Day 173 - 2 Kings 20, Isaiah 38

Surely the just Hezekiah did not rejoice that the disaster of the captivity had fallen on his children, but he could not oppose the will of the Lord, and so he received the Lord’s commands with patience like a humble servant. Thus it happens that one could judge that merit and virtue could be evident even in captivity. For Jeremiah was not less happy in captivity, [See Jer 37-38.] nor was Daniel, [See Dan 1:6.] nor Ezra, [See Ezr 7:6.] nor were Ananias and Azariah and Misael less happy than if they had not fallen into captivity. [See Dan 3:19-96 (Vg).] They entered into captivity in such a way that they brought to their people both present consolations in captivity and the hope of escaping from it—St Ambrose of Milan