Isaiah 38:1-6 - Hezekiah became ill

38:1-3

This incident gives, among other things, an interesting view of prophecy. Hezekiah is ill and Isaiah comes to him and says that he had better get his affairs in order because he is going to die. Hezekiah was not happy and felt that given his faithfulness he deserved better. So he prayed to God and was bitterly upset. Hezekiah’s claim to have been a good king was not without foundation - see 2 Kings 18:5.

38:4-6

The Lord gave another word to Isaiah, this time telling him to say to Hezekiah that he would live for another fifteen years. He also added that He would deliver the city from the Assyrians. With regard to the first part, how does this tie in with the first word? Prophecy is not often given just as a prediction of the future. Rather, it is usually given with a view to getting a response form the hearers, usually one of repentance.

The latter part would seem to indicate that the events related here happened before those of chapter 36 and 37. The reason chapters 36 and 37 appear before 38 and 39 is that 36 and 37 tie in with chapters 1-35 of Isaiah, whereas 38 and 39 are linked with chapters 40-66. 36 and 37 round off the prophecies of 1-35, whereas 38 and 39 provide the precursor to 40-66.