Isaiah 39:6-7
Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the LORD. And some of your own sons, who will come from you, whom you will father, shall be taken away, and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This isn't just a prophecy of future plunder; it's a stark, personal judgment on Hezekiah's pride. God declares that everything he so foolishly displayed to the Babylonians – his house, his ancestral treasures – will be taken away, leaving absolutely nothing. This emphasizes that Hezekiah's show of wealth was not a sign of strength, but a direct provocation for this coming devastation.
After Hezekiah foolishly paraded his kingdom's wealth before Babylonian envoys, Isaiah pronounces a severe judgment. This prophecy reveals that not only will all Hezekiah's treasures be carried off to Babylon, but his own descendants will also be taken captive and serve in the Babylonian palace.
Hezekiah had just received a miraculous recovery and a diplomatic overture from Babylon. What could possibly go wrong? Isaiah's chilling prophecