2 Kings 20:12

12 In that time, Berodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, the king of Babylon, sent letters and gifts to Hezekiah; for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick, and had recovered. (Now at that time, Berodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, the king of Babylon, sent letters and gifts to Hezekiah; for he had heard that Hezekiah 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 And Hezekiah said, It is light, or easy, that the shadow increase by ten lines, neither I will that this be done, but that it turn again backward by ten degrees. (And Hezekiah said, It is easy for the shadow to increase by ten degrees, so I do not desire that this be done, but rather, that it go backward by ten degrees.)
11 Then Isaiah, the prophet, called inwardly (upon) the Lord, and brought again backward by ten degrees the shadow by the same lines, by which it had gone down then in the horologe of Ahaz. (Then the prophet Isaiah inwardly called to the Lord, and brought the shadow backward by ten degrees, by the same lines by which it had gone forward on Ahaz's sundial.)
12 In that time, Berodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, the king of Babylon, sent letters and gifts to Hezekiah; for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick, and had recovered. (Now at that time, Berodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, the king of Babylon, sent letters and gifts to Hezekiah; for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.)
13 And Hezekiah was glad in the coming of them (And Hezekiah welcomed the messengers), and he showed to them the house of spiceries, and (the) gold, and silver, and diverse pigments, (and) also (the) ointments, and the house of his vessels, and all (the) things that he might have in his treasures; there was not any word, or thing, in his house, and in all his power, that Hezekiah showed not to them.
14 Soothly Isaiah, the prophet, came to king Hezekiah, and said to him, What said these men, either from whence came they to thee? To whom Hezekiah said, They came to me from a far land, from Babylon. (And the prophet Isaiah came to King Hezekiah, and said to him, What did these men say to thee, and from where did they come? To whom Hezekiah said, They came to me from a far land, from Babylon.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.