2 Kings 20:12–19

Hezekiah Reveals Too Much to a Babylonian Envoy

¹²At that time, Berodak-Baladan the son of Baladan king of Babylon^d sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been ill. ¹³Hezekiah heard about them and showed them all of the house of his treasure, both the silver and the gold, the spices, the good olive oil, the room of his weapons, and all that could be found in his treasuries. There was nothing that he did not show them in his palace and in all of his kingdom. ¹⁴Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where have they come to you?” Hezekiah said, “From a far land; they have come from Babylon.” ¹⁵Then he asked, “What did they see in your palace?” And Hezekiah said, “All that is in my palace they have seen; there is nothing that I did not show them in my treasuries.”

¹⁶Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of Yahweh! ¹⁷‘Look, days are coming when all that is in your palace will be carried off; even all that your ancestors^e have stored up until this day, to Babylon; nothing shall be left,’ says Yahweh. ¹⁸‘Your sons who went out from you, whom you brought forth, will be taken, and they shall be eunuchs in the temple of the king of Babylon.’ ” ¹⁹Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of Yahweh that you have spoken is good,” and he thought, “Is it not that peace and security shall be in my days?”