39 Hezekiah is reproved because he showed his treasures unto the ambassadors of Babylon.

At (A)the same time, [a]Merodach Baladan, the son of Baladan, King of Babel, sent [b]letters, and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.

And Hezekiah was [c]glad of them, and showed them the house of the treasures, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures; there was nothing in his house, nor in all his kingdom that Hezekiah showed them not.

Then came Isaiah the Prophet unto King Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they to thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, from Babel.

Then said he, What have [d]they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen; there is nothing among my treasures, that I have not showed them.

And Isaiah said to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord of hosts,

Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be [e]carried to Babel: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord.

And of thy sons, that shall proceed out of thee, and which thou shalt beget, shall they take away, and they shall be [f]eunuchs in the palace of the King of Babel.

[g]Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, The word of the Lord is good, which thou hast spoken: and he said, Yet let there be peace, and truth in my days.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 39:1 This was the first king of Babylon, which overcame the Assyrians in the tenth year of his reign.
  2. Isaiah 39:1 Partly moved with the greatness of the miracle, partly because he showed himself enemy to his enemies, but chiefly because he would join with them whom God favored, and have their help, if occasion served.
  3. Isaiah 39:2 Read 2 Kings 20:13 and 2 Chron. 32:25, 31.
  4. Isaiah 39:4 He asketh him of the particulars, to make him understand the craft of the wicked, which he before being overcome with their flattery and blinded with ambition, could not see.
  5. Isaiah 39:6 By the grievousness of the punishment is declared how greatly God detested ambition and vain glory.
  6. Isaiah 39:7 That is, officers and servants.
  7. Isaiah 39:8 Read 2 Kings 20:19.

Envoys From Babylon(A)

39 At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon(B) sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery. Hezekiah received the envoys(C) gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses—the silver, the gold,(D) the spices, the fine olive oil—his entire armory and everything found among his treasures.(E) There was nothing in his palace or in all his kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.

Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, “What did those men say, and where did they come from?”

“From a distant land,(F)” Hezekiah replied. “They came to me from Babylon.”

The prophet asked, “What did they see in your palace?”

“They saw everything in my palace,” Hezekiah said. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word(G) of the Lord Almighty: The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon.(H) Nothing will be left, says the Lord. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.(I)

“The word of the Lord you have spoken is good,(J)” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.(K)