Isaiah 39 Study Notes: Hezekiah Shows Babylon His Treasures
Envoys from Babylon's king visit Hezekiah after his recovery, and he shows them all his wealth and weapons. Isaiah warns that everything will one day be taken to Babylon, along with some of the king's descendants, and Hezekiah accepts the word, relieved that his own reign will stay peaceful.
General
What did the LORD announce through Isaiah would happen to the wealth in Hezekiah's palace (39:5-6)?
Answer: It would all go off to Babylon, with nothing remaining
Isaiah brought Hezekiah a message from the LORD: a day was coming when the whole contents of his palace, along with the stores his ancestors had laid up, would be hauled away to Babylon, the very land the envoys came from, and nothing would be left (39:5-6). Even some of Hezekiah's own descendants would be taken to serve as eunuchs, that is, court officials, in the Babylonian king's palace (39:7). Scripture later records the treasures being taken: Nebuchadnezzar carried off the riches of the temple and of the king's house, in keeping with the LORD's word (2 Kings 24:13). Daniel also describes young men from Judah's royal family and nobility being chosen for service in the Babylonian king's palace, a scene that matches this warning (Daniel 1:3-4).
- Isaiah 39:5-7 (BSB)“Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD of Hosts: The time will surely come when everything in your palace and all that your fathers have stored up until this day will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, will be taken away to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.””Isaiah announces that the palace treasures and some of Hezekiah's descendants will be taken to Babylon.
- 2 Kings 20:16-18 (BSB)“Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD: The time will surely come when everything in your palace and all that your fathers have stored up until this day will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, will be taken away to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.””The parallel account records the same word from the LORD about the treasures and descendants going to Babylon.
- 2 Kings 24:13 (BSB)“As the LORD had declared, Nebuchadnezzar also carried off all the treasures from the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and he cut into pieces all the gold articles that Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD.”Scripture records Nebuchadnezzar carrying off the palace and temple treasures as the LORD had declared.
- Daniel 1:3-4 (BSB)“Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials, to bring in some Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— young men without blemish, handsome, gifted in all wisdom, knowledgeable, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace—and to teach them the language and literature of the Chaldeans.”Young men from Judah's royal family and nobility were later chosen to serve in the Babylonian king's palace.
Theological
What judgment does the oracle in 39:5-6 pronounce on the royal treasures Hezekiah had displayed?
Answer: It would all go off to Babylon, with nothing remaining
The oracle announces that the whole royal treasury, everything Hezekiah's fathers had stored up, would be carried away to Babylon with nothing left (39:5-6), and that some of his own offspring would become eunuchs in the Babylonian king's palace (39:7). The historical books record the fulfillment, as Nebuchadnezzar carried off the treasures of the temple and palace in keeping with God's word (2 Kings 24:13), and Daniel 1:3-4 describes Judean youths of royal and noble birth being selected for service at the Babylonian court, a scene consistent with the warning of 39:7.
- Isaiah 39:5-7 (BSB)“Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD of Hosts: The time will surely come when everything in your palace and all that your fathers have stored up until this day will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, will be taken away to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.””Isaiah announces that the palace treasures and some of Hezekiah's descendants will be taken to Babylon.
- 2 Kings 20:16-18 (BSB)“Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD: The time will surely come when everything in your palace and all that your fathers have stored up until this day will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, will be taken away to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.””The parallel account records the same word from the LORD about the treasures and descendants going to Babylon.
- 2 Kings 24:13 (BSB)“As the LORD had declared, Nebuchadnezzar also carried off all the treasures from the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and he cut into pieces all the gold articles that Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD.”Scripture records Nebuchadnezzar carrying off the palace and temple treasures as the LORD had declared.
- Daniel 1:3-4 (BSB)“Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials, to bring in some Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— young men without blemish, handsome, gifted in all wisdom, knowledgeable, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace—and to teach them the language and literature of the Chaldeans.”Young men from Judah's royal family and nobility were later chosen to serve in the Babylonian king's palace.
General
True or False: Hezekiah showed the Babylonian envoys his treasure house but kept his armory hidden from them.
