2 Kings 20:12-13 KJV

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:12-21

Hezekiah and the ambassadors. Friendly greetings are always welcome. They are especially so after a time of sickness. Hezekiah's illness, no doubt, called forth many expressions of sympathy, and, among the rest, a message and present from Merodach-Baladan King of Babylon. The ambassadors who bore the message and the present were very courteously received by Hezekiah. Unfortunately, he allowed himself to be unduly elated by the honor done to him by the heathen king. He showed the messengers... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 20:13

And Hezekiah hearkened unto them. Hezekiah was dazzled by the prospect that opened upon him. It was a grand thing that his fame should have reached so far as Babylon, a still grander thing to be offered such an alliance. It must be remembered that he and his counselors were inclined from the first to meet Assyrian menace by calling in foreign aid ( 2 Kings 18:21-24 ; Isaiah 20:6 ; Isaiah 30:2-7 ; Isaiah 36:6 ). He had not yet accepted the view of Isaiah, that human aid was vain, and... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 20:12

Berodach-baladan - The correct form of this name, Merodach-baladan, is given in Isaiah Isaiah 39:1. It is a name composed of three elements, Merodach, the well-known Babylonian god Jeremiah 50:2, but (pal) “a son;” and iddin, or iddina, “has given;” or Baladan may be a form of Beliddin. This king of Babylon is mentioned frequently in the Assyrian inscriptions, and he was not unknown to the Greeks. He had two reigns in Babylon. First of all, he seized the throne in the same year in which Sargon... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 20:13

Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them - The Jewish king lent a favorable ear to the proposals of the ambassadors, and exhibited to them the resources which he possessed, in order to induce them to report well of him to their master.All the house of his precious things - literally, the “spice-house;” the phrase had acquired the more generic sense of “treasure-house” from the fact that the gold, the silver, and the spices were all stored together. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 20:12

2 Kings 20:12. Berodach-baladan He seems to have been the king of Assyria’s viceroy in Babylon; and, upon the terrible slaughter in the Assyrian host, and the death of Sennacherib, and the differences among his sons, to have usurped absolute sovereignty over Babylon: and either himself or his son destroyed the Assyrian monarchy, and translated the empire to Babylon. Sent letters and a present to Hezekiah Congratulating him on his happy restoration to health, and assuring him of his esteem... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 2 Kings 20:13

2 Kings 20:13. Hezekiah hearkened unto them, &c. He was so pleased, or rather, transported with joy, at the honour the king of Babylon had done him, that he not only gave his ambassadors a gracious audience, and granted them a league and amity, but ordered his officers to show them all the rarities and precious things which he had in his treasures, with his spices, costly ointments, and the house of his armour For though his country had been lamentably harassed and plundered by the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 20:1-21

Warning concerning Babylon (20:1-21)It seems that the events recorded in 20:1-19 occurred before those recorded in 18:13-19:37. Hezekiah was about to die, but, in answer to his prayer, God promised to extend his life. This was for the purpose of bringing Judah through the time of conflict with Assyria that has just been described (20:1-7). God gave Hezekiah a miraculous sign to prove that he would do what he had promised (8-11).At this time Babylon was increasing in power and was looking for... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Kings 20:12

Berodaeh. Some codices, with Septuagint and Syriac, read "Merodach". Compare Isaiah 39:1 . king of Babylon. First occurrence of this title. Babylon and Nineveh the two great cities competing henceforward for supremacy in Assyria. Finally settled by Nabopolassar and his son Nebuchadnezzar, "the head of gold" (Daniel 2:37 , Daniel 2:38 ). sent letters and a present. These did what the king of Assyria and the king of terrors could not do. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 2 Kings 20:13

hearkened. He did not pray as in 2 Kings 20:2 , or as in 2 Kings 19:15 . See the notes and Isaiah 39:2 , "was glad". all. Some codices, with Syriac and Vulgate, omit this "all". his. The depletion of 2 Kings 18:15 , 2 Kings 18:16 was not of "his" house, but of the house of Jehovah as well as "the king's house". and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ) emphasizing each item. all the house of his armour = all his armoury. treasures = treasuries. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 2 Kings 20:12

12-19. Berodach-baladan— ( :-), the first king of Babylon mentioned in sacred history; formerly its rulers were viceroys of the Assyrian monarchs. This individual threw off the yoke, and asserting his independence, made with varying success, a long and obstinate resistance [RAWLINSON, Outlines]. The message of congratulation to Hezekiah, was, in all likelihood, accompanied with proposals for a defensive alliance against their common Assyrian enemy. The king of Judah, flattered with this honor,... read more