Envoys from Babylon

39 (A)At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, (B)sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. And Hezekiah welcomed them gladly. And he showed them his treasure house, (C)the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his whole armory, all that was found in his storehouses. (D)There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them. Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say? And from where did they come to you?” Hezekiah said, “They have come to me from a far country, from Babylon.” He said, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.”

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of hosts: (E)Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the Lord. (F)And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, (G)“There will be peace and security in my days.”

Hezekiah Shows His Treasures

39 (A)At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. Hezekiah [a]was (B)pleased, and let them see all his treasure house, the (C)silver, the gold, the balsam oil, the excellent olive oil, his entire armory, and everything that was found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his house nor in all his realm that Hezekiah did not let them see. Then Isaiah the (D)prophet came to King Hezekiah and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?” And Hezekiah said, “They came to me from a far (E)country, from Babylon.” Then he said, “What have they seen in your house?” So Hezekiah [b]answered, “They have seen everything that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasuries that I have not let them see.”

Isaiah then said to Hezekiah, “Hear the (F)word of the Lord of armies, ‘Behold, the days are coming when (G)everything that is in your house, and what your fathers have stored up to this day, will be carried to Babylon; nothing will be left,’ says the Lord. ‘And some of your sons who will come from you, whom you will father, (H)will be taken away, and (I)they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’” (J)Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good.” For he [c]thought, “For there will be peace and truth (K)in my days.”

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 39:2 Lit rejoiced over them
  2. Isaiah 39:4 Lit said
  3. Isaiah 39:8 Lit said