Answer: False
This is false. Hezekiah gave the envoys a glad welcome and let them see everything in his treasury, including the silver, gold, spices, and precious oil, and also his entire armory, so that no part of his palace or kingdom was left unshown (39:2). When Isaiah asked what they had seen, Hezekiah himself admitted that he had shown them everything among his treasures (39:4). Chronicles adds that when these ambassadors came, God left Hezekiah to himself to test him and to bring to light what lay in his heart (2 Chronicles 32:31), and it notes that Hezekiah's heart had been proud and that he did not respond to God's kindness as he should (2 Chronicles 32:25).
- Isaiah 39:2 (BSB)“And Hezekiah welcomed the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his treasure house—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, as well as his entire armory—all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.”Hezekiah shows the envoys his treasures and his whole armory, holding nothing back.
- Isaiah 39:4 (BSB)““What have they seen in your palace?” Isaiah asked. “They have seen everything in my palace,” answered Hezekiah. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.””Hezekiah admits to Isaiah that the envoys saw everything in his palace.
- 2 Kings 20:13 (BSB)“And Hezekiah received the envoys and showed them all that was in his treasure house—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, as well as his armory—all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.”The parallel account likewise says nothing in his palace or dominion was left unshown.
- 2 Chronicles 32:31 (BSB)“And so when ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone to test him, that He might know all that was in Hezekiah’s heart.”Chronicles explains that God left Hezekiah alone during this visit to test what was in his heart.
- 2 Chronicles 32:25 (BSB)“But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown to him. Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.”Chronicles notes that Hezekiah's heart was proud and that he did not repay the favor shown to him.
Theological
True or False: According to 39:2, Hezekiah displayed his treasury to the envoys while withholding his armory.
Answer: False
This is false. Hezekiah received the delegation and opened to them the whole of his treasury, silver, gold, spices, and precious oil, along with his entire armory; no part of his palace or realm went unshown (39:2), as he himself concedes under Isaiah's questioning (39:4). The Chronicler interprets the episode as a divine test in which God left Hezekiah to himself to disclose the true state of his heart (2 Chronicles 32:31), having already noted his pride of heart and his failure to respond rightly to the kindness he had received (2 Chronicles 32:25).
- Isaiah 39:2 (BSB)“And Hezekiah welcomed the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his treasure house—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, as well as his entire armory—all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.”Hezekiah shows the envoys his treasures and his whole armory, holding nothing back.
- Isaiah 39:4 (BSB)““What have they seen in your palace?” Isaiah asked. “They have seen everything in my palace,” answered Hezekiah. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.””Hezekiah admits to Isaiah that the envoys saw everything in his palace.
- 2 Kings 20:13 (BSB)“And Hezekiah received the envoys and showed them all that was in his treasure house—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, as well as his armory—all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.”The parallel account likewise says nothing in his palace or dominion was left unshown.
- 2 Chronicles 32:31 (BSB)“And so when ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone to test him, that He might know all that was in Hezekiah’s heart.”Chronicles explains that God left Hezekiah alone during this visit to test what was in his heart.
- 2 Chronicles 32:25 (BSB)“But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown to him. Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.”Chronicles notes that Hezekiah's heart was proud and that he did not repay the favor shown to him.
General
When Hezekiah called the LORD's word good, what does 39:8 say he was thinking?
Answer: He expected that his own days would pass in peace and safety
Hezekiah told Isaiah that the message from the LORD was good, and the verse adds what he was thinking: at least his own lifetime would be calm and safe (39:8). The loss would fall on later generations, not in his own days. The parallel account records the same reply, phrased there as a question (2 Kings 20:19). Chronicles likewise says that because Hezekiah and Jerusalem's people humbled themselves, the LORD's wrath did not come on them during Hezekiah's lifetime (2 Chronicles 32:26). He did not doubt the prophecy, plan to pray it away, or trust Babylon's goodwill.
- Isaiah 39:8 (BSB)“But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “At least there will be peace and security in my lifetime.””Hezekiah calls the word good, thinking there will be peace and security in his own lifetime.
- 2 Kings 20:19 (BSB)“But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Will there not at least be peace and security in my lifetime?””The parallel account records the same reply and the same thought about his lifetime.
- 2 Chronicles 32:26 (BSB)“Then Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart—he and the people of Jerusalem—so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.”Chronicles confirms that the wrath did not come during Hezekiah's days after he humbled himself.
