“The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and was recovered of his sickness:”
Ezechias. Sanchez groundlessly thinks it was composed by Isaias. (Calmet) — Ezechias was afflicted lest he should give way to dangerous joy. (Worthington)
“I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave: I am deprived of the residue of my years.”
Hell. Sheol, or Hades, the region of the dead. (Challoner) — He was afraid to die without issue. (St. Jerome; ver. 12.) — Manasses was born three years later. (Calmet) — The king would naturally have died. (St. Augustine, de Gen. ad lit. vi. 17.) (Worthington)
“I said, I shall not see the LORD, even the LORD, in the land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.”
Living. I shall not assist at the festivals of the Lord in the temple.
“Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward: O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me. undertake: or, ease me”
For me. He represents his disease, as an inexorable creditor.
“For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth.”
Truth. He speaks only of the body.
“Hezekiah also had said, What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?”
Lord. The answer is given, (4 Kings xx. 9.) which seems to evince that this is only an extract. (Calmet) — The prophet prescribed the medicine, and the king asked for a sign before he sung the canticle. (Worthington)