Isaías 39
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Isaías 39
CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS For a good discussion of the possible dates that these emissaries came see Gleason Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, pp. 212-213.
Isaías 39:1-4
39:1 "Merodach-baladan" This was prince of Bit-Yakin, who controlled southern Babylon (721-710, 703-702 B.C.) and who rebelled against Assyria, twice. His empire is known as Old Babylon, while a later Babylonian empire is known as Neo-Babylon. Isaiah lived during this period of history (i.e. Assyrian dominance). SPECIAL TOPIC: KINGS OF NEO-BABYLON ▣ "king of Babylon, sent letters" Apparently this Babylonian king was looking for allies against Assyria and, unfortunately, Hezekiah's pride caused him to do a foolish thing (cf. Isa. 39:2) in revealing his wealth and resources to these Babylonian emissaries. He was possibly looking for a new political alliance. 39:2 NASB, NKJV "was pleased" NRSV, TEV, JPSOA, REB, NET "welcomed" "was delighted" "rejoiced" "glad" The MT has "rejoiced" (BDB 970, KB 1333, Qal IMPERFECT with waw), which is often used in an arrogant sense (cf. Job 31:29; Ps. 35:15,19,24; 38:16; Prov. 24:17; Ezek. 25:6; Micah 7:8). ▣ "There was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah did not show them" The VERB "show" (BDB 906, KB 1157) is a Hiphil PERFECT with waw. The king was really trying to show off. He must have personally accompanied them to all the civic and sacred sites (cf. Isa. 39:4). 39:3-4 Was Isaiah seeking information? I think it was a rhetorical question to jolt the king!
Isaías 39:5-8
39:5 This is a literary marker ("hear," BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal IMPERATIVE) for a divine message, obviously related to Hezekiah's rash act. 39:6 This verse is the prophecy of the coming Babylonian exiles under Nebuchadnezzar II (i.e. 605, 597, 586, 582 B.C.). It seems that the biblical thrust is not only Hezekiah's arrogance but also, the idolatry of his son, Manasseh (cf. 2 Kgs. 21:1-18) and the peoples' continuing unbelief and idolatry The real problem was Hezekiah's being tempted to trust a political alliance again, as he had Egypt earlier. One would think his answer to prayer in chapter 38 would have insulated him from this type of activity. 39:7 This verse is surprising, not because it is a true prophecy, but because Isaiah always believed in the inviolability of Jerusalem and the Davidic family (cf. 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17). Also note that the Babylon of Hezekiah's visitors is not the same Babylon that caused the four exiles (see Contextual Insights, B. of Isaiah 38). Much of Isaiah's poetry is ambiguous enough to relate to Assyria Babylon Neo-Babylon end-time events ▣ "will be taken away" This happened to King Jehoiachin (cf. 2 Kgs. 24:15). This entire context is repeated in 2 Kings 20. The UBS Text Project gives the 2 Kings passage the prominent place when discussing textual variants. ▣ "officials" The term (BDB 710) literally means "eunuchs," but it came to refer to high court officials (cf. Potiphar was married, Gen. 39:1). In this context the term must refer to a token symbol of Babylonian power a ward of the state 39:8 "The word of the Lord which you have spoken is good" This is a startling statement. It either means that Hezekiah realizes his pride was the source of God's just judgment and, therefore, is fair, or it may imply, as in Isa. 39:8b, that he is just glad that the judgment will not occur in his day. Some scholars have asserted that the reason for the king's happiness is that this means he will have a son.