The Book of the Prophet Isaiah
Isaiah 39
Chapter XXXIX · Vol. III, p. 1193
1 Merodach-baladan, sending to visit Hezekiah because of the wonder, hath notice of his treasures. 3 Isaiah, hearing thereof, foretelleth the Babylonian captivity.
1 At thata time Merodach-baladan,1 the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.
B.C. cir. 710.
a 2 Ki.20.12, &c. 2 Ch.32.23,31. 2 Co.12.7.
1 Merodach, in the Syriac, signifies 'little lord,' and was the name of one of the Chaldean idols. Baladan may be rendered 'son of death.'—C.
2 And Hezekiah was bglad of them,2 and showed them the house of his cprecious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his 3armour,4 and all that was found in his treasures: there was dnothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.
b 2 Ch.32.25,31. Pr.4.23. Je.17.9.
2 That Hezekiah was somehow in fault, the language of Isaiah (ver. 3, 4) seems decidedly to testify. It is not easy, however, to determine precisely wherein his fault lay. But, most probably the error lay in his good-natured desire to please the Babylonians, rather than to instruct the heathens; and in his greater alacrity to exhibit the temporal, rather than the spiritual, riches of his kingdom.—C.
c Or, spicery, Ge.37.25; 43.11.
3 Or, jewels.
4 Heb. vessels or instruments.
3 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, eWhat said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from ga far country unto me, even from Babylon.
4 Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, hAll that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them.
5 Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts:
6 Behold, the days come, ithat all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.
i Je.20.5. 2 Ki. xxiv. xxv. 2 Ch.33.11; xxxvi. Je. xxxix. lii. Da.1.2, with Le.26.33,34. De.4.27; 14.1,2.
7 And jof thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
A.M. cir. 3294. B.C. cir. 710.
j 2 Ki.24.10; 25.1. Da.1.2-7.
8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, kGood5 is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be lpeace and truth in my days.6
* He does not mean that the evil predicted against his family and kingdom was good in itself; but that it was good in its judicial origin—the sentence of a wise, just, and merciful God, He.12.6;—good in its object to 'rebuke and chasten,' Re.3.19;—and good in its end, 'the peaceable fruits of righteousness,' He.12.11.—C.
k Le.10.3. 1 Sa.3.18. 2 Sa.15.26. La.3.22. Job 1.21. Ps.39.9. 2 Ch.32.26.
5 See note * in first column.
l Zec.8.16,19. Ro.15.5. He.12.14. ch.33.6.
6 This was not a selfish satisfaction that he should escape and others suffer; but a grateful acknowledgment for the mercy that stayed so long the sentence of judgment.—C.
Notes
Reflections.—It highly becomes us to rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep; and to honour them whom God delights to honour. They are often courted in prosperity who were contemned in adversity. Even men who hate God will caress his people on secular accounts; but often their kisses are deceitful. It is hard to be duly humble amidst great providential advancements. But to be fond of carnal respect marks very great weakness. And an intimacy or connection with the wicked usually proves a fearful plague in the issue. In showing to our friends what we are or have, pride is ready to start up, and we forget God the giver.—Ministers ought always to be plain, impartial, and faithful in their rebukes. And if God love us, he will find means to pull down our proud spirits, if not to take from us the things of which we are proud. Let me then never be fond of that which in the end may turn out vanity and vexation of spirit! Let me evidence the truth of my repentance by a cordial reception of faithful reproof, and a kindly submission to the chastisements of Providence. Let me reckon every moment's reprieve from hell or trouble a great mercy; and especially if God avert the storms of his judgment till I be entered into my eternal rest.