^39:1At 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. ^39:2Hezekiah welcomed¹ 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.²^39:3Isaiah 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.” ^39:4Isaiah³ asked, “What have they seen in your palace?” Hezekiah replied, “They have seen everything in my palace. I showed them everything in my treasuries.” ^39:5Isaiah 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 ancestors⁴ 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 father⁵ will be taken away and will be made eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’ ” ^39:8Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The Lord’s word which you have announced is appropriate.”⁶ Then he thought,⁷ “For⁸ there will be peace and stability during my lifetime.”

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Footnotes

1 Heb “was happy with”; , “was pleased”; “received the envoys gladly.”
2 Heb “there was nothing which Hezekiah did not show them in his house and in all his kingdom.”
3 Heb “he”; the referent (Isaiah) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 Heb “fathers” (so , , , ).
5 Heb “Some of your sons, who go out from you, whom you father.”
6 Heb “good” (so , , , , ); “favorable.”
7 Heb “and he said.” The verb אָמַר (’amar, “say”) is sometimes used of what one thinks (that is, says to oneself).
8 Or “surely”; cf. “At least.”