2 Kings 20:12

12 At that time Berodakh-Bal'adan the son of Bal'adan, king of Bavel, sent letters and a present to Hizkiyahu; for he had heard that Hizkiyahu had been sick.

2 Kings 20:12 Meaning and Commentary

At that time Berodachbaladan,.... He is called Merodachbaladan, Isa 39:1, so here in the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic versions; See Gill on "Isa 39:1"; and by Metasthenes {z} his father is called Merodach, and he Ben Merodach, who reigned twenty one years, and his father fifty two; from hence to the end of 2 Kings 20:12 the same account is given in the same words as in Isa 39:1 throughout, except in 2 Kings 20:13, where it is, "hearkened unto them," and there, "glad of them"; heard the letter the ambassadors brought with pleasure; see the notes there. See Gill on "Isa 39:1" and following.

{z} Ut supra. (De Judicio Temp. fol. 221. 2.)

2 Kings 20:12 In-Context

10 Hizkiyahu answered, It is a light thing for the shadow to decline ten steps: nay, but let the shadow return backward ten steps.

11 Yesha`yahu the prophet cried to the LORD; and he brought the shadow ten steps backward, by which it had gone down on the dial of Achaz.

12 At that time Berodakh-Bal'adan the son of Bal'adan, king of Bavel, sent letters and a present to Hizkiyahu; for he had heard that Hizkiyahu had been sick.

13 Hizkiyahu listened to them, and shown them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hizkiyahu didn't show them.

14 Then came Yesha`yahu the prophet to king Hizkiyahu, and said to him, What said these men? and from whence came they to you? Hizkiyahu said, They are come from a far country, even from Bavel.