Theological
What private reasoning does 39:8 attribute to Hezekiah behind his acceptance of the oracle?
Answer: He expected that his own days would pass in peace and safety
Hezekiah formally accepts the oracle as good, and the narrator discloses his inner reasoning: the judgment would not fall in his own day, so peace and security would last his lifetime (39:8). Second Kings renders the same thought as a rhetorical question (2 Kings 20:19), and the Chronicler confirms that the wrath was deferred beyond Hezekiah's reign because he and Jerusalem humbled themselves (2 Chronicles 32:26). The text records no attempt to reverse the word by prayer and no confidence in Babylon.
- Isaiah 39:8 (BSB)“But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “At least there will be peace and security in my lifetime.””Hezekiah calls the word good, thinking there will be peace and security in his own lifetime.
- 2 Kings 20:19 (BSB)“But Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “Will there not at least be peace and security in my lifetime?””The parallel account records the same reply and the same thought about his lifetime.
- 2 Chronicles 32:26 (BSB)“Then Hezekiah humbled the pride of his heart—he and the people of Jerusalem—so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.”Chronicles confirms that the wrath did not come during Hezekiah's days after he humbled himself.
General
According to 39:1, why did Merodach-baladan, the Babylonian king, send Hezekiah a present along with letters?
Answer: He had learned that Hezekiah had been sick and had gotten well
Chapter 39 follows directly on Hezekiah's deadly illness and the fifteen years the LORD added to his life (38:1, 5). Merodach-baladan, who ruled Babylon, sent a present and letters to Hezekiah because news had reached him that Hezekiah had been ill and had recovered (39:1). The parallel account in 2 Kings records the same visit in nearly the same words (2 Kings 20:12), and Chronicles adds that the ambassadors came to ask about the marvel that occurred in the land (2 Chronicles 32:31). Neither account says they came for tribute, trade, or worship.
- Isaiah 39:1 (BSB)“At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard about Hezekiah’s illness and recovery.”The Babylonian king sends letters and a gift after hearing of Hezekiah's illness and recovery.
- Isaiah 38:1 (BSB)“In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’””Hezekiah had been told he would die, the illness the Babylonian king later heard about.
- Isaiah 38:5 (BSB)““Go and tell Hezekiah that this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.”The LORD added fifteen years to Hezekiah's life, the recovery that prompted the visit.
- 2 Kings 20:12 (BSB)“At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard about Hezekiah’s illness.”The parallel account gives the same occasion for the letters and gift from Babylon.
- 2 Chronicles 32:31 (BSB)“And so when ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone to test him, that He might know all that was in Hezekiah’s heart.”Chronicles says the ambassadors came to ask about the marvel that occurred in the land.
Theological
What occasion does 39:1 give for the Babylonian embassy of Merodach-baladan to Hezekiah?
Answer: He had learned that Hezekiah had been sick and had gotten well
The embassy is tied explicitly to the events of chapter 38: the Babylonian ruler Merodach-baladan sent a present with his letters because he had heard of Hezekiah's sickness and recovery (39:1; compare 38:1, 5). Second Kings narrates the same visit almost word for word (2 Kings 20:12), and the Chronicler adds that the envoys came to ask about the marvel that occurred in the land (2 Chronicles 32:31). The text supplies no motive of tribute, commerce, or worship.
- Isaiah 39:1 (BSB)“At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard about Hezekiah’s illness and recovery.”The Babylonian king sends letters and a gift after hearing of Hezekiah's illness and recovery.
- Isaiah 38:1 (BSB)“In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came to him and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Put your house in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’””Hezekiah had been told he would die, the illness the Babylonian king later heard about.
- Isaiah 38:5 (BSB)““Go and tell Hezekiah that this is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: ‘I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.”The LORD added fifteen years to Hezekiah's life, the recovery that prompted the visit.
- 2 Kings 20:12 (BSB)“At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard about Hezekiah’s illness.”The parallel account gives the same occasion for the letters and gift from Babylon.
- 2 Chronicles 32:31 (BSB)“And so when ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone to test him, that He might know all that was in Hezekiah’s heart.”Chronicles says the ambassadors came to ask about the marvel that occurred in the land.