Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Isaiah 39:2
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 all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.
2. And Hezekiah was glad of them ] Not only was his vanity flattered, but the arrival of the envoys fell in with political projects to which he was even then too ready to lend his ear. The reading is decidedly preferable to the flat and meaningless “heard of them” in 2Ki 20:13 (not LXX.).
the house of his precious things ] R.V. marg. has “house of his spicery,” identifying the word with one found in Gen 37:25; Gen 43:11. But this rendering has only an apparent justification in the “spices” mentioned below. The right meaning is given by the Targ. and Peshito: treasure-house. According to the younger Delitzsch it is the Assyrian bit nakanti. It is obvious that Hezekiah’s treasury was still full, which could not have been the case after the ruinous fine exacted by Sennacherib (2Ki 18:14-16).
the spices, and the precious ointment ] the spices and the fine oil. (Cf. 2Ch 32:27.) These natural products of the land were probably stored for commerce and are mentioned as a source of wealth.
the house of his armour ] better: his armoury. It is probably the same as the “house of the forest (of Lebanon)” in ch. Isa 22:8.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And Hezekiah was glad of them – Possibly he regarded himself as flattered by an embassage from so great a distance, and so celebrated a place as Babylon. It is certain that he erred in some way in regard to the manner in which he received them, and especially in the ostentatious display which he made of his treasures 2Ch 32:31.
And showed them the house of his precious things – The Septuagint renders this, Nechotha – The house of Nechotha, retaining the Hebrew word. The Margin, Spicery. The Hebrew word ( nekotoh) properly means, according to Gesenius, a contusion, a breaking to pieces; hence, aromatic powder, or spices reduced to powder, and then any kind of aromatics. Hence, the word here may mean the house of his spices, as Aquila, Symmachus, and the Vulgate translate it; or a treasury, a storehouse, as the Chaldee and the Syriac here render it. It was undoubtedly a treasure or store house; but it may have taken its name from the fact, that it was mainly employed as a place in which to keep spices, unguents, and the various kinds of aromatics which were used either in public worship, or for the purposes of luxury.
The silver and the gold – Possibly Hezekiah may have obtained no small quantity of silver and gold from what was left in the camp of the Assyrians. It is certain that after he was delivered from danger he was signally prospered, and became one of the most wealthy and magnificent monarchs of the east; 2Ch 32:27-28 : And Hezekiah had exceeding much riches and honor; and he made himself treasuries for silver and for gold, and for precious stones, and for spices, and for shields, and for all manner of pleasant jewels; storehouses also for the increase of grain, and wine, and oil; and stalls for all manner of beasts, and cotes for flocks. A considerable part of this wealth arose from presents which were made to him, and from gifts which were made for the service of the temple 2Ch 32:23.
And the precious ointment – Used for anointing kings and priests. Or more probably the ointment here referred to was that which was in more common use, to anoint the body after bathing, or when they were to appear in public.
And all the house of his armor – Margin, Vessels, or instruments, or jewels. The word kely denotes any article of furniture, utensil, or vessel; any trapping, instrument, or tool; and any implement of war, weapon, or arms. Probably it here refers to the latter, and denotes shields, swords, spears, such as were used in war, and such as Hezekiah had prepared for defense. The phrase is equivalent to our word arsenal (compare 2Ch 32:27). Solomon had an extensive arsenal of this description 1Ki 10:16-17, and it is probable that these were regarded as a part of the necessary defense of the kingdom.
Nor in all his dominion – Everything that contributed to the defense, the wealth, or the magnificence of his kingdom he showed to them. The purpose for which Hezekiah thus showed them all that he had, was evidently display. In 2Ch 32:25, it is stated that Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him, for his heart was lifted up; and in 2Ch 32:31, it is said, that in regard to this transaction, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart. The result showed how much God hates pride, and how certainly he will punish all forms of ostentation.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Isa 39:2
And Hezekiah was glad of them
Hezekiahs great mistake
Look at Hezekiah; as he takes the men round he says in effect, What an ally I would make if Babylon should ever be in trouble! Or, What an opponent I would make if ever Babylon should be insolent! Or, You see I am one of the great powers of the world.
We want large quotation marks for great powers! This is the danger of all uncontrolled and unsanctified power, or position, or possibility of dominion: much would be more, more would be most, and most would explode because of its own dissatisfaction. (J. Parker, D. D.)
Character superior to material good
Was this all Hezekiah had to show? There is nothing in it then. All these things can be stolen. A half-educated thief could take away the silver and the gold; a very young felon could take away the spices and the precious ointment; a man with very poor resources could carry off the armour. Hezekiah laid up his riches where thieves could break through and steal. Ah me, how like us all this is! What should he have shown to the men from Babylon? What we ought to show to every inquirer into our method of life–individual, domestic, municipal, and national: he should have shown them character, high citizenship, large education, self-control developed to its highest point of discipline,–these are things which no king of Babylon can take away. (J. Parker, D. D.)
A misimproved opportunity
What a missionary Hezekiah might have been! How he would have astounded the Babylonian delegates had he said to them: I receive you with respect, courtesy, and thankfulness, but I must tell you of this miracle; come within, and you shall hear how it was, how it began, continued, culminated; this will be something for you to tell when you go home again. In this way every man might create a home missionary field for himself. Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what He hath done for my soul. (J. Parker, D. D.)
A city to plunder
The Babylonian ambassadors had probably somewhat of the feeling which led Blucher to say, as he walked through the streets of London, Himmel! what a city to plunder! (E. H. Plumptre, D. D.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
2. gladIt was not the mereact, but the spirit of it, which provoked God (2Ch32:25), “Hezekiah rendered not again according to thebenefit done unto him, for his heart was lifted up“; alsocompare 2Ch 32:31. God “tries”His people at different times by different ways, bringing out “allthat is in their heart,” to show them its varied corruptions.Compare David in a similar case (1Ch21:1-8).
precious thingsrather,”the house of his (aromatic) spices”; from a Hebrewroot, to “break to pieces,” as is done to aromatics.
silver . . . goldpartlyobtained from the Assyrian camp (Isa33:4); partly from presents (2Ch 32:23;2Ch 32:27-29).
precious ointmentusedfor anointing kings and priests.
armouror else vesselsin general; the parallel passage (2Ch32:27), “treasuries . . . for shields,” favorsEnglish Version. His arsenal.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Hezekiah was glad of them,…. Not of the presents, for he was very rich, and stood in no need of them, nor does it appear that he was covetous; but of the ambassadors, and of the honour that was done him in having such sent to him from such a prince; his sin was vain glory; and because he might hope that such a powerful ally would be a security to him against any after attempt of the king of Assyria, in which he was guilty of another sin, vain confidence, or trusting in an arm of flesh; and being lifted up with pride that his name was become so famous abroad, and that he had got so good an ally: and in order to ingratiate himself the more into his esteem and favour, he “showed” these his ambassadors
the house of his precious things; where his jewels and precious stones lay, and where were
the silver and the gold; large quantities of not only which he and his predecessors had laid up, which had been very lately greatly exhausted by the demand of three hundred talents of silver, and thirty talents of gold, by the king of Assyria; to answer which Hezekiah had given all the silver in the temple, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and was so drove by necessity, that he cut off the gold from the doors and pillars of the temple, 2Ki 18:14, so that it might be reasonable to ask, how came he so soon by all this treasure? it is possible that some part of the royal treasure might be unalienable, and he might have since received presents from his own nobles, and from foreign princes; but this was chiefly from the spoils found in the Assyrian camp, after the angel had made such a slaughter of them,
2Ki 19:35, as a learned d man observes:
and the spices, and precious ointment; which, as Jarchi notes, some say were oil of olives; others the balsam which grew in Jericho; great quantities of this, with other spices, were laid up in store for use, as occasion should require:
and all the house of his armour; where were all his military stores, shields, swords, spears, arrows, c.:
and all that was found in his treasures in other places:
there was nothing in his house; in his royal palace:
nor in all his dominion; that was rare, curious, and valuable:
that Hezekiah showed them not; even the book of the law, as Jarchi says.
d Nicolai Abrami Pharus Vet. Test. l. 6. c. 17. p. 164.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
“And Hezekiah rejoiced (K. heard, which is quite inappropriate) concerning them, and showed them (K. all) his storehouse: the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the fine oil ( hasshamen , K. shemen ) , and all his arsenal, and all that was in his treasures: there was nothing that Hezekiah had not shown them, in his house or in all his kingdom.” Although there were spices kept in , is not equivalent to (from , to break to pieces, to pulverize), which is applied to gum-dragon and other drugs, but is the niphal from ( piel, Arab. kayyata , to cram full, related to ( ), ( ), and possibly also to , katama (Hitzig, Knobel, Frst), and consequently it does not mean “the house of his spices,” as Aquila, Symmachus, and the Vulgate render it, but his “treasure-house or storehouse” (Targ., Syr., Saad.). It differs, however, from beth keilim , the wood house of Lebanon (Isa 22:8). He was able to show them all that was worth seeing “in his whole kingdom,” inasmuch as it was all concentrated in Jerusalem, the capital.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
2. And Hezekiah was glad The Prophet performs the part of the historian; for he merely relates what Hezekiah did, and will afterwards explain why he did it; that is, that Hezekiah, blinded by ambition, made an ostentatious display to the messengers; while he censures an improper kind of joy, which afterwards gave rise to an eager desire of treating them in a friendly manner.
Any person who shall barely read this history will con-elude that Hezekiah did nothing wrong; for it was an act of humanity to give a cheerful and hospitable reception to the messengers, and to shew them every proof of good-will; and it would have been the act of a barbarian to disdain those who had come to him on a friendly visit, and to spurn the friendship of so powerful a king. But still there lurked in his heart a desire of vain ostentation; for he wished to make a favorable display of himself, that the Babylonian might be led to understand that this alliance would not be without advantage to him, and might ascertain this from his wealth, and forces, and weapons of war. He deserved to be reproved on another ground, that he directed his mind to foreign and unlawful aid, and to that extent denied honor to God, whom he had recently known to be his deliverer on two occasions; for otherwise the Prophet would not have censured this act so severely.
This is a remarkable example; and it teaches us that nothing’ is more dangerous than to be blinded by prosperity. It proves also the truth of the old proverb, that “it is more difficult to bear prosperity than adversity;” for when everything goes on to our wish, we grow wanton and insolent, and cannot be kept in the path of duty by any advices or threatenings. When this happened to Hezekiah, on whom the Prophet had bestowed the high commendation, that “the fear of God was his treasure,” (Isa 33:6,) we ought to be very much afraid of falling into the same dangers. He is carried away by idle boasting, and does not remember that formerly he was half-dead, and that God rescued him from death by an extraordinary miracle. Formerly he made a solemn promise that he would continually celebrate the praises of God in the assembly of the godly, (Isa 38:20,) and now, when he sees that his friendship is sought, and that a powerful monarch sends to salute him, he forgets God and the benefits which he had received from him. When we see that this good king’ so quickly falls and is carried away by ambition, let us learn to lay upon ourselves the restraint of modesty, which will keep us constantly and diligently in the fear of God.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(2) Shewed them the house of his precious things.This fixes the date of the embassy at a time prior to the payment to Sennacherib (2Ki. 18:15-16), unless we were to assume that the treasury had been replenished by the gifts that followed on the destruction of Sennacheribs army; but this, as we have seen, is at variance with both the received and the rectified chronology. The display was obviously something more than the ostentation of a Crsus showing his treasures to Solon (Herod. i. 3). It was practically a display of the resources of the kingdom, intended to impress the Babylonian ambassadors with a sense of his importance as an ally.
The spices, and the precious ointment . . .The mention of these articles as part of the kings treasures is characteristic of the commerce and civilisation of the time. Spicesprobably myrrh, gumbenzoin, cinnamonhad from a very early period been among the gifts offered to princes (Gen. 43:11; 1Ki. 10:10). The ointment, or perfumed oil, finds its parallel in the costly unguent of the Gospel history (Mat. 26:7; Joh. 12:3). Esar-haddons account of the magnificence of his palace (Records of the Past, iii., 122) supplies a contemporary instance of like ostentation.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
2. Showed them the house of his precious things Hezekiah was flattered by an embassy from so great a distance as Babylon: he showed them all he had of treasure, armour, spicery, beaten oil, and all the wealth he had collected at Jerusalem. He had prospered greatly since his sickness, perhaps he had greatly enriched himself from the valuable plunder left in the sudden retreat of the Assyrian army. From numerous resources, at any rate, he was again rich and powerful, and possibly he looked to an alliance with Babylon against the great power which had so annoyed him.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘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 oil, and all 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 did not show them.’
Flattered, and desirous of their admiration, and very willing to enter into an alliance, Hezekiah forgot the significance of his deliverance from death and the great sign that had accompanied it. He committed himself totally. All his riches and all his armour was available to assist in the rebellion. And he took the ambassadors round the country, showing them the great cities with their powerful walls, and the men of war stationed in readiness for any attack, and the general wealth of the nation. It was a renunciation of Yahweh that was total and complete, and the sad thing is that Hezekiah seemed totally unaware of the fact. The impression given is that he did not realise what he had done.
If we do not keep in close touch with God when making our decisions, but allow ourselves to be carried forward by the emotion of the moment, we also, like Hezekiah, may very well go ahead with something, unaware that it is contrary to God’s will, and thus prove to be a hindrance to God’s work instead of carrying it forward.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Isa 39:2. And Hezekiah was glad, &c. This action of Hezekiah favoured of great weakness, as nothing more strongly excites the enmity of neighbouring states, than such an unseasonable display of riches: it favours of ostentation and vanity, both of them vices very unsuitable to that temper of mind, which his late cure, and the miracle that he had seen, should have wrought in him; and perhaps it favours something of impiety, since Hezekiah seems to have displayed his treasures as his own acquisitions, without ascribing the possession of them to the goodness and power of God. See Vitringa.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
glad of them. This is further Divine information, given by Him Who knew Hezekiah’s heart. 2Ki 20:13 records what Hezekiah did: viz. “hearkened unto them”. Man could see the ear, but only Jehovah could know the heart. Hezekiah forgot to pray, as in Isa 37:4, Isa 37:14, Isa 37:15, and Isa 38:2. Hence his failure.
and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton, to emphasise and call attention (by five “ands”) to every detail.
his. Note the Figure of speech Repetitio to mark Hezekiah’s ostentation and failure in not giving Jehovah all the glory.
precious things. Hezekiah’s possession of these riches, after the depletion of his treasuries in 2Ki 18:15, 2Ki 18:16, is explained and accounted for by a reference to 2Ch 32:22, 2Ch 32:23, 2Ch 32:27, and to the spoil of the Assyrians’ camp (2Ki 19:35).
treasures = treasuries.
nothing. Emphasising the completeness of his act.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
was glad: 2Ch 32:25, 2Ch 32:31, Job 31:25, Psa 146:3, Psa 146:4, Pro 4:23, Jer 17:9
showed: 2Ki 20:13, 2Ch 32:27
precious things: or, spicery, 1Ki 10:2, 1Ki 10:10, 1Ki 10:15, 1Ki 10:25, 2Ch 9:1, 2Ch 9:9
armour: or, jewels, Heb. vessels, or instruments
there was: Ecc 7:20, 2Co 12:7, 1Jo 1:8
Reciprocal: Gen 24:53 – precious Est 1:4 – When he Jer 13:21 – for Jon 4:6 – So
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
39:2 And Hezekiah was {c} 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 all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasuries: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah did not show them.
(c) Read 2Ki 20:13, 2Ch 32:25; 2Ch 32:31 .
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Hezekiah received Merodach-baladan warmly since he had expressed sympathy toward him and because the Babylonians shared Judah’s antagonism toward Assyria. But showing the Babylonians all of his wealth and military resources went beyond what Hezekiah needed to do for such a friendly visitor. The Lord Jesus’ responses to the flattery of Nicodemus (John 3) and the rich young ruler (Mark 10) provide examples of how Hezekiah should have responded. Hezekiah’s response expressed a desire to share these resources with an ally who might help Judah oppose Assyria. Thus Hezekiah’s act demonstrated trust in Babylon and reliance on her for safety.
"Here was a ready-made opportunity for Hezekiah to glorify God before the pagan Babylonians, to tell of his greatness and of his grace. Instead, he succumbed to the temptation to glorify himself and to prove to the Chaldeans that he was a worthy partner for any sort of coalition they might have in mind. There is no indication that they were interested in such an alliance, however. Much more likely they simply wished to encourage someone whom they viewed as a petty kinglet without making any commitment on their part." [Note: Oswalt, p. 695.]
This visit constituted a divine test of Hezekiah’s heart. 2Ch 32:31 reads, "And even in the matter of the envoys of the rulers of Babylon, who sent to him to inquire of the wonder that had happened in the land [namely, Hezekiah’s recovery], God left him alone only to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart."