(30) This same Hezekiah also stopped.--And he, Hezekiah, had closed in the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon. (See 2 Chronicles 32:3.)
And brought . . . city of David.--And conducted them underground to the west of the city of David. (Comp. 2 Kings 20:20, where also this great work of Hezekiah is referred to in concluding his history: "He made the pool, and the aqueduct, and brought the waters into the city.") The chronicler gives further details.
Brought it straight.--Directed or conducted them (wayyashsh?r?m; the form in the Hebrew margin is a peculiar contraction of the ordinary piel form which appears in the text).
Verse 30. - Stopped the upper watercourse, etc. (see our vers. 3, 4). What Hezekiah "stopped" was the spring, or more strictly access to it, and guided its prized waters down, probably by an underground channel, to Siloam, or else to the pool in the city which he had constructed and enclosed by that "another wall without" (ver. 5), west of the "city of David."
32:24-33 God left Hezekiah to himself, that, by this trial and his weakness in it, what was in his heart might be known; that he was not so perfect in grace as he thought he was. It is good for us to know ourselves, and our own weakness and sinfulness, that we may not be conceited, or self-confident, but may always live in dependence upon Divine grace. We know not the corruption of our own hearts, nor what we shall do if God leaves us to ourselves. His sin was, that his heart was lifted up. What need have great men, and good men, and useful men, to study their own infirmities and follies, and their obligations to free grace, that they may never think highly of themselves; but beg earnestly of God, that he will always keep them humble! Hezekiah made a bad return to God for his favours, by making even those favours the food and fuel of his pride. Let us shun the occasions of sin: let us avoid the company, the amusements, the books, yea, the very sights that may administer to sin. Let us commit ourselves continually to God's care and protection; and beg of him never to leave us nor forsake us. Blessed be God, death will soon end the believer's conflict; then pride and every sin will be abolished. He will no more be tempted to withhold the praise which belongs to the God of his salvation.
This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper water course of Gihon,.... Which Procopius Gazeus says was the same with Siloam, and which it seems had two streams, and this was the upper one; Mr. Maundrell says (c), the pool of Gihon"lies about two furlongs without Bethlehem gate westward; it is a stately pool, one hundred and six paces long, and sixty seven broad, and lined with wall and plaster, and was, when we were there, well stored with water:"
and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David; through canals under the plain of the city of David; as the Targum, by a subterraneous passage; and Siloam, as Dr. Lightfoot (d) observes from Josephus, was behind the west wall, not far from the corner that pointed toward the southwest:
and Hezekiah prospered in all his works; natural, civil, and religious, 2 Chronicles 31:21.
(c) Journey from Aleppo, &c. p. 108. (d) Chorograph. in John, c. 5. sect. 2.
And brought . . . city of David.--And conducted them underground to the west of the city of David. (Comp. 2 Kings 20:20, where also this great work of Hezekiah is referred to in concluding his history: "He made the pool, and the aqueduct, and brought the waters into the city.") The chronicler gives further details.
Brought it straight.--Directed or conducted them (wayyashsh?r?m; the form in the Hebrew margin is a peculiar contraction of the ordinary piel form which appears in the text).
And Hezekiah prospered.--2 Chronicles 31:21; 1 Chronicles 29:23.
and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David; through canals under the plain of the city of David; as the Targum, by a subterraneous passage; and Siloam, as Dr. Lightfoot (d) observes from Josephus, was behind the west wall, not far from the corner that pointed toward the southwest:
and Hezekiah prospered in all his works; natural, civil, and religious, 2 Chronicles 31:21.
(c) Journey from Aleppo, &c. p. 108. (d) Chorograph. in John, c. 5. sect. 2.