A Gift From Babylon

Flattered by envoys from Babylon, Hezekiah shows them everything he owns. Isaiah brings our Father's word that all of it, and his sons, will end up in Babylon. Hezekiah calls the word good — because the loss falls after his lifetime. That answer is left standing without comment.

Chapter 39.

At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, having heard he had been sick and recovered. Hezekiah gladly received them and showed them his treasure house—the silver, gold, spices, fine oil, his whole armory, all in his storehouses. Nothing in his house or kingdom did Hezekiah not show them. Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and asked, "What did these men say, and where did they come from?" Hezekiah said, "From a distant land, from Babylon."

He asked, "What have they seen in your house?" Hezekiah answered, "They saw everything in my house. Nothing in my storehouses I didn't show them."

Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the Father of heaven's armies:

The days are coming when everything in your house, all your ancestors stored up to now, will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says our Father. Some of your own sons, your own offspring, will be taken to serve as officials in the palace of the king of Babylon."

Then Hezekiah told Isaiah, "The word of our Father you have spoken is good." For he thought, "There will be peace and security in my lifetime."