Isaiah 39:1 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 39:1-4

Hence we may learn these lessons:?1. That humanity and common civility teach us to rejoice with our friends and neighbours when they rejoice, and to congratulate them on their deliverances, and particularly their recoveries from sickness. The king of Babylon, having heard that Hezekiah had been sick, and had recovered, sent to compliment him upon the occasion. If Christians be unneighbourly, heathens will shame them. 2. It becomes us to give honour to those whom our God puts honour upon. The... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 39:1

At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon ,.... The same is called Berodach, 2 Kings 20:12 which, according to Hillerus F26 Onomast. Sacr. p, 603. , is the same with Barmerodach, the son of Merodach; though it is generally took to be a slip of the scribe's there, or a change of letter, as is common in names; he was either afterwards made a god of, or he had his name from an idol of the Babylonians so called, Jeremiah 50:1 , which signifies "a pure lord."... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 39:1

At that time Merodach-baladan - This name is variously written in the MSS. Berodach, Medorach, Medarech, and Medurach. "And ambassadors" - The Septuagint add here και πρεσβεις ; that is, ומלאכים umalachim . and ambassadors; which word seems to be necessary to the sense, though omitted in the Hebrew text both here and in the other copy, 2 Kings 20:12 . For the subsequent narration refers to them all along, "these men, whence came they?" etc.; plainly supposing them to have been... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 39:1

At that time . The embassy probably followed the illness of Hezekiah within a year. Merodach-Baladan . This is a more correct form than the "Berodach-Baladan" of 2 Kings 20:12 . The name is one common to several Babylonian kings, as to one who reigned about b.c. 1325, to a second who is placed about b.c. 900, and to a third who was contemporary with the Assyrian kings Sargon and Sennacherib. It is this last of whom we have a notice in the present passage. He appears first in the Assyrian... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 39:1

Friendship that serves its own ends. A kind of friendship only too common. Illustrated in the motto of a successful Birmingham tradesman, "Friendly with all, thick with none? Which in full means, "Friendly with all, that I may get all! can out of everybody; thick with none, lest anybody should get anything out of me." This is surely the meanest of mottoes ever set for the toning of a life. But Merodach-Baladan's offered friendship with Hezekiah was much of the same kind. The only question... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 39:1-8

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 39:1-8

The dangers of prosperity. I. THE OSTENTATION OF HEZEKIAH . The Chronicler passes a censure upon him. After his recovery he "rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore was there wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem" ( 2 Chronicles 32:25 ). He gives a picture of his treasuries, and store-houses, his cities, his flocks and herds. An embassy comes from Babylon, partly to congratulate him on his recovery, partly to inquire... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 39:1-8

Complacency, rebuke, and acquiescence. We may gather the preliminary truth that we need to look well before we decide on the character of Divine decisions and of human actions. Otherwise we shall certainly fall into serious mistakes. 1 . It would be a mistake to assume that the calamities here foretold were consequent on Hezekiah's fault. So, at first sight, they might appear to be; but we may be quite sure that they were not. For in other places these national disasters are referred,... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 39:1

At that time - That is, soon after his recovery; or after he had amassed great wealth, and was surrounded with the evidences of prosperity 2 Chronicles 32:27-31.Merodach-baladan, the son of Balddan, king of Babylon - In the parallel place in 2 Kings 20:12, this name is written Berodach-baladan, by a change of a single letter. Probably the name was written and pronounced both ways. Merodach was an idol of the Babylonians Jeremiah 50:2 : ‘Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 39:1-8

Warning concerning Babylon (39:1-8)At this time Babylon was increasing in power and was looking for allies to help it resist Assyria. Hezekiah’s illness gave the Babylonian king an excuse to send representatives to Jerusalem with the aim of encouraging Hezekiah to join with Babylon against Assyria. Hezekiah’s faith, which had been strengthened through his miraculous recovery from death, soon weakened. He could not resist the temptation of yet another anti-Assyrian alliance. He was proud of the... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 39:1-4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 39:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 39:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 39:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 39:1

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 39:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 39:1-8

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 39:1-8

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 39:1

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 39:1-8

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