The Shadow Reversed on the Sun-Dial of Ahaz
Isaiah 38:7-8
And this shall be a sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he has spoken;…


This astounding miracle could only have been affected by a light. "brighter than the sun," rising on the other side of the sun-dial. We all know how electric light reverses the shadow of gas light. At St. Paul's conversion, "the light from heaven," the Shechinah brightness of Immanuel, outshone the splendour of the noonday sun. In the heavenly city there is no need of the sun to shine on it, nor of the moon to lighten it, for the glory of God and the Lamb is the light thereof. Unfortunately, we cannot tell on which side of the temple at Jerusalem the sun-dial of Ahaz was situated. It was probably a monolith or obelisk, resembling that on the Thames embankment, elevated on steps — translated "degrees" — and intended to regulate the hours of public worship. The setting sun had thrown the shadow across the steps; it had gone down ten degrees, when suddenly from the gate or window from the mercy-seat behind the veil of the naos, or temple proper, there flashed forth the majestic light of Divine glory that dwelt between the cherubim, reversing the shadow of the natural sun, and converting for Hezekiah the shadow of death into morning.

(R. Balgarnie, D. D.)



Parallel Verses
KJV: And this shall be a sign unto thee from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that he hath spoken;

WEB: This shall be the sign to you from Yahweh, that Yahweh will do this thing that he has spoken.




The Shadow on the Sun-Dial of Ahaz
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