_Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, King of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah_ MERODACH-BALADAN Marduk-apal-iddina, son of Yakin, is the Chaldean ruler who more than any other vassal embittered the life of the Assyrian suzerain, because as a rival suzerain he was always renouncing... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Hezekiah was glad of them_ HEZEKIAH’S GREAT MISTAKE Look at Hezekiah; as he takes the men round he says in effect, What an ally I would make if Babylon should ever be in trouble! Or, What an opponent I would make if ever Babylon should be insolent! Or, You see I am one of the great powers of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then came Isaiah the prophet unto King Hezekiah_ THE PROPHET HIGHER THAN THE KING It is well to have Isaiahs in society, for Hezekiahs could never keep it together. This is the tone we want. The prophet should be higher than the king. The Christian teacher should stand upon the topmost place. (_... [ Continue Reading ]
_What have they seen in thine house?_ THE DISCIPLE AT HOME 1. The parties of whom the prophets inquired, “What have they seen?” were Babylonians. Foreigners, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, ignorant of the true God, and, therefore, parties before whom it was specially important to exhibit... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hear the word of the Lord of hosts_ ISAIAH’S PROPHECY OF THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY Jarchi directs attention to the exact correspondence of the punishment with the offence. As the Babylonians had seen all, they should one day take all; as nothing had been withheld from them now, so nothing should... [ Continue Reading ]
_Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken._ “Good” The word “good” is here used, neither in the sense of “gracious” nor in that of “just” exclusively, but in that of “right” as comprehending both. (_J. A. Alexander._) HEZEKIAH’S ACCEPTANCE OF HIS PUNISHMENT Hezekiah’s reply expressed ne... [ Continue Reading ]