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Men Come from Babylon

39 At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah. He heard that he had been sick and had become well. Hezekiah was pleased and showed them all his store-house of riches. He showed them the silver, the gold, the spices, the oil of much worth, and all his objects used in battle. He showed them everything that was in his store-houses. There was nothing in his house or under his rule that Hezekiah did not show them. Then Isaiah the man of God came to King Hezekiah and said to him, “What did these men say? From where have they come to you?” And Hezekiah said, “They have come to me from a far country, from Babylon.” Isaiah said, “What have they seen in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They have seen everything in my house. There is nothing among my riches that I have not shown them.”

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the Word of the Lord of All: ‘See, the days are coming when everything in your house, and everything your fathers have stored up to this day, will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says the Lord. ‘And some of your own sons who are born to you will be taken away. They will work in the house of the king of Babylon.’” Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The Word of the Lord which you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “There will be peace and truth in my days.”

De afgezanten uit Babel

39 Korte tijd later stuurde Merodach-Baladan, de zoon van Baladan en koning van Babel, Hizkia een geschenk en zijn beste wensen, want hij had gehoord dat Hizkia van een zware ziekte was genezen. Hizkia stelde dit gebaar erg op prijs en leidde de afgezanten uit Babel rond in het paleis. Hij liet hen zijn schatkamers zien, die gevuld waren met zilver, goud, specerijen en parfums. Ook zijn wapenvoorraad en al zijn andere schatten liet hij zien. Toen kwam de profeet Jesaja bij de koning en vroeg: ‘Wat hebben die mannen gezegd? Waar komen zij vandaan?’ ‘Zij komen uit het verre Babel,’ gaf Hizkia als antwoord. ‘Wat hebben zij in uw paleis gezien?’ vroeg Jesaja. Hizkia antwoordde: ‘Ik heb hun al mijn bezittingen laten zien, al mijn kostbare schatten.’ Toen zei Jesaja tegen hem: ‘Luister naar deze boodschap van de Here van de hemelse legers: “Er komt een tijd dat alles wat u hebt, alle schatten die uw voorouders hebben verzameld, naar Babel zal worden weggevoerd. Niets zal er overblijven. Ook enkele van uw eigen zonen zullen worden weggevoerd om dienst te doen in het paleis van de koning van Babel.” ’ ‘Het woord van de Here dat u hebt gesproken, is goed,’ zei Hizkia, want hij dacht bij zichzelf: ‘Gedurende mijn leven zal er in elk geval vrede heersen!’

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)