At that time Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon,
and formerly one of the Assyrian viceroys, SENT LETTERS AND A PRESENT
TO HEZEKIAH, FOR HE HAD HEARD THAT HE had BEEN SICK AND WAS RECOVERED.
He was by no means prompted by friendliness in sending this embassy,
but was guided by poli... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BABYLONIAN EMBASSY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.
Encouraged by the reverses which the Assyrian forces suffered in
Syria, one of the viceroys of Babylon, the Chaldean Merodach-baladan,
made himself, for a number of years, independent of the Assyrian power
and attained to a position of some influence in... [ Continue Reading ]
And Hezekiah, flattered by the attention shown him by this mighty
power, WAS GLAD OF THEM, pleased by their visit, AND SHOWED THEM THE
HOUSE OF HIS PRECIOUS THINGS, where he stored all the highest
valuables which he had acquired in the course of his reign, THE
SILVER, AND THE GOLD, AND THE SPICES, v... [ Continue Reading ]
Then came Isaiah, the prophet, acting in his usual capacity as God's
messenger, UNTO KING HEZEKIAH AND SAID UNTO HIM, WHAT SAID THESE MEN,
AND FROM WHENCE CAME THEY UNTO THEE? The very presence of these
ambassadors and the reception they received at the hands of Hezekiah
proved that the king of Juda... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said he, Isaiah, again speaking by the command of the Lord, WHAT
HAVE THEY SEEN IN THINE HOUSE? AND HEZEKIAH ANSWERED, ALL THAT IS IN
MINE HOUSE HAVE THEY SEEN; THERE IS NOTHING AMONG MY TREASURES THAT I
HAVE NOT SHOWED THEM. The king here made an open confession of his
folly, submitting to the... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord of hosts, the
almighty Commander and Ruler of all men and all things:... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, the days come that all that Is in thine house, all the
material riches which he had amassed, of which he had shown himself so
proud and vain, at least in a measure, AND THAT WHICH THY FATHERS HAVE
LAID UP IN STORE UNTIL THIS DAY, everything that had escaped being
paid as tribute, ESPECIALLY... [ Continue Reading ]
And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget,
his direct descendants, SHALL THEY TAKE AWAY, this being true even of
his son Manasseh, but particularly of the last kings of his line; AND
THEY SHALL BE EUNUCHS, court officers, chamberlains, in the palace of
the king of Babylon. C... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the Lord which thou
hast spoken. He readily bowed to the decree of the Lord, as pronounced
upon him. HE SAID MOREOVER, FOR THERE SHALL BE PEACE AND TRUTH IN MY
DAYS, that is, for the rest of his reign, at least, Judah would not be
harassed by the ene... [ Continue Reading ]