Isaiah 39

There Will Be Nothing Left

1 Sometime later, King Merodach-baladan son of Baladan of Babylon sent messengers with greetings and a gift to Hezekiah. He had heard that Hezekiah had been sick and was now well.

2 Hezekiah received the messengers warmly. He took them on a tour of his royal precincts, proudly showing them all his treasures: silver, gold, spices, expensive oils, all his weapons—everything out on display. There was nothing in his house or kingdom that Hezekiah didn't show them.

3 Later the prophet Isaiah showed up. He asked Hezekiah, "What were these men up to? What did they say? And where did they come from?"
Hezekiah said, "They came from a long way off, from Babylon."

4 "And what did they see in your palace?"
"Everything," said Hezekiah. "I showed them the works, opened all the doors and impressed them with it all."

5-7 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Now listen to this Message from God-ofthe-Angel-Armies: I have to warn you, the time is coming when everything in this palace, along with everything your ancestors accumulated before you, will be hauled off to Babylon. God says that there will be nothing left. Nothing. And not only your things but your sons. Some of your sons will be taken into exile, ending up as eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon."

8 Hezekiah replied to Isaiah, "Good. If God says so, it's good." Within himself he was thinking, "But surely nothing bad will happen in my lifetime. I'll enjoy peace and stability as long as I live."

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.2 Hezekiah welcomedt 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.t3 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.”4 Isaiaht asked, “What have they seen in your palace?” Hezekiah replied, “They have seen everything in my palace. I showed them everything in my treasuries.”5 Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to the word of the Lord who commands armies:6 ‘Look, a time is coming when everything in your palace and the things your ancestorst 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 fathert will be taken away and will be made eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’”

8 Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The Lord’s word which you have announced is appropriate.”t Then he thought,t “Fort there will be peace and stability during my lifetime.”