Isaiah 39:1

Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan The form "Berodach" in 2 Kings 20:12 is less correct. Marduk-habal-iddina is described in the monuments as "son of Yakin"; but this is no reason for doubting the identity of the person. The latter is probably his dynastic title.

letters a letter, as ch. Isaiah 37:14. LXX. adds καὶ πρέσβεις i.e. "ambassadors," whose presence is assumed in the next verse.

for he had heard So in 2 Kings 20:12 correctly. The text here reads strictly "and he heard." The motive here specified was merely a pretext to veil the real political object of the mission. This appears clearly enough in what follows. According to 2 Chronicles 32:31 the embassy was prompted by scientific curiosity with regard to the miracle of the sun-dial.