Matthew Poole and continuators on 2 Kings 20:11

11 And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD , and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward , by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz .

Being moved by Gods Spirits first to offer him this sign, and then to pray for it.

Quest. 1. What were these degrees? Ans. Lines in the Dial: but whether each of these Lines or Degrees noted an hour, or half an hour, or a quarter of an hour, is uncertain, and not very considerable in this case. Quest. 2. What was it that went down? Ans. Either, First, The Shadow alone went back without the Sun. For God could so dispose of the Light of the Sun, by interposing Clouds or other things, so that the Shadow should fall onely upon those Lines, and in that manner as God directed it. And whereas the sun is said to have gone down, that may be spoken according to appearance, as other passages of Scripture are understood, as when the Moon is called one of the great lights, Gen. 1. though it be less than some of the Stars: and when the sun is said to go down, Jer. 15. 9. and to be turned into darkness, Joel 2. 31. Or, Secondly, The Sun it self went back, and the Shadow with it. This may seem most probable: First, By comparing this with Ios. 10. 13. where the Sun it self stood still. Secondly, Because it is said, the sun it self returned, Isa. 38. 8. for which he here mentions the shadow onely, because the Miracle was not so easily discovered in the Sun, as in the Shadow of a Dial. And though the sun may be elsewhere taken improperly, yet where the improper signification is unnecessary, the proper is and ought to be preferred before it. Thirdly, Because this Miracle was noted by the Babylonians, who, having understood that it was done for Hezekiah his sake, sent to enquire into the truth and manner of it, 2 Chron. 32. 31. Obj. If this had been done, the Heathen Historians and Astronomers would have taken notice of it, which we do not find that they did. Ans. So it is most probable they did: although those Books be not now extant: which is not strange; this being confessed and bewailed, that so very few of the first and Ancient Writers are now left. Herodotus himself, the first, and Father of the ancient Historians, being long after this time. And yet it is observed, that there are some intimations of these things left, though mixed with fables, as many true Histories were; as what the Poets fabled of Iupiter's making the Night twice as long as it should have been, that he might enjoy Al[illegible: 1+ letters]mena longer. Whether the Sun or Shadow went backward suddenly, or leisurely, and in the same time in which it had gone down, is a question of no great moment, the Miracle being evident either way.

Which Ahaz had made in the Kings Palace. This Dial he mentions, because the truth of the Miracle might be best and soonest discovered there; this Dial possibly being visible out of the Kings Chamber, or at least beingnear to it, and the Degrees be ing most distinct and conspicuous in this Dial; but the same thing was discerned by all other Dials.

Marginal references: Isa. 38. 8.; Heb. degrees.