ישעיהו, פרק ל״ח, פסוק ט״ו

King Hezekiah captures a profound moment of emotional overwhelm, balancing on the edge between absolute despair in the face of a death sentence and immense gratitude for a miraculous recovery. Commentators are divided on whether his thoughts were expressed from a place of helplessness during his severe illness, or as a song of praise after his rescue. Following the perspective of despair, Hezekiah wonders what good his prayers will do. God has already decreed his death, and the severity of his terminal illness proves there is no escape. He feels God will certainly carry out His word [מלבי״ם, שד״ל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Conversely, others interpret his reaction as a profound cry of thanksgiving. Overwhelmed by the need to praise God, Hezekiah struggles to find the right words [מצודת ציון]. God had promised him comfort and life through the prophet, and He fulfilled that promise completely [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. The kindness was already bestowed upon him, or at the very least, God's promise for the future was so certain it was as if it had already happened [אבן עזרא].

This intense emotional state deeply affects how he views his time and physical condition. Interpreted through the lens of gratitude, Hezekiah declares that he will banish sleep from his eyes, staying awake through the nights to praise God [רש״י, מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון]. Looking ahead at the extra years added to his life, he promises to walk in humble submission, swaying his head in wonder whenever he remembers the terrible ordeal from which he was saved [רד״ק, אבן עזרא]. However, from the viewpoint of despair, his physical and emotional agony takes a different toll. His sleep wanders and flees from him due to overwhelming sadness and grief [שד״ל]. He drags himself around with great difficulty, burdened by severe weakness [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. In his deepest despair, Hezekiah has already skipped over the remaining years of his life in his mind, treating them as if they no longer exist [מלבי״ם].

The deep bitterness he experiences also carries dual meanings depending on his state of mind. Those who see a song of gratitude explain that Hezekiah is thanking God for saving him from the severe emotional bitterness he was trapped in, and for granting him comfort [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. On the other hand, the perspective of despair suggests that this bitterness simply reflects the raw pain and draining weakness of the illness itself [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Alternatively, Hezekiah reached a point where he mentally bypassed his bitter suffering, making peace with his condition as his soul began to calm down and prepare for death [מלבי״ם].