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2 Kings 20:13
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11 So Isaiah the prophet cried out to the Lord, and aHe brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz.  

The Babylonian Envoys

12 aAt that time1 Berodach-Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that Hezekiah had been sick.  
13 And aHezekiah was attentive to them, and showed them all the house of his treasures—the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and1 all his armory—all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.  
14 Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah, and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where did they come to you?” So Hezekiah said, “They came from a far country, from Babylon.”
15 And he said, “What have they seen in your house?” So Hezekiah answered, a“They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them.”  
16 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord:
Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
<< 2 Kings 20:12   2 Kings 20:14 >>


2 Kings 20:13-14

the silver, and the gold—He paid so much tribute to Sennacherib as exhausted his treasury (compare II Kings 18:16). But, after the destruction of Sennacherib, presents were brought him from various quarters, out of respect to a king who, by his faith and prayer, saved his country; and besides, it is by no means improbable that from the corpses in the Assyrian camp, all the gold and silver he had paid might be recovered. The vain display, however, was offensive to his divine liege lord, who sent Isaiah to reprove him. The answer he gave the prophet (II Kings 22:14) shows how he was elated by the compliment of their visit; but it was wrong, as presenting a bait for the cupidity of these rapacious foreigners, who, at no distant period, would return and pillage his country, and transfer all the possessions he ostentatiously displayed to Babylon, as well as his posterity to be court attendants in that country—(see on II Chronicles 32:31).



2 Kings 20:12-19

Berodach-baladan— (Isaiah 39:1), the first king of Babylon mentioned in sacred history; formerly its rulers were viceroys of the Assyrian monarchs. This individual threw off the yoke, and asserting his independence, made with varying success, a long and obstinate resistance [RAWLINSON, Outlines]. The message of congratulation to Hezekiah, was, in all likelihood, accompanied with proposals for a defensive alliance against their common Assyrian enemy. The king of Judah, flattered with this honor, showed the ambassadors all his treasures, his armory and warlike stores; and his motive for this was evidently that the Babylonian deputies might be the more induced to prize his friendship.




Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing 2 Kings 20:13:

2 Kings 20:8-11
2 Chronicles 32:27-29
2 Chronicles 32:31
Isaiah 33:23

 

<< 2 Kings 20:12   2 Kings 20:14 >>

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