Isaiah 39
Isaiah 39 serves as a bridge between the Assyrian threat faced by Judah and the coming Babylonian captivity. After recovering from his illness, King Hezekiah receives envoys from Babylon, and in an act of pride, he shows them all the treasures of his kingdom. The prophet Isaiah rebukes him for this action, warning that everything Hezekiah has shown will one day be carried off to Babylon, including his descendants.
Isaiah 39:1 (NKJV)
1 At that time Merodach-Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered.
Merodach-Baladan was seeking to strengthen alliances and likely saw Hezekiah's recovery as an opportunity to establish political ties with Judah. His gesture of sending gifts and letters was an act of diplomacy. Hezekiah's illness and miraculous recovery had become widely known, making Judah a point of interest to Babylon.
Isaiah 39:2 (NKJV)
2 And Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his treasures—the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armory—all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.
Hezekiah's actions demonstrate his pride and perhaps a desire to impress the Babylonians. In showing off all his treasures, Hezekiah failed to recognize the potential threat of exposing Judah's wealth to a foreign power. His lack of discernment in this situation revealed a reliance on human approval rather than on God’s protection.
Isaiah 39:3 (NKJV)
3 Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?” So Hezekiah said, “They came to me from a far country, from Babylon.”
Isaiah approaches Hezekiah to assess the situation. Hezekiah, seemingly oblivious to the danger he has put Judah in, proudly declares that the visitors came from Babylon, a distant and powerful nation. Isaiah’s questioning highlights the gravity of Hezekiah's lack of foresight in dealing with these envoys.
Isaiah 39:4 (NKJV)
4 And he said, “What have they seen in your house?” So Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.”
Hezekiah admits to showing all of Judah’s wealth and resources. This transparency reflects not only Hezekiah's pride but also a failure to understand the implications of revealing the kingdom’s strength to a future adversary. Hezekiah’s actions will have long-term consequences for Judah.
Isaiah 39:5-7 (NKJV)
5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of hosts:
6 ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and what your fathers have accumulated until this day, shall be carried to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord.
7 ‘And they shall take away some of your sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’”
Isaiah delivers a sobering prophecy. He warns that Babylon will one day carry off all the treasures Hezekiah showed them. Even worse, Hezekiah’s descendants will be taken captive and made eunuchs in the Babylonian court, stripping Judah of its royal lineage. This is a direct result of Hezekiah's failure to act wisely and rely on God for guidance.
Isaiah 39:8 (NKJV)
8 So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good!” For he said, “At least there will be peace and truth in my days.”
Hezekiah’s response shows a mixed reaction. On one hand, he acknowledges that Isaiah's word is from the Lord and therefore cannot be contested. However, his relief that these calamities will not occur in his lifetime reveals a short-sightedness and lack of concern for future generations. While he enjoys peace now, his actions will bring hardship on his descendants.