Isaiah 39

1 About that same time the king of Babylonia, Merodach Baladan, son of Baladan, heard that King Hezekiah had been sick, so he sent him a letter and a present.

2 Hezekiah welcomed the messengers and showed them his wealth - his silver and gold, his spices and perfumes, and all his military equipment. There was nothing in his storerooms or anywhere in his kingdom that he did not show them.

3 Then the prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah and asked, "Where did these messengers come from and what did they say to you?" Hezekiah answered, "They came from a very distant country, from Babylonia."

4 "What did they see in the palace?" "They saw everything. There is nothing in the storerooms that I didn't show them."

5 Isaiah then told the king, "The Lord Almighty says that

6 a time is coming when everything in your palace, everything that your ancestors have stored up to this day, will be carried off to Babylonia. Nothing will be left.

7 Some of your own direct descendants will be taken away and made eunuchs to serve in the palace of the king of Babylonia." ¹

8 King Hezekiah understood this to mean that there would be peace and security during his lifetime, so he replied, "The message you have given me from the Lord is good."

Isaiah 39 Commentary

Chapter 39

The text of Isaiah 39 is the same as 2 Kings 20:12-19.
Please refer to the commentary on 2 Kings 20.

Cross References

• 1. 39.7Daniel 1.1-7; 2 K 24.10-16;2 Chronicles 36.10.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 39

This chapter gives an account of Hezekiah's fall into sin after his recovery, and the correction he had for it. The king of Babylon sent messengers to him to congratulate him upon his recovery, Isa 39:1. Hezekiah received them with great joy, and in the pride of his heart showed them all his treasures, Isa 39:2. Isaiah the prophet examined him about it, which he readily owned, Isa 39:3,4 upon which the Babylonish captivity is foretold, when all his riches and his children too should be carried into that land, Isa 39:5-7, to which sentence he quietly and patiently submitted, Isa 39:8.