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Isaiah Chapter 39 (ASV)

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Isaiah Chapter 39 - Hezekiah Shows His Treasures to Babylon
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1 At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah; for he heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.

2 And Hezekiah was glad of them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious oil, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.

3 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon.

4 Then said he, What have they seen in thy house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in my 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 Jehovah of hosts:

6 Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in thy house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith Jehovah.

7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, whom thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

8 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of Jehovah which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's Isaiah chapter 39 about?
After his recovery, Hezekiah proudly shows Babylonian envoys all his treasures and armory (v1-2); Isaiah then warns that everything shown to them - and even some of Hezekiah's own descendants - will one day be carried off to Babylon (v5-7).
What does Hezekiah's response in verse 8, 'there shall be peace and truth in my days,' reveal?
It's a somewhat self-focused reaction to a prophecy of future disaster, a disaster later fulfilled when Babylon actually carried off the temple's treasures, as recorded in 2 Kings 25:13-15.
Why does Isaiah rebuke Hezekiah in this chapter?
Because Hezekiah revealed the full extent of his kingdom's wealth to foreign visitors from Babylon (v2, 4) - the same nation Isaiah then says will eventually plunder that wealth (v6).

Today's Verse

For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do that which is evil in the sight of Jehovah, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.

Deuteronomy 31:29 | ASV

Verse Of The Day

Isaiah confronts him afterward, prophesying that everything Hezekiah displayed, along with his own sons, will one day be carried off to Babylon, a warning that later plays out as told in 2 Kings 25:13-15. The book's tone shifts to comfort in Isaiah 40.