Isaiah 39

AT that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick and was recovered.

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 ointment, and the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.

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 countrey unto me, even from Babylon.

Then said he, What have they seen in thine 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.

Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts.

Behold, the days come that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon, nothing shall be left, says the LORD.

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

Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken: he said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days. The History contained in this Chapter is related in the same words, 2 Kings 20. 12, &c. only he who here is called Merodach is there called Berodach, merely by the change of one letter, which is very usual in the Hebrew Language, especially in proper Names, as Dimon is put for Dibon, Isa. 15. 9. and the same man is called Nebuchadnetsar, and Nebuchadretsar. This King is called Merodach from the Idol so called, Ier. 50. 2. and Baladan from his Fathers Name. But whether this man was an Assyrian or a Mede or a Babylonian it is not easy to determine nor worth while to enquire. But this is certain, that about this time there were Wars between the Assyrians, and the Babylonians, the issue whereof was, that the latter subdued the former.