Isaiah 39:7. They shall be eunuchs, &c. The Hebrew word סריסים sarisim, rendered eunuchs, signifies great officers employed about the person of the sovereign; and, as eunuchs were generally invested with these offices, the word eunuch, and a great officer, became frequently synonymous terms in the East, though they convey perfectly different ideas in our language. See Parkhurst on the word סדס and Daniel 1:3; Daniel 1:21. read more
Isaiah 39:8. Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah— Hezekiah, convinced of his error, and perceiving that he had justly provoked the divine indignation, acknowledges his fault, and humbles himself greatly for his pride, as is recorded to his praise, 2 Chronicles 32:26. And these words afford us a strong proof of his humility; wherein he acknowledges the divine justice, and at the same time extols the great lenity and goodness of God, in sparing him, and delaying for a season that punishment which he... read more
CHAPTER 39 :-. HEZEKIAH'S ERROR IN THE DISPLAY OF HIS RICHES TO THE BABYLONIAN AMBASSADOR. read more
1. Merodach-baladan—For a hundred fifty years before the overthrow of Nineveh by Cyaxares the Mede, a succession of rulers, mostly viceroys of Assyria, ruled Babylon, from the time of Nabonassar, 747 B.C. That date is called "the Era of Nabonassar." Pul or Phallukha was then expelled, and a new dynasty set up at Nineveh, under Tiglath-pileser. Semiramis, Pul's wife, then retired to Babylon, with Nabonassar, her son, whose advent to the throne of Babylon, after the overthrow of the old line at... read more
2. glad—It was not the mere act, but the spirit of it, which provoked God ( :-), "Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him, for his heart was lifted up"; also compare 2 Chronicles 32:31. God "tries" His people at different times by different ways, bringing out "all that is in their heart," to show them its varied corruptions. Compare David in a similar case (2 Chronicles 32:31- :). precious things—rather, "the house of his (aromatic) spices"; from a Hebrew root, to... read more
3. What . . . whence—implying that any proposition coming from the idolatrous enemies of God, with whom Israel was forbidden to form alliance, should have been received with anything but gladness. Reliance on Babylon, rather than on God, was a similar sin to the previous reliance on Egypt ( :-). far country—implying that he had done nothing more than was proper in showing attention to strangers "from a far country." read more
4. All—a frank confession of his whole fault; the king submits his conduct to the scrutiny of a subject, because that subject was accredited by God. Contrast Asa (2 Chronicles 16:7-10). read more
5. Lord of hosts—who has all thy goods at His disposal. read more
6. days come—one hundred twenty years afterwards. This is the first intimation that the Jews would be carried to Babylon—the first designation of their place of punishment. The general prophecy of Moses (Leviticus 26:33; Deuteronomy 28:64); the more particular one of Ahijah in Jeroboam's time (Deuteronomy 28:64- :), "beyond the river"; and of Deuteronomy 28:64- :, "captivity beyond Damascus"; are now concentrated in this specific one as to "Babylon" (Deuteronomy 28:64- :). It was an exact... read more
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Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Isaiah 39:6
Isaiah 39:6. Behold, the days come— Whoever considers the state of things at this time, the small power the Assyrian had, and that their king was tributary to the king of Babylon, must acknowledge that this was a striking instance of the divine omniscience; and, when he finds that this prediction was verified, at the distance of 150 years after it was pronounced, he cannot desire a stronger instance of the divine authority and prophetical spirit wherewith Isaiah was endowed. See 2 Kings 24:13. read more