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Rh gave him a sign. But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem. Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah. And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honour: and he provided him treasuries for silver, and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of goodly vessels; storehouses also for the increase of corn and wine and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and flocks in folds. Moreover he provided him cities, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance: for God had given him very much substance. This same Hezekiah also stopped the upper spring of the waters of Gihon, and brought them straight down on the west side

him a promise and confirmed it by a wonder"; cp. 2 Kin. xx. 5, 6, 8—11.

a sign] Rather, a wonder (mg.), as in ver. 31.

25. his heart was lifted up] Cp. ver. 31; 2 Kin. xx. 12—15.

wrath] Heb. ḳeṣeph, a visitation of Divine wrath; cp. xix. 2, 10, xxiv. 18, xxix. 8.

26. humbled himself] Cp. 2 Kin. xx. 19.

27. riches and honour] Cp. 2 Kin. xx. 13 (= Is. xxxix. 2).

shields] Heb. māginnōth, i.e. small round shields. Perhaps, like Solomon's (ix. 15, 16), they were overlaid with gold or silver. Barnes suggested the reading migdānōth, "precious things" (as in ver. 23), instead of māginnōth. LXX. , i.e. "armouries"; Pesh. (text being doubtful here) "shields" or "pearls" or "precious gifts."

28. flocks in folds] The "folds" were enclosures with high stone walls as a defence against robbers and wild beasts. The text is probably faulty; Pesh. omits the clause.

29. cities] The context suggests that these cities were meant chiefly as places of refuge for the flocks and herds in time of war; but again it is probable that the text is corrupt, and that this word should be omitted.

30. stopped] Cp. verses 3, 4.

Gihon] The upper spring of Gihon is represented to-day by St Mary's Well; cp. Bädeker, Pal.$5$, pp. 25, 83, and note on ver. 3 above.

on the west side of the city] Render, westwards to the city. The