Isaiah 39:3

3 Soothly Isaiah, the prophet, entered to king Hezekiah (And the prophet Isaiah went in to King Hezekiah), and said to him, What said these men, and from whence came they to thee? And Hezekiah said, From a far land they came to me, from Babylon.

Isaiah 39:3 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 39:3

Then came Isaiah the prophet unto King Hezekiah
Quickly after the ambassadors had been with the king, and he had shown them all his treasures; the prophet did not come of himself, but was sent by the Lord, though he was not sent for by the king; in the time of his distress and illness he could send for him, but now being well, and in prosperity, he forgot the prophet, to send for him, and have his advice, how he should behave towards these men, as not to offend the Lord: and said unto him, what said these men?
what was their errand to thee, and their business to thee? what did they communicate to thee, or request of thee? and from whence came they unto thee?
from what country? these questions the prophet put to the king, not as ignorant of the men, and their business, and country, but in order to have everything from the king himself, and to lead on to further conversation with him on these things: and Hezekiah said, they are come from a far country unto me, even from
Babylon;
he makes no answer to the first question, but at once replies to the second, as being what his heart was lifted up with; that ambassadors should come to him from a very distant country, and from so famous and renowned a place as Babylon; which showed that his name was great in foreign parts, and was in high esteem in distant countries, and even so great a prince as the king of Babylon courted his friendship.

Isaiah 39:3 In-Context

1 In that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, the king of Babylon, sent books and gifts to Hezekiah; for he had heard, that Hezekiah had been sick, and was recovered. (At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, the king of Babylon, sent letters and gifts to Hezekiah; for he had heard, that Hezekiah had been sick, but now had recovered.)

2 Forsooth Hezekiah was glad on them, and showed to them the cell(s) of sweet smelling spices, and of silver, and of gold, and of smelling things, and of best ointment, and all the shops of his purtenance of household, and all things that were found in his treasures; no word was, which Hezekiah showed not to them in his house, and in all his power. (And Hezekiah welcomed the messengers, and showed them the rooms for the sweet smelling spices, and the rooms for the silver, and the gold, and the best perfumes, and all the shops of his purtenance of household, and everything that was found among his treasures; yea, there was nothing, which Hezekiah did not show them in his house, and of all his power.)

3 Soothly Isaiah, the prophet, entered to king Hezekiah (And the prophet Isaiah went in to King Hezekiah), and said to him, What said these men, and from whence came they to thee? And Hezekiah said, From a far land they came to me, from Babylon.

4 And Isaiah said, What saw they in thine house? And Hezekiah said, They saw all things that be in mine house; nothing was in my treasures, which I showed not to them.

5 And Isaiah said to Hezekiah, Hear thou the word of the Lord of hosts.