2 Kings 20:12-19

2 Kings 20:12-19

[12] At that time  Berodachbaladan,  the son  of Baladan,  king  of Babylon,  sent  letters  and a present  unto Hezekiah:  for he had heard  that Hezekiah  had been sick.  [13] And Hezekiah  hearkened  unto them, and shewed  them all the house  of his precious things,  the silver,  and the gold,  and the spices,  and the precious  ointment,  and all the house  of his armour,  and all that was found  in his treasures:  there was nothing  in his house,  that Hezekiah  shewed  [14] Then came  Isaiah  the prophet  unto king  Hezekiah,  and said  and from whence  came  they unto thee? And Hezekiah  said,  They are come  from a far  country,  even from Babylon.  [15] And he said,  What have they seen  in thine house?  And Hezekiah  answered,  All the things that are in mine house  have they seen:  there is nothing  among my treasures  that I have not shewed  [16] And Isaiah  said  unto Hezekiah,  Hear  the word  of the LORD.  [17] Behold, the days  come,  that all that is in thine house,  and that which thy fathers  have laid up in store  unto this day,  shall be carried  into Babylon:  nothing  shall be left,  saith  the LORD.  [18] And of thy sons  that shall issue  from thee, which thou shalt beget,  shall they take away;  and they shall be eunuchs  in the palace  of the king  of Babylon.  [19] Then said  Hezekiah  unto Isaiah,  Good  is the word  of the LORD  which thou hast spoken.  And he said,  Is it not good, if peace  and truth  be in my days? 

What does 2 Kings 20:12-19 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Merodach-baladan ruled as king of Babylon for two terms, 721-710,703-702 B.C. The event recorded in these verses evidently took place in702 B.C. [1] Hezekiah appears to have let his visitors know the extent of Judah"s financial strength because he favored Merodach-baladan and Chaldean affiliation. In pride, as a result of his healing, he evidently wished to impress them with his wealth and power (cf. 2 Chronicles 32:25; 2 Chronicles 32:31). Isaiah prophesied that Babylon would take Judah into captivity one day ( 2 Kings 20:17-18). While Hezekiah would have been sorry to hear this prophecy, he evidently accepted it as the Lord"s will for Judah and was glad it would not happen in his lifetime ( 2 Kings 20:19). Other interpretations are that he made a smug, self-serving comment, or that he took the message as a prayer that the disaster would be delayed as long as possible. [2] The first interpretation seems most consistent with Hezekiah"s character. Babylon"s future invasion came primarily as a result of Judah"s sins. Hezekiah"s unwise exposure of Judah"s wealth on this occasion was not the major cause.