Isaiah 39

The king of Babylon sending ambassadors to congratulate Hezekiah’s recovery, the king received them with great kindness, and with some degree of vanity shewed them • all his treasures and rarities: to reprove this piece of pride, Isaiah by God’s direction acquaints him, that the time will come when all these boasted riches shall bo carried to Babylon, and even the heirs of the royal family should be treated as slaves and captives therel This history is inserted here as a proper introduction to the succeeding prophecies, many of which relate to the Babylonian captivity, and the return of the Jews from thence. Here begins a new section of this prophecy, as was observed at the beginning of the book; wherein the prophet

Isaiah 39:1

JjLT that time Merodach-Baladan, the son ofBaladan. Merodach was the name of an idol worshipped by the Babylonians, and Baal or Bel was another. (See Jer. 1.2.) And these two idols, with the addition of Adan, or Adon, which signifies lord, gave a name to this king of Babylon. Jt was usual for the Babylonian kings to take their names from the idols they worshipped. Thus we find one of their kings was called Evil-Mcrodaeh, (2 Kings xxv. 27.) Neho was another idol of the Babylonians (see xlvi. 1. of this prophecy); from w T hence Nabonassar, Nebuchadnezzar, and several other kings of Babylon, took their names. And Daniel had the name of Belteshazzar given him, according to the name of my god, saith Nebuchadnezzar, Dan. iv. 8. This king is here called the soji ofBaladan; which Baladan Archbishop Usher’supposes to be thesame person who is called in profane authors Belesis, or Belesus, and Nabonassarus, from whence the famous computation of time called JEra Nabonassari took its name. (See Annales Vet. Test, ad A. M. 3257.) Sent letters and a present to Hezekiah.] As many other princes did. (See 2 Chron. xxxii. 23.) One reason of sending this embassy was, to satisfy himself about the prodigy of the sun’s going backward upon the king’s recovery. (Ibid. ver. 31.) The Babylonians were famous for the study of astronomy, which made their king the more inquisitive about so extraordinary a phenomenon.

Isaiah 39:2

The precious ointment. The balsam that grew near Jericho was reckoned the very best of that/kind. (See Josephus, Antiq. lib. iv. cap. 6. and de Bello Judaic, lib. v. cap. 4.)

Isaiah 39:3

They are come from a far country to me, even from Babylon. See the note on v. 2C.

Isaiah 39:4

There is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. This he did in the pride of his heart, as w r e read, 2 Chron. xxxii. 26. 31. which occasioned the prophet to denounce the following judgment.

Isaiah 39:7

And of thy sons that sliall issue from thee — they shall take away, &c. Even some of thy posterity and of the royal family, shall they put into servile offices in the king of Babylon’s court. (See this fulfilled in Daniel and his companions, Dan. i. 3, &c.)

Isaiah 39:8

Tlien said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken. The expression denotes the king’s submitting to, and acquiescing in, God’s decree. (Compare 1 Kings ii. 38.) For there shall be peace and truth in my days.] The king thought it a great favour, that God would delay that punishment which he might have inflicted presently, and prolong the tranquillity of his kingdom for some time. (See 2 Chron. xxxii. 26.)..CHAP. XL.