Hezekiah shows his treasures to Babylon's envoys
2 Kings 20:12–19; Isaiah 39; 2 Chronicles 32:31
When envoys from Merodach-baladan of Babylon came to congratulate him, Hezekiah proudly showed them all his treasures; Isaiah foretold that everything would one day be carried off to Babylon.
‘Behold, the days come that all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have laid up in store to this day, will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says Yahweh.
2 Kings 20:17 (World English Bible)
At the time Babylon was a small kingdom resisting Assyria, and it must have seemed an unlikely threat. More than a century later, Isaiah's words came true. Chronicles says God left Hezekiah to himself here to test what was in his heart.
Places
Ancient witnesses outside the Bible
Historical sources, not Scripture.
- Antiquities 10.2.2 — Berosus names Baladan, king of Babylon
Dating notes
Soon after Hezekiah's recovery; the date shown is an estimate. Merodach-baladan (Marduk-apla-iddina II) is well known from Assyrian records.