This short chapter completes the historical part of Isaiah. The same record occurs with some slight changes in 2 Kings 20:12. Compare the Introduction to Isaiah 36. The chapter is composed of the following parts: - 1. The statement that the king of Babylon sent an embassage to Hezekiah to congratul... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THAT TIME - That is, soon after his recovery; or after he had amassed great wealth, and was surrounded with the evidences of prosperity 2 Chronicles 32:27. MERODACH-BALADAN, THE SON OF BALDDAN, KING OF BABYLON - In the parallel place in 2 Kings 20:12, this name is written Berodach-baladan, by a c... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HEZEKIAH WAS GLAD OF THEM - Possibly he regarded himself as flattered by an embassage from so great a distance, and so celebrated a place as Babylon. It is certain that he erred in some way in regard to the manner in which he received them, and especially in the ostentatious display which he mad... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN CAME ISAIAH - Isaiah was accustomed to declare the will of God most freely to monarchs (see Isaiah 7) WHAT SAID THESE MEN? - What proposition have they made? What is the design of their coming? It is implied in the question that there had been some improper communication from them. To this que... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT HAVE THEY SEEN? - It is probable that the fact that Hezekiah had showed them the treasures of his kingdom was known in Jerusalem. Such a fact would be likely to attract attention, and to produce inquiry among the people into the cause. ALL THAT IS IN MINE HOUSE - Here was the confessions of a f... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD OF HOSTS - Hear what the mighty God that rules in heaven says of this. This is an instance of great fidelity on the part of the prophet. He felt himself sent from God in a solemn manner to rebuke sin in a monarch, and a pious monarch. It is an instance that strikingly resem... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THE DAYS COME - The captivity of the Jews in Babylon commenced about one hundred and twenty years after this prediction (compare Jeremiah 20:5). THAT ALL THAT IS IN THINE HOUSE - That is, all the treasures that are in the treasure-house Isaiah 39:2. AND THAT WHICH THY FATHERS HAVE LAID UP I... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OF THAT SONS - Thy posterity (see the note at Matthew 1:1). THAT SHALL ISSUE FROM THEE - Of the royal family. The captivity at Babylon occurred more than a hundred years after this, and of course those who were carried there were somewhat remote descendants of Hezekiah. AND THEY SHALL BE EUNUCH... [ Continue Reading ]
GOOD IS THE WORD OF THE LORD - The sense of this is, ‘I acquiesce in this; I perceive that it is right; I see in it evidence of benevolence and goodness.’ The grounds of his acquiescence seem to have been: 1. The fact that he saw that it was just. He felt that he had sinned, and that he had made an... [ Continue Reading ]