ISAIAH CHAPTER 39 The king of Babel sendeth ambassadors with letters and a present to Hezekiah; who showeth them all his treasures, Isaiah 39:1-2. Isaiah foretelleth him of the Babylonish captivity, Isaiah 39:3-7. His resignation, Isaiah 39:8. read more
The history contained in this chapter is related in the same words, 2 Kings 20:12, &c., only he who here is called Merodach is there called Berodach, merely by the change of one letter, which is very usual in the Hebrew language, especially in proper names, as Dimon is put for Dibon, Isaiah 15:9, and the same man is called Nebuchadnezzar and Nebuchadrezzar. This king is called Merodach from the idol so called, Jeremiah 1:2, and Baladan from his father’s name. But whether this man was an... read more
HEZEKIAH’S STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSIsaiah 39:1-2. At that time Merodach-baladan, &c.A study of the character of Hezekiah is profoundly instructive. The sacred writers impartially present him to us in his strength and in his weakness.I. HEZEKIAH IN HIS STRENGTH.He was in the full sense of the word a good king (2 Kings 18:3; 2 Kings 18:5). He was conspicuous—1. For his religious zeal. Though, politically, it was a hazardous thing to do, he utterly abolished idolatry in his kingdom. 2. For his... read more
HOME LIFE AND INFLUENCEIsaiah 39:4. What have they seen in Thy house?State briefly the circumstances that gave rise to this question. It evidently suggests to Hezekiah that he has not made the best use of the visit of the Babylonians. He might have turned it to greater account than the gratification of his vanity by displaying his treasures. Instead of magnifying the greatness and glory of God, and thus lifting the minds of his visitors to the highest themes, he had only held out a bait to... read more
HEZEKIAH TRIEDIsaiah 39:8. Then said Hezekiah, &c.In the narrative connected with the text we find much in Hezekiah to be avoided and much worthy of imitation.I. We find Hezekiah in great affliction. He had recently escaped from great public and national calamity; he is speedily involved in private and personal suffering (Isaiah 38:1). “He was sick,” and Isaiah was sent to prepare him for death. He was greatly alarmed at the approach of death (Isaiah 38:9-14). How different from St. Paul... read more
Chapter 39At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he heard that he had been sick, and that he had recovered ( Isaiah 39:1 ).Now here's another bad thing that came out of his recovery. The king of Babylon sent his son with a message of, "Glad you're well and all."Hezekiah was glad of them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house... read more
Isaiah 39:1 . Merodach-Baladan. He is called Berodach in 2 Kings 20:12; and being the son of Baladan, he joined his father’s name to his own. Merodach is the name of an idol, and Baladan the name of a country. Bel or Baal was also an idol. Isaiah 46:1. Daniel 5:1. Adan is found in 2 Kings 25:8, being the latter part of a general’s name. This prince is supposed to have been tributary to the Assyrians, and to have taken advantage of the destruction of their army, and of the death of... read more
Isaiah 39:1-8Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, King of Babylon, sent letters and a present to HezekiahMerodach-baladanMarduk-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 obedience to one whom he felt to be a disgrace to the ancient renown of his country.Lenormant, in his Anfangen der Cultur, has devoted a beautiful essay to him under the title, “A Babylonian... read more
Isaiah 39:2And Hezekiah was glad of themHezekiah’s great mistakeLook 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 the world.We want large quotation marks for “great powers”! This is the danger of all uncontrolled and unsanctified power, or position, or possibility of dominion: much would be more, more would... read more
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Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 39:1-8
Isaiah 36-39. This section has been extracted from 2 Kings 18:13 to 2 Kings 20:19, and the Song of Hezekiah has been added. For an exposition see the notes on 2 K.; here we have simply to deal with the Song of Hezekiah. Isaiah 38:10-Proverbs : . Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Imminent Death.— This is now generally regarded as a post-exilic psalm. Its absence in the parallel narratine in Kings is significant. Apparently it was inserted here by an editor who thought it suitable to Hezekiah’... read more