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Hezekiah and Isaiah are praised amid threat and deliverance
Sirach 48:17–25 praises Hezekiah and Isaiah during a time of invasion, fear and rescue. The passage highlights practical preparation, urgent prayer, the Lord’s mercy, and Isaiah’s faithful role as a prophet who brought help and comfort.
Understanding the passage
Listening in context
This passage comes from Sirach, in the Catholic additional books, and speaks about Hezekiah and Isaiah in a concise, wisdom-style summary. It recalls a city being strengthened, an enemy’s arrogance, the people’s distress, the Lord’s deliverance, and Isaiah’s prophetic faithfulness and insight.
Sirach 48:17–25Main takeaway
Sirach 48:17–25 teaches that in a time of threat, the Lord heard those who called to him, while Hezekiah and Isaiah are praised for faithful action and faithful witness.
Look closely at the words
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Hezekiah strengthens the cityThe passage begins by praising Hezekiah for practical work. He fortified the city, brought water into it, tunnelled through rock with iron, and built cisterns.
Explanation
The passage begins by praising Hezekiah for practical work. He fortified the city, brought water into it, tunnelled through rock with iron, and built cisterns. These details show careful preparation. Sirach presents this as part of wise leadership before turning to the greater danger that followed.
02An arrogant threat brings deep fearSirach then names the threat: Sennacherib invaded and sent Rabshakeh. The enemy lifted his hand against Zion and spoke boastfully in arrogance.
Explanation
Sirach then names the threat: Sennacherib invaded and sent Rabshakeh. The enemy lifted his hand against Zion and spoke boastfully in arrogance. The people’s response is described in strong picture-language: their hearts and hands shook, and they were in pain like women in labour. The passage does not hide their fear.
03The people call on the merciful LordThe turning point comes when they call upon the Lord who is merciful, spreading out their hands to him.
Explanation
The turning point comes when they call upon the Lord who is merciful, spreading out their hands to him. Sirach says the Holy One quickly heard from Heaven and delivered them by the hand of Isaiah. The next verse gives the result plainly: the Assyrian camp was struck and destroyed by his angel.
04Why Hezekiah and Isaiah are praisedHezekiah is praised because he did what was pleasing to the Lord and was strong in the ways of David.
Explanation
Hezekiah is praised because he did what was pleasing to the Lord and was strong in the ways of David. Isaiah is praised as the prophet who commanded him and as one who was great and faithful in his vision. Sirach also says that in those days the sun went backward and the king’s life was prolonged.
05Isaiah sees ahead and comforts mournersThe final verses focus on Isaiah’s prophetic ministry. He saw what would come in the future by an excellent spirit, comforted those mourning in Zion, and showed hidden things before they came.
Explanation
The final verses focus on Isaiah’s prophetic ministry. He saw what would come in the future by an excellent spirit, comforted those mourning in Zion, and showed hidden things before they came. Sirach praises not only prediction, but also Isaiah’s care for grieving people within God’s purposes.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What actions of Hezekiah are listed before the invasion is described?
Look carefully at the practical verbs in the opening verse and notice how Sirach begins with strengthening, water, tunnelling and cisterns.
02How does the passage describe both the people’s fear and their response to it?
Compare the image of shaking and labour pains with the later picture of calling on the merciful Lord and spreading out their hands.
03Which qualities of Isaiah are especially praised at the end of the passage?
Notice the words about his vision, what he saw about the future, and the comfort he gave to those who mourned in Zion.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Sirach 48:17–25
17Hezekiah fortified his city, and brought water into its midst. He tunneled through rock with iron, and built cisterns for water.
18In his days Sennacherib invaded, and sent Rabshakeh, and departed. He lifted up his hand against Zion, and boasted great things in his arrogance.
19Then their hearts and their hands were shaken, and they were in pain, as women in labor.
20But they called upon the Lord who is merciful, spreading out their hands to him. The Holy One quickly heard them out of Heaven, and delivered them by the hand of Isaiah.
21He struck the camp of the Assyrians, and his angel utterly destroyed them.
22For Hezekiah did that which was pleasing to the Lord, and was strong in the ways of his ancestor David, which Isaiah the prophet commanded, who was great and faithful in his vision.
23In his days the sun went backward. He prolonged the life of the king.
24He saw by an excellent spirit what would come to pass in the future; and he comforted those who mourned in Zion.
25He showed the things that would happen through the end of time, and the hidden things before they came.