> [[isaiah-38|← Previous]] | [[isaiah-00|TOC]] | [[isaiah-40|Next →]] --- # Isaiah, Chapter 39 ## Chapter 39 **Embassy from Merodach-baladan.** 1 At that time Merodach-baladan, son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and gifts to Hezekiah, when he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. ^isaiah-39-1 2 Hezekiah was pleased at their coming, and then showed the messengers his treasury, the silver and gold, the spices and perfumed oil, his whole armory, and everything in his storerooms; there was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them. ^isaiah-39-2 3 Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and asked him, “What did these men say to you? Where did they come from?” Hezekiah replied, “They came to me from a distant land, from Babylon.” ^isaiah-39-3 4 He asked, “What did they see in your house?” Hezekiah answered, “They saw everything in my house. There is nothing in my storerooms that I did not show them.” ^isaiah-39-4 5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: ^isaiah-39-5 6 The time is coming when all that is in your house, everything that your ancestors have stored up until this day, shall be carried off to Babylon; nothing shall be left, says the LORD. ^isaiah-39-6 7 Some of your own descendants, your progeny, shall be taken and made attendants in the palace of the king of Babylon.” ^isaiah-39-7 8 Hezekiah replied to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “There will be peace and stability in my lifetime.” ^isaiah-39-8 \* (39:1) Merodach-baladan: twice king of Babylon, probably from 721 to 710 B.C., and again for nine months, in 704–703. This visit of his messengers, certainly before 701, was in reality a political one. Babylon hoped to lead an anti-Assyrian confederation composed of neighboring states and wanted Judah to join. \* (39:6) Because Judah preferred to follow a pro-Babylonian policy, instead of trusting in the Lord, it would later be exiled to Babylon. \* (39:8) Hezekiah was relieved that the disaster would not occur in his lifetime. a. (39:1) [[2-kings-20|2 Kgs 20]]:12. b. (39:2) [2 Chr 32:25] – [31]. c. (39:6) [[2-kings-24|2 Kgs 24]]:13; [25:13] – [17]. d. (39:7) [Dn 1:3] – [19]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[isaiah-38|← Previous]] | [[isaiah-00|TOC]] | [[isaiah-40|Next →]]