Sickness and the Power of Healing Prayer in 2 Kings 20:1–11 and Isaiah 38:1–22

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

1. Very interesting for Europeans and people all over the world

2. There is a good introduction and scope for research

3. I fully agree that this work has discussed and exegeted in detail the theological story of Sickness and the Power of Healing Prayer in 2 Kings 20:1–11 and Isaiah 38:1–22.” It touched on various terms, such as disease, sickness, illness, health and healing in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament. Healing of which Hezekiah-Isaiah narratives form a part, is the experience or process that restores fallen, alienated human beings to intimate fellowship, friendship, peace and communion with God and fellow human beings or neighbors. Synthetically and in depth it is elaborated.

4. The 28 bibliographic items are well selected and applied.

I will remember for a long time that: "Hezekiah’s healing story affirms to all in the contemporary world today, especially Africans that a healthy King is needed in a healthy city, where illnesses, bribery and corruption, violence, terrorism, tribalism, mockeries, taunting, broken democracy, political threats, and other forms of man-made- sufferings and oppressions are things of the past or curable" (Conclusions).

Good research work. Congratulations.

Author Response

Dear Reviewer 1

 Thank you very much for your following review. Very encouraging and empowering. Thank you for your affirmation: “

1. Very interesting for Europeans and people all over the world
2. There is a good introduction and scope for research
3. I fully agree that this work has discussed and exegeted in detail the theological story of Sickness and the Power of Healing Prayer in 2 Kings 20:1–11 and Isaiah 38:1–22.” It touched on various terms, such as disease, sickness, illness, health and healing in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament. Healing of which Hezekiah-Isaiah narratives form a part, is the experience or process that restores fallen, alienated human beings to intimate fellowship, friendship, peace and communion with God and fellow human beings or neighbors. Synthetically and in depth it is elaborated.
4. The 28 bibliographic items are well selected and applied.

I will remember for a long time that: "Hezekiah’s healing story affirms to all in the contemporary world today, especially Africans that a healthy King is needed in a healthy city, where illnesses, bribery and corruption, violence, terrorism, tribalism, mockeries, taunting, broken democracy, political threats, and other forms of man-made- sufferings and oppressions are things of the past or curable" (Conclusions).

Good research work. Congratulations.”

I am very grateful. Thanks you.

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Overall, the quality of the work is commendable. However, it would be beneficial if the author specifies whether the intention is to apply the research to African situations or to contextualize it for Africans. The author should then demonstrate that in the body of the work. Although the author expresses such interest in the introduction, it is not evident in the work. Including this detail would enhance the conclusion. Minor corrections need to be made throughout the work. Some examples include the incorrect use of semicolons in places, such as lines 48, 50, 51, and 52, the noun form of "belief" instead of the verb form "believe," and the capitalization of the word "King" instead of using a lowercase letter.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Minor corrections needed.

Author Response

Reviewer 2: Response

Dear Reviewer,

 I am very grateful to you for your kind and generous contribution and corrections:

“Overall, the quality of the work is commendable. However, it would be beneficial if the author specifies whether the intention is to apply the research to African situations or to contextualize it for Africans. The author should then demonstrate that in the body of the work. Although the author expresses such interest in the introduction, it is not evident in the work. Including this detail would enhance the conclusion. Minor corrections need to be made throughout the work. Some examples include the incorrect use of semicolons in places, such as lines 48, 50, 51, and 52, the noun form of "belief" instead of the verb form "believe," and the capitalization of the word "King" instead of using a lowercase letter”

Honestly, I have taken and updated those religiously.

1. As I said in lines 28 ff ‘With relevance to African cultural perspectives and experiences in mind, this work is designed to contextually, historically and theologically study, develop and analyze the story of Hezekiah’s illness and healing. Attention is didactically given not only to OT’s basic understanding of illness and healing, and Hezekiah’s text and structure of his socio-political faith story, sickness, God’s response, but to the role of prayer in healing and the relationship between healing through extraordinary means and healing through ordinary means.” So its both to the best of my ability here, to relate the exegesis to African situation/context and beyond.

Though, it may not have exhausted all the points, I have attempted doing this, in Lines 80-87; 185ff; Lines 195-208; Lines 240ff, Liens 220; Lines 241; Lines 275 and Line 318. In fact, throughout the work as much as I can, since some of these studies may have been attempted by others, elsewhere. And to strengthen this valuable points you made, I have expanded the resource and studies to include, notes 2, 27, 31, highlighted here. I am very grateful to you.

2. As you directed, I have gratefully, done all the minor corrections in the work, some of which I have bolded/highlighted here, including, “believe, King,” . Thank you very much.
3. Thank you again for commending on the quality of my work. Many blessings to you.