Isaiah 39:7

7 And they shall take [away] of thy sons, that shall go out of thee, which thou shalt engender; and they shall be honest servants and chaste in the palace of the king of Babylon. (And they shall take away some of thy sons, who shall go out of thee, whom thou shalt beget; and they shall be made honest and chaste servants, that is, they shall be made eunuchs, to serve in the palace of the king of Babylon.)

Isaiah 39:7 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 39:7

And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt
beget, shall they take away
Manasseh his immediate son was taken and carried to Babylon, though afterwards released; nor does it appear that he was made a eunuch or an officer there; this had its fulfilment in Jeconiah and his children, and in others that were of the seed royal, as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, to whom the Jewish commentators apply this; this is expressed in different words, signifying much the same, to affect the mind of Hezekiah the more: and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon;
or "chamberlains"; and who very often were castrated for that purpose, though it does not necessarily signify such, being used of officers in general. The Targum renders it "princes" F6; and such an one was Daniel in the court of the king of Babylon; and his three companions were also promoted, ( Daniel 2:48 Daniel 2:49 ) ( 3:30 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F6 So Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret it princes and governors.

Isaiah 39:7 In-Context

5 And Isaiah said to Hezekiah, Hear thou the word of the Lord of hosts.
6 Lo! days shall come, and all things that be in thine house, and which things thy fathers treasured till to this day (and which things thy forefathers treasured unto this day), shall be taken away into Babylon; not anything shall be left, saith the Lord.
7 And they shall take [away] of thy sons, that shall go out of thee, which thou shalt engender; and they shall be honest servants and chaste in the palace of the king of Babylon. (And they shall take away some of thy sons, who shall go out of thee, whom thou shalt beget; and they shall be made honest and chaste servants, that is, they shall be made eunuchs, to serve in the palace of the king of Babylon.)
8 And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, The word of the Lord is good, which he spake. And Hezekiah said, Peace and truth be made only in my days. (And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, The word of the Lord is good, which he spoke. And Hezekiah said, Let there be only peace and truth in my days.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.