Isaiah 39:8

Hezekiah’s thoughts show the less pleasant part of his character. He has been foolish. And his family will suffer greatly because of his actions. But Hezekiah does not seem to care. He prayed about his own troubles. But he is not praying that God will save his family from these terrible troubles. Instead, he just says, ‘Whatever the *Lord says must be good.’ So Hezekiah is only thinking about himself.

Jerusalem ~ at the time of David and Solomon, capital of the country called Israel. During the time of Isaiah, Jerusalem was the capital of the country called Judah.
spice ~ part of a plant with sweet or strong smells; it is useful to give flavour to food.
prophet ~ a person who speaks on behalf of God.
Lord ~ God’s name in the Bible. In the original language, God’s name ‘Lord’ means ‘head over all’ and ‘God always’.
Babylonian ~ a person from the country called Babylon; or anything that has a relationship with the country called Babylon.
seize ~ to take a person’s possessions away from that person, either by law, or in a war. Or, to overcome a city or nation in order to rule it. Or, to take a person as a prisoner or a slave.
Assyrian ~ a person from the country called Assyria; or anything that has a relationship with the country called Assyria.
empire ~ a group of many countries that a powerful king has seized.
seize ~ to take a person’s possessions away from that person, either by law, or in a war. Or, to overcome a city or nation in order to rule it. Or, to take a person as a prisoner or a slave.