_Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, King of Babylon, sent letters
and a present to Hezekiah_
MERODACH-BALADAN
Marduk-apal-iddina, son of Yakin, is the Chaldean ruler who more than
any other vassal embittered the life of the Assyrian suzerain, because
as a rival suzerain he was always renouncing... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Hezekiah was glad of them_
HEZEKIAH’S GREAT MISTAKE
Look at Hezekiah; as he takes the men round he says in effect, What an
ally I would make if Babylon should ever be in trouble! Or, What an
opponent I would make if ever Babylon should be insolent! Or, You see
I am one of the great powers of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then came Isaiah the prophet unto King Hezekiah_
THE PROPHET HIGHER THAN THE KING
It is well to have Isaiahs in society, for Hezekiahs could never keep
it together.
This is the tone we want. The prophet should be higher than the king.
The Christian teacher should stand upon the topmost place. (_... [ Continue Reading ]
_What have they seen in thine house?_
THE DISCIPLE AT HOME
1. The parties of whom the prophets inquired, “What have they
seen?” were Babylonians. Foreigners, aliens from the commonwealth of
Israel, ignorant of the true God, and, therefore, parties before whom
it was specially important to exhibit... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hear the word of the Lord of hosts_
ISAIAH’S PROPHECY OF THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY
Jarchi directs attention to the exact correspondence of the punishment
with the offence.
As the Babylonians had seen all, they should one day take all; as
nothing had been withheld from them now, so nothing should... [ Continue Reading ]
_Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken._
“Good” The word “good” is here used, neither in the sense of
“gracious” nor in that of “just” exclusively, but in that of
“right” as comprehending both. (_J. A. Alexander._)
HEZEKIAH’S ACCEPTANCE OF HIS PUNISHMENT
Hezekiah’s reply expressed ne... [ Continue Reading ]