2 Kings 20:12-15

Messengers from Babylon Visit Hezekiah

20:12 At that time Merodach-Baladan ¹  son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah was ill. 20:13 Hezekiah welcomed ²  them and showed them his whole storehouse, with its silver, gold, spices, and high quality olive oil, as well as his armory and everything in his treasuries. Hezekiah showed them everything in his palace and in his whole kingdom. ³  20:14 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.” 20:15 Isaiah ⁴  asked, “What have they seen in your palace?” Hezekiah replied, “They have seen everything in my palace. I showed them everything ⁵  in my treasuries.”

[20:12]  ¹ tc The MT has “Berodach-Baladan,” but several Hebrew, Greek, Aramaic, and Latin witnesses agree with the parallel passage in Isa 39:1 and read “Merodach-Baladan.”

[20:13]  ² tc Heb “listened to.” Some Hebrew mss, as well as the LXX, Syriac, and Vulgate versions agree with the parallel passage in Isa 39:2 and read, “was happy with.”

[20:13]  ³ tn Heb “there was nothing which Hezekiah did not show them in his house and in all his kingdom.”

[20:15]  ⁴ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Isaiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[20:15]  ⁵ tn Heb “there was nothing I did not show them.”