Good. Hezekiah's submission was like Eli's. Compare 1 Samuel 3:18 . 2 Kings 20:19 . Job 1:21 ; Job 2:10 , &c. For = Nevertheless. The Hebrew distinctive accent meyrka thus marks it. This chapter commences a new Prophecy (see App-82 ), and follows that in Isa 34:1-35 .Isaiah 34:10; Isaiah 34:10 read more
Here we have the conclusion of the historical section, relating Hezekiah's vanity in the display of his wealth to Merodach-Baladan's ambassadors, the Lord's rebuke through Isaiah, and the predictive prophecy that Babylon would be the power that would capture Jerusalem, loot the city, and deport the royal family to Babylon. The short chapter ends with the submissive resignation of Hezekiah to the fate of his beloved city and the personal rejoicing that he would not live to see the disastrous... read more
"Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon. Then said he, What have they seen in thy 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."It seems nearly incredible that Hezekiah should have been so naive as to have turned his palace wrong-side out to... read more
"Then said Isaiah unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of Jehovah of hosts: Behold the days are coming, when all that is in thy house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith Jehovah."As Rawlinson observed that, "Concerning the exact times and seasons, the prophets generally knew nothing. They were mouth-pieces to deliver the Divine will. They were not keen-witted politicians, forecasting results by the exercise of... read more
"And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, whom thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon."This is good news and bad news combined. The good news is that Hezekiah would not die childless as he had feared; but the bad news was the prophetic fate of his sons. The prospect of their being eunuchs in the place of the king of Babylon was indeed a terrible destination. Furthermore, Manasseh who would succeed him in the throne was indeed an... read more
"Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of Jehovah which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days."In 2 Chronicles 32:26, we learn that, "Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of Jehovah came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah." This information was also, in all probability, imparted to Hezekiah at the same time with the message here; and it was for this that Hezekiah... read more
CHAP. XXXIX. Merodach-baladan, sending to visit Hezekiah because of the wonder, hath notice of his treasures. Isaiah, understanding thereof, foretelleth the Babylonish captivity. Before Christ 714. read more
Isaiah 39:1. Merodach-baladan— Merodach was the name of an idol worshipped by the Babylonians, and Bel another; add these two idols, with the addition of אדן Adan or Adon, which signifies Lord, gave name to this king. Baladan is generally supposed to be the same person who is called Belesis or Belesus, and Nabonassarus; from whom the famous computation of time, called AEra Nabonassari, took its name. He is called, 2 Kings 20:12, Berodach-Baladan. One reason for his sending this embassy, as... read more
Isaiah 39:2. And Hezekiah was glad, &c.— This action of Hezekiah favoured of great weakness, as nothing more strongly excites the enmity of neighbouring states, than such an unseasonable display of riches: it favours of ostentation and vanity, both of them vices very unsuitable to that temper of mind, which his late cure, and the miracle that he had seen, should have wrought in him; and perhaps it favours something of impiety, since Hezekiah seems to have displayed his treasures as his own... read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 39:7
thy sons. Hezekiah had none as yet, and Jehovah's promise to David (2 Samuel 7:16 ) seemed in danger of failing. Manasseh was not born till the third of the fifteen added years. Hence his reference to this position in the "Songs of the Degrees". See Psalms 127:3-5 ; Psalms 127:3-5 and Psalms 128:0 (quoting in Isaiah 39:5-6 the words in Isaiah 39:8 ). Hezekiah did not marry till after this, and there may be a reference to his marriage to Hephzi-bah in Isaiah 62:4 , which serves as the basis of... read more