Topical Encyclopedia The event involving the ambassadors of Babylon sent to King Hezekiah is a significant episode recorded in the Old Testament, highlighting the interactions between the Kingdom of Judah and the rising power of Babylon. This incident is documented in 2 Kings 20:12-19 and Isaiah 39:1-8.Historical Context During the reign of Hezekiah, king of Judah, Babylon was emerging as a formidable power under the rule of Merodach-baladan, also known as Berodach-baladan in some translations. This period was marked by political maneuvering as Babylon sought to assert its influence against the dominant Assyrian Empire. Hezekiah, known for his religious reforms and reliance on God, had recently experienced a miraculous recovery from a life-threatening illness, as well as a divine sign involving the sun's shadow (2 Kings 20:8-11). The Visit of the Ambassadors The account begins with the arrival of envoys from Babylon, sent by King Merodach-baladan. The purpose of their visit was ostensibly to congratulate Hezekiah on his recovery and to inquire about the miraculous sign he had received. The Berean Standard Bible records this in 2 Kings 20:12: "At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard about Hezekiah’s illness." Hezekiah, flattered by the attention from such a distant and powerful kingdom, welcomed the ambassadors warmly. In a display of pride and perhaps political naivety, he showed them all the treasures of his house, including silver, gold, spices, and precious oils, as well as his entire armory. The text in 2 Kings 20:13 states, "And Hezekiah welcomed the envoys and showed them all that was in his treasure house—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, as well as his armory and everything that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them." Prophetic Rebuke and Consequences The prophet Isaiah soon confronted Hezekiah regarding his actions. Isaiah questioned the king about the visitors and what they had seen. Hezekiah admitted to showing them everything in his kingdom. Isaiah then delivered a sobering prophecy: all the treasures of Judah, along with some of Hezekiah's descendants, would one day be carried off to Babylon. This prophecy is recorded in 2 Kings 20:16-18: "Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, 'Hear the word of the LORD: Behold, the days are coming when everything in your house, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.'" Hezekiah's response, as recorded in 2 Kings 20:19, reflects a resigned acceptance of the prophecy, acknowledging the word of the LORD as good, while also expressing relief that peace and security would prevail during his lifetime. Theological Implications This episode serves as a cautionary tale about pride and the potential consequences of failing to seek God's guidance in political and personal matters. Hezekiah's actions, though seemingly innocuous, revealed a vulnerability that would later contribute to Judah's downfall. The visit of the Babylonian ambassadors foreshadowed the eventual Babylonian exile, a pivotal event in Israel's history that underscored the importance of faithfulness to God and reliance on His wisdom rather than human alliances. Torrey's Topical Textbook 2 Kings 20:12At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library The Ambassadors from Babylon How Hezekiah was Sick, and Ready to Die; and How God Bestowed Upon ... Book 9 Footnotes Temporal Advantages. Babylonia and Assyria The Old Testament and Archeology Book 1. The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal The Nations of the South-East Sargon of Assyria (722-705 BC ) Resources Who was Belshazzar? | GotQuestions.orgWho was King Jehoiachin in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Who were the Chaldeans in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Babylon: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Babylon was Called: Desert of the Sea Babylon was Called: Lady of Kingdoms Babylon was Called: Land of Merathaim Babylon was Called: Land of Shinar Babylon was Called: Land of the Chaldeans Babylon with Media and Persia Divided by Darius 120 Provinces Babylon: Ambassadors of, Sent to Hezekiah Babylon: As a Power Was: An Instrument of God's Vengeance on Other Nations Babylon: As a Power Was: Arrogant Babylon: As a Power Was: Covetous Babylon: As a Power Was: Cruel and Destructive Babylon: As a Power Was: Grand and Stately Babylon: As a Power Was: Oppressive Babylon: As a Power Was: Secure and Self-Confident Babylon: Babylon the Capital of Called Babylon the Great Babylon: Babylon the Capital of Called Beauty of Chaldees Babylon: Babylon the Capital of Called the City of Merchants Babylon: Babylon the Capital of Called the Glory of Kingdoms Babylon: Babylon the Capital of Called the Golden City Babylon: Babylon the Capital of Enlarged by Nebuchadnezzar Babylon: Babylon the Capital of Its Antiquity Babylon: Babylon the Capital of Surrounded With a Great Wall and Fortified Babylon: Babylon the Chief Province of Babylon: City of Built by Nimrod Babylon: City of Capital of the Kingdom of Babylon Babylon: City of in the Land of Shinar Babylon: City of Peter Writes From Babylon: City of Prophecies Concerning Babylon: Composed of Many Nations Babylon: Destroyed by the Medes Babylon: Empire of a Limited Monarchy Babylon: Empire of Armies of, Invade Ancient Canaan Babylon: Empire of At the Time of Ahasuerus Babylon: Empire of Called Land of Shinar Babylon: Empire of Colonists From, Sent to Samaria Babylon: Empire of Conquest of Egypt By Babylon: Empire of Divisions of Babylon: Empire of Extent of, at the Time of Nebuchadnezzar Babylon: Empire of Founded by Nimrod Babylon: Empire of Jews Carried To Babylon: Empire of Prophecies of Conquests By Babylon: Empire of Prophetic Denunciations Against Babylon: Formerly a Part of Mesopotamia Babylon: Founded by the Assyrians, and a Part of Their Empire Babylon: Inhabitants of Addicted to Magic Babylon: Inhabitants of Idolatrous Babylon: Inhabitants of Profane and Sacrilegious Babylon: Inhabitants of Wicked Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar King of Besieged and Took Jerusalem Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar King of Besieged Jerusalem Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar King of Burned Jerusalem Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar King of Made Jehoiakim Tributary Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar King of Made Zedekiah King Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar King of Rebelled Against by Zedekiah Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar King of Spoiled and Burned the Temple Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar King of Spoiled the Temple Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar King of Took Jehoiachin Captive to Babylon Babylon: Nebuchadnezzar King of Took Zedekiah Captive to Babylon Babylon: Predictions Respecting: Captivity of the Jews By Babylon: Predictions Respecting: Conquests By Babylon: Predictions Respecting: Destruction of Babylon: Predictions Respecting: Perpetual Desolation of Babylon: Predictions Respecting: Preaching of the Gospel In Babylon: Predictions Respecting: Restoration of the Jews From Babylon: Presidents Placed Over Babylon: Remarkable For: Antiquity Babylon: Remarkable For: Commerce Babylon: Remarkable For: Manufacture of Garments Babylon: Remarkable For: Military Power Babylon: Remarkable For: National Greatness Babylon: Remarkable For: Naval Power Babylon: Remarkable For: Wealth Babylon: Remarkable For: Wisdom of Senators Babylon: Represented by a Great Eagle Babylon: Represented by a Head of Gold Babylon: Represented by a Lion With Eagle's Wings Babylon: Restoration of the Jews From Babylon: Revolt of the Jews From, and Their Punishment Illustrated Babylon: Situated Beyond the Euphrates Babylon: The Gospel Preached In Babylon: The Jews Exhorted to be Subject To, and Settle In Babylon: Treatment of the Jews In Babylon: Watered by the Rivers Euphrates and Tigris Related Terms Merodach-baladan (2 Occurrences) |
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