Text -- Isaiah 39:1-8 (NET)

Messengers from Babylon Visit Hezekiah

39:1 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. 39:2 Hezekiah welcomed 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. 39:3 Isaiah 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.” 39:4 Isaiah asked, “What have they seen in your palace?” Hezekiah replied, “They have seen everything in my palace. I showed them everything in my treasuries.” 39:5 Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to the word of the Lord who commands armies: 39:6 ‘Look, a time is coming when everything in your palace and the things your ancestors have accumulated to this day will be carried away to Babylon; nothing will be left,’ says the Lord. 39:7 ‘Some of your very own descendants whom you father will be taken away and will be made eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’” 39:8 Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The Lord’s word which you have announced is appropriate.” Then he thought, “For there will be peace and stability during my lifetime.”

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Isa 39:2

¹ tn Heb “was happy with”; NAB, NASB “was pleased”; NIV “received the envoys gladly.”

² tn Heb “there was nothing which Hezekiah did not show them in his house and in all his kingdom.”

NET Notes: Isa 39:4

¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Isaiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

NET Notes: Isa 39:6

¹ tn Heb “fathers” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV).

NET Notes: Isa 39:7

¹ tn Heb “Some of your sons, who go out from you, whom you father.”

NET Notes: Isa 39:8

¹ tn Heb “good” (so KJV, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NLT); NAB “favorable.”

² tn Heb “and he said.” The verb אָמַר (’amar, “say”) is sometimes used of what one thinks (that is, says to oneself).

³ tn Or “surely”; cf. CEV “At least.”