Isaiah

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CHAPTER 39

Embassy from Merodach-baladan. 1At that time Merodach-baladan,^* son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and gifts to Hezekiah, when he heard that he had been sick and had recovered.^a 2Hezekiah was pleased at their coming, and then showed the messengers his treasury, the silver and gold, the spices and perfumed oil, his whole armory, and everything in his storerooms; there was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.^b

3Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and asked him, “What did these men say to you? Where did they come from?” Hezekiah replied, “They came to me from a distant land, from Babylon.” 4He asked, “What did they see in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They saw everything in my house. There is nothing in my storerooms that I did not show them.” 5Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: 6The time is coming when all that is in your house, everything that your ancestors have stored up until this day, shall be carried off to Babylon;^* nothing shall be left, says the LORD.^c 7Some of your own descendants, your progeny, shall be taken and made attendants in the palace of the king of Babylon.”^d 8Hezekiah replied to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good.”^* For he thought, “There will be peace and stability in my lifetime.”

* [39:1] Merodach-baladan: twice king of Babylon, probably from 721 to 710 B.C., and again for nine months, in 704–703. This visit of his messengers, certainly before 701, was in reality a political one. Babylon hoped to lead an anti-Assyrian confederation composed of neighboring states and wanted Judah to join.

* [39:6] Because Judah preferred to follow a pro-Babylonian policy, instead of trusting in the Lord, it would later be exiled to Babylon.

* [39:8] Hezekiah was relieved that the disaster would not occur in his lifetime.

a. [39:1] 2 Kgs 20:12.

b. [39:2] 2 Chr 32:25–31.

c. [39:6] 2 Kgs 24:13; 25:13–17.

d. [39:7] Dn 1:3–19.