Isaiah 39:1-6

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 ¹  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. ²  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 ³  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 ⁴  have accumulated to this day will be carried away to Babylon; nothing will be left,’ says the Lord.

[39:2]  ¹ tn Heb “was happy with”; NAB, NASB “was pleased”; NIV “received the envoys gladly.”

[39:2]  ² tn Heb “there was nothing which Hezekiah did not show them in his house and in all his kingdom.”

[39:4]  ¹ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Isaiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[39:6]  ¹ tn Heb “fathers” (so KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV).