Isaiah 39)
1 At that time (i.e. shortly after the two miracles of the shadow and Hezekiah's recovery from his sickness. Cp. 2 Chron.32:31) Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah (these were more potent than Sennacherib's hosts; just as Ahab's daughter and feast were more than his men of war with Jehoshaphat. See 2 Chron. 18:1-3. Cp. with 2 Chron. 17:1-3): for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.
2 And Hezekiah was glad of them (this is further Divine information, given by Him Who knew Hezekiah's heart. 2 Kings 20:13 records what Hezekiah did: viz. "listened to them". Man could see the ear, but only Yehovah could know the heart [or mind]. Hezekiah forgot to pray, as in 37:4,14,15; and 38:2. Hence his failure), and shewed them the house of his (marks Hezekiah's ostentation and failure in not giving Yehovah all the glory) precious things (Hezekiah's possession of these riches, after the depletion of his treasures in 2 Kings 18:15,16 is explained and accounted for by a reference to 2 Chron. 32:22,3,27, and to the spoil of the Assyrians' camp [2 Kings 19:35]), the silver, and the gold (see Deut. 17:17), and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasuries: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not. (emphasizing the completeness of his act)
C³ c¹ 3-. Isaiah. Question.
d¹ -3. Hezekiah. Information.
c² 4-. Isaiah. Question.
d² -4. Hezekiah. Ostentation.
c³ 5-7. Isaiah. Denunciation.
d³ 8. Hezekiah. Submission.3 Then came Isaiah the prophet to king Hezekiah, and said to him, “What said these men? and from which place came they to you?”
And Hezekiah said, “They are come from a far country to me, even from Babylon.”
4 Then said he (i.e. Isaiah), “What have they seen in your house?” And Hezekiah answered, “All that is in my house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them.”
5 Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the Lord of hosts:
6 ‘Behold, the days come, that all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left,’ says the Lord.
7 ‘And of your sons that shall issue from you (Hezekiah had none yet, and Yahaveh's promise to David [2 Sam. 7:16] seemed in danger of failing. Manasseh was not born yet till the 3rd of the 15 added years. Hence his reference to this position in the "Songs of the Degrees". See Pss. 127:3-5; 128 [quoting in vv.56 the words in Isa.39:8]. Hezekiah did not marry till after this, and there may be a reference to his marriage to Hephzi-bah in 62:4, which serves as the basis of the comparison in his prophecy concerning the future blessing of Israel), which you shall beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” (see Dan. 1:3,4)
8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, “Good is the word of the Lord which you have spoken.” (Hezekiah's submission was like Eli's. Cp. 1 Sam. 3:18. 2 Kings 20:19. Job 1:21; 2:10. James 5:10,11) He said moreover, “Nevertheless there shall be peace and truth in my days.”