And Ezechias turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord,
וַיַּסֵּ֧ב חִזְקִיָּ֛הוּ פָּנָ֖יו אֶל־הַקִּ֑יר וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֖ל אֶל־יְהוָֽה׃
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Hezekiah faced the wall (Isaiah 38:2). Why did the prophet omit the specifics of his illness? To avoid exalting the virtuous man. Reflect on the fact that his affliction kept him from the house of the Lord and rendered him unable to walk, as he was gravely ill; yet he remained diligent. This teaches us the importance of goodwill, liberty, and discernment. So why did he turn to the wall? To converse intimately and quietly with God when no other source of comfort was present.
He was among the most illustrious rulers in righteousness, thereby garnering immense honor; for he dismantled altars, obliterated shrines, incinerated their contents, discarded sacred groves, and remained steadfast in offering sacrifices as prescribed in the law. He triumphed over the barbaric tribes neighboring Judea, imposing tribute and dues upon many; he rebuilt cities, and in summary, upon reaching the pinnacle of great renown, he rightly became a subject of admiration. However, as the children of Israel often note, he soon deviated from his righteous path, became overly proud, and ensnared by arrogance. Consequently, God, in His love for him, brought forth discipline; for as it is written, "For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives" (Hebrews 12:6).
Like a loving father, He corrects humanity through trials, directing them toward righteousness and away from inherent evil. Just as a skilled physician may cauterize or excise the infected parts of a body not out of malice but out of compassion for their patient, so too does the Almighty intervene with just chastisements to mitigate the detrimental effects of our transgressions, ensuring we are not condemned in comfort as stated in the Scripture (1 Corinthians 11:32). Thus, King Hezekiah fell ill and faced the fate of the wicked, as he was in perilous straits according to the prophet’s declaration, which foretold his death and instructed him to set his house in order. God intended this not out of ignorance of his eventual recovery, but to call him to prayer, that he might seek mercy; for the Lord is gracious to those who love Him, answers their requests, and heeds the cries of those who implore Him. And so it transpired.
In that period, Hezekiah fell gravely ill, nearing death. Then the prophet Isaiah, son of Amos, visited him and conveyed the message of the Lord, stating, "Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live." Hezekiah then turned his face to the wall and earnestly prayed to the Lord, saying, "I beseech you, O Lord, remember how I have walked before you in truth and with a loyal heart, and have acted righteously in your sight." Hezekiah cried bitterly. Scripture tells us, "The Lord disciplines those he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son" (Proverbs 3:12). To ensure that Hezekiah's heart was not lifted up after his great victories, he was visited by illness and informed of his impending death, prompting him to turn to the Lord to avert divine judgment.
This reflects the experience of Jonah and the threats to David that were announced but did not come to pass—not because God changed His mind, but to lead humanity to a deeper awareness of Him. The Lord is gracious and relents from sending calamity (2 Chronicles 36:28; Prayer of Manasseh 6; Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2).
Hezekiah faced the wall, unable to go to the temple, which was nearby, where Solomon had constructed a palace. He likely chose to face the wall to avoid showing his tears to others or, according to Jeremiah, to speak to God from his heart. He earnestly pleaded with the Lord, recounting his faithful walking in truth and devotion. When he learned of his fate, instead of pleading for an extended life, he committed his future to God’s will, knowing that Solomon too received favor from God for not requesting long life but instead honoring God through his deeds.
Blessed is the heart that, in times of trouble, recalls its good works; as declared, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matt. 5:8). Furthermore, it is written, "Who can say, 'I have kept my heart pure?'” (Proverbs 20:9). This speaks to the purity and devotion inherent in Hezekiah, who dismantled idols, desecrated Baal's temple artifacts, shattered the bronze serpent, and performed other righteous acts recorded in Scripture (2 Samuel 18:3-5; 2 Chronicles 29-31).
Hezekiah's profound grief stemmed from the realization that the promise made to David seemed to die with him, as he had no sons at that time. Following his demise, Manasseh ascended to the throne of Judah at the age of twelve (2 Chronicles 33:1), suggesting that Manasseh was born after Hezekiah had been granted additional years. This mourning encompassed Hezekiah’s fear of losing the lineage from which Christ would come. Some holy individuals tremble at the approach of death due to the uncertainty of God's judgment and the unknowns of what awaits them. The mysteries surrounding fate and necessity are not predetermined for all; rather, they unfold according to God’s will and for reasons unfathomable to humanity, determining whether one lives or dies, especially when instances of resurrection from the dead are recorded in Scripture.
In the presence of his attendants, Hezekiah turned to the wall in prayer, possibly to avoid distractions while he sought communion with God, or perhaps to direct his supplications toward the temple that the wall faced.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS