Isaiah 39
Messengers from Babylon Visit Hezekiah
1 At that time Merodach Baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been ill and had recovered. 2Hezekiah welcomed ▼▼tn Heb “was happy with”; NAB, NASB “was pleased”; NIV “received the envoys gladly.”
them and showed them his storehouse with its silver, gold, spices, and high-quality olive oil, as well as his whole armory and everything in his treasuries. Hezekiah showed them everything in his palace and in his whole kingdom. ▼▼tn Heb “there was nothing which Hezekiah did not show them in his house and in all his kingdom.”
3Isaiah the prophet visited King Hezekiah and asked him, “What did these men say? Where do they come from?” Hezekiah replied, “They come from the distant land of Babylon.” 4Isaiah ▼▼tn Heb “he”; the referent (Isaiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
asked, “What have they seen in your palace?” Hezekiah replied, “They have seen everything in my palace. I showed them everything in my treasuries.” 5Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to the message of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: 6‘Look, a time is coming when everything in your palace and the things your ancestors ▼▼tn Heb “fathers” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV84); NIV11 “predecessors.”
have accumulated to this day will be carried away to Babylon; nothing will be left,’ says the Lord. 7‘Some of your very own descendants whom you father ▼▼tn Heb “Some of your sons, who go out from you, whom you father.”
will be taken away and will be made eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’” 8Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The Lord’s message that you have announced is appropriate.” ▼▼tn Heb “good” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NAB “favorable.”
Then he thought, ▼▼tn Heb “and he said.” The verb אָמַר (ʾamar, “say”) is sometimes used of what one thinks (that is, says to oneself).
“For ▼▼tn Or “surely”; cf. CEV “At least.”
there will be peace and stability during my lifetime.”
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