Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

Into the middle court - הצר hatstser, the court. This is the reading of the Masoretic Keri: העיר haair, "of the city," is the reading of the text, and of most MSS.; but the versions follow the Keri.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

The middle court - i. e., of the royal palace. This is preferable to the marginal reading.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court,.... Of the king's palace, which is called the other court within the porch, 1 Kings 7:8 so it is according to the marginal reading, which we follow; but the textual reading is, "the middle city"; Jerusalem was divided into three parts, and this was the middle part Isaiah was entering into: but before he did, so it was:

that the word of the Lord came to him, saying; as follows.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court — of the royal castle.

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,

Court — Of the king's palace. This is noted to shew God's great readiness to hear the prayers of his children.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 Kings 20:4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,

Ver. 4. Before Isaiah was gone out into the middle court.] So the Chetib. Or, Into the middle of the city; so the Cheri, or margin, hath it. It is probable that the king’s court was like a city. The Turk’s seraglio or palace is in circuit more than two miles. Before Isaiah was gone out into the court within the porch, [1 Kings 7:8] he was sent again with this countermand. Oh, the power of prayer!

“ Flectitur iratus voce rogante Deus. ”

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Into the middle court, to wit, of the king’s palace; of which See Poole "1 Kings 7:8". Or, into the middle city, as it is in the Hebrew. For some observe that there were three cities, or three parts of this city; one called the city of David in Zion; another called Jebus, or Salem; and a third, which was betwixt these two parts, and united them all into one city, called Jerusalem. This is noted to show God’s great readiness to hear the sincere and fervent prayers of his children.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

4.The middle court — So the Keri and the ancient versions; but the Kethib seems to be the more ancient reading, the middle of the city, that is, the central part of Jerusalem. So this word of the Lord came to him soon after he had left the king’s presence.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Court. Hebrew her, "city:" but in the margin, (Calmet) etsor. Septuagint Greek aule, "hall," or court, is retained, and followed by the Chaldean. (Calmet) --- Protestants, "the middle court." (Haydock)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

came. The only occurrence of this in the case of Isaiah. Compare Genesis 15:1.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Unabridged

And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,

Afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court - of the royal castle.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) Into the middle court.—This is the reading of some Heb. MSS., and of all the versions. The Hebrew text (city; see margin) is wrong. Before Isaiah had left the precincts of the palace, he was bidden to return. (Keil says that here, as in 2 Kings 10:25, the word rendered “city” denotes “castle,” i.e., the royal residence.)

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

court

or, city.

22:14; 1 Kings 7:8