Chapter Overview
Summary
Isaiah 39 closes the HISTORICAL-BRIDGE with the BABYLONIAN-EMBASSY incident — Hezekiah's-prideful-display of-the-treasury to the Babylonian-envoys leads-to-the-prophecy of Babylonian-exile (vv. 5–8). The chapter pivots-the-book from-Assyrian-period (chs. 1–39) to-Babylonian-exile-anticipated-context of-Second-Isaiah (chs. 40–66).
Notable Variants
39:1 'Merodach-Baladan king of Babylon' historical-figure (722–710 BCE); 39:6 'all that is in your house … shall be carried to Babylon' Babylonian-exile-prophecy; 39:8 Hezekiah's selfish-relief 'there will be peace and security in my days.'
Structural Notes
MT Isaiah 39 = LXX Isaiah 39. 8 verses. // 2 Kings 20:12–19. CLOSES first-half (chs. 1–39); pivots to-Second-Isaiah.
At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard that he had been ill and had recovered.
'At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent envoys with letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered' tracks MT. MERODACH-BALADAN — historical-Babylonian-king (722–710 BCE) attempting-anti-Assyrian-coalition. Diplomatic-illness-recovery-greetings.
Hezekiah was pleased with them and showed them his treasure house — the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his entire armory, and everything found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.
'And Hezekiah welcomed them gladly. And he showed them his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his whole armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them' tracks MT. PRIDEFUL-DISPLAY — Hezekiah's-mistake. Showing-everything to-the-future-conquerors.
Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and said to him, 'What did these men say, and where did they come from?' Hezekiah said, 'They came to me from a distant land — from Babylon.'
'Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah, and said to him: What did these men say? And from where did they come to you? Hezekiah said: They have come to me from a far country, from Babylon' tracks MT.
Isaiah said, 'What have they seen in your palace?' Hezekiah answered, 'They have seen everything in my palace. There is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them.'
'He said: What have they seen in your house? Hezekiah answered: They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing in my storehouses that I did not show them' tracks MT.
Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, 'Hear the word of the LORD of Hosts:
'Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah: Hear the word of the LORD of hosts' tracks MT.
The days are coming when everything in your palace, and everything your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD.
'Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the LORD' tracks MT. BABYLONIAN-EXILE PROPHECY. Fulfilled-586 BCE Nebuchadnezzar's-conquest. The book-of-Isaiah pivots-the-historical-frame from-Assyria to-Babylon.
Some of your own descendants, your own flesh and blood, will be taken away. They will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.'
'And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon' tracks MT. EUNUCHS-IN-BABYLON. Daniel-and-friends fulfillment (Dan 1:3–6).
Hezekiah said to Isaiah, 'The word of the LORD you have spoken is good.' Then he added, 'There will be peace and security in my days.'
'Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah: The word of the LORD that you have spoken is good. For he thought: There will be peace and security in my days' tracks MT. HEZEKIAH'S-SELFISH-RELIEF. Notably-not-edifying response. Pivots the book — the comfort-of-Israel needed in-light of-the-coming-exile sets-up Isaiah 40's 'Comfort, comfort my people.'