื™ืขึท ืึถืœึพืึฒืžึดืชึผึถึฝืšึธืƒ

English:

The living, only the livingCan give thanks to YouAs I do this day;FathershFathers Heb. singular. relate to childrenYour acts of grace:

The climax of the psalm: only the living can give thanks to God, as Hezekiah does this day, and a father makes His faithfulness known to his children. Rashi and Metzudat David explain that thanksgiving emerges among the living, and Radak notes the rabbinic tradition that Hezekiah had no children until after his recovery, so that now he too could teach God's truth to sons.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื—ื™ ื—ื™. ืœ' ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ื—ื™ื™ื ื›ืœื•ืžืจ ื›ืฉื™ืฉ ื‘ื ื™ ืื“ื ื—ื™ื™ื ื‘ืขื•ืœื ื–ื” ื—ื™ ื•ื–ื” ื—ื™ ื™ื•ืฆืืช ื”ื”ื•ื“ืื” ืžื‘ื™ื ื™ื”ื: (ืก"ื ื—ื™ ื—ื™ ืืชื” ื—ื™ ื•ื ืื” ืœื”ื•ื“ื•ืช ืœื—ื™) ื™ื•ื“ื™ืข. ืืฉื™ืฉืค"ืจ ื‘ืœืข"ื–: ืืœ ืืžืชืš. ื”ืื‘ ืžื•ื“ื™ืข ื•ืžื›ื•ื™ืŸ ื“ืขืช ื‘ื ื• ืืœ ืืžื™ืชืš ืœื”ืืžื™ืŸ ื‘ืš:
The living, the living This is an expression denoting living people; i.e., when they are living people in the world, this one is living and this one is living, thanksgiving emanates from between them. [Other editions: A living one to a living one You are living, and it is proper to give thanksgiving to a living one.] inform enseigner in French, to teach. of Your truth (lit., to your truth.) The father informs and directs his son's thoughts to Your truth, to believe in You.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืณ ยท Verse 20

Hebrew:

ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึ–ื” ืœึฐื”ื•ึนืฉืึดื™ืขึตึ‘ื ึดื™ ื•ึผื ึฐื’ึดื ื•ึนืชึทึงื™ ื ึฐื ึทื’ึผึตึ›ืŸ ื›ึผื‡ืœึพื™ึฐืžึตึฅื™ ื—ึทื™ึผึตึ–ื™ื ื•ึผ ืขึทืœึพื‘ึผึตึฅื™ืช ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึฝื”ืƒ

English:

โ€œ[It has pleased] GOD to deliver us,ideliver us Meaning of Heb. uncertain. That is why we offer up musicjmusic Neginothai is a poetic form of neginoth. All the days of our livesAt the House of GOD.โ€

The psalm closes in confident song: the LORD is ready to save, so Hezekiah and the singers will make music all the days of their lives in the House of the LORD. Metzudat David and Radak explain that he vows to praise God perpetually with the melodies he composed for this deliverance in the Temple.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื ยท Verse 21

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึนึฃืืžึถืจ ื™ึฐืฉืึทึฝืขึฐื™ึธึ”ื”ื•ึผ ื™ึดืฉื‚ึฐืึ–ื•ึผ ื“ึผึฐื‘ึถึฃืœึถืช ืชึผึฐืึตื ึดึ‘ื™ื ื•ึฐื™ึดืžึฐืจึฐื—ึฅื•ึผ ืขึทึฝืœึพื”ึทืฉืึผึฐื—ึดึ–ื™ืŸ ื•ึฐื™ึถึฝื—ึดื™ืƒ

English:

When Isaiah said, โ€œLet them take a cake of figs and apply it to the rash, and he will recover,โ€œ

Isaiah prescribes the practical remedy: a cake of pressed figs to be laid on the boil so that Hezekiah would recover. Rashi calls this a miracle within a miracle, since figs would normally damage even healthy flesh, yet God deliberately applies a harmful substance to bring about healing; Radak notes this verse chronologically belongs earlier in the account.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ื“ื‘ืœืช ืชืื ื™ื. ื“ื‘ืœืช ื”ืขืฉื•ื™ื” ืžืชืื ื™ื ื›ืฉื”ืŸ ืœื—ื™ืŸ ืงืจื•ื™ื™ืŸ ืชืื ื™ื ื•ื›ืฉื ื“ืจืกื™ืŸ ื‘ืขื™ื’ื•ืœ ืงืจื•ื™ื™ืŸ ื“ื‘ืœื”: ื•ื™ืžืจื—ื•. ื•ื™ื—ืœื™ืงื•ื” ืœื“ื‘ืงื” ืขืœ ื”ืฉื—ื™ืŸ ื•ื ืก ื‘ืชื•ืš ื ืก ื”ื™ื” ืฉืืฃ ื‘ืฉืจ ื—ื™ ืฉื ื•ืชื ื™ืŸ ืขืœื™ื• ื“ื‘ืœื” ืžืกืจื™ื— ืืœื ื”ืงื‘"ื” ื ื•ืชืŸ ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืžื—ื‘ืœ ืœืชื•ืš ื“ื‘ืจ ื”ืžืชื—ื‘ืœ ื•ืžืจืคื:
a cake of pressed figs (ื“ึผึฐื‘ึถืœึถืช) A pressed cake made from figs. When they are fresh, they are called ืชึผึฐืึตื ึดื™ื, and when they are pressed into a circular cake, they are called ื“ึผึฐื‘ึตืœึธื”. and lay it for a plaster And they shall smooth it out to cause it to adhere to the boil, and this was a miracle within a miracle, for, even healthy flesh, upon which pressed figs are placed, decays. But the Holy One, blessed be He, places an injurious substance upon vulnerable tissue, and it heals.

ืคืกื•ืง ื›ืดื‘ ยท Verse 22

Hebrew:

ื•ึทื™ึผึนึฅืืžึถืจ ื—ึดื–ึฐืงึดื™ึผึธึ–ื”ื•ึผ ืž๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝึฃื” ืึ‘ื•ึนืช ื›ึผึดึฅื™ ืึถืขึฑืœึถึ–ื” ื‘ึผึตึฅื™ืช ื™ึฐื”ึนื•ึธึฝื”ืƒย {ืก}ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย 

English:

Hezekiah asked, โ€œWhat will be the sign that I shall go up to the House of GOD?โ€

The chapter ends with Hezekiah asking what sign will confirm that he will go up to the House of the LORD. Rashi and Metzudat David read the question as an expression of wonder at how good and beautiful the sign is; Radak links it back to the sign Isaiah had promised, that Hezekiah would be healed and ascend to the Temple.
โ–ถCommentaries (1)
ืจืฉืดื™Rashi
ืžื” ืื•ืช. ืžื” ื˜ื•ื‘ ื•ืžื” ื ืื” ืื•ืช ื–ื” ื”ื ื™ืชืŸ ืœื™ ืืฉืจ ืืขืœื” ื‘ื™ืช ื”':
What a sign How good and how beautiful is this sign which is given to me that I will go up to the house of the Lord!

โ† Isaiah 37 | Isaiah 39 โ†’

Back to Isaiah | Back to Nach Yomi

Last updated on
Chapter 37Chapter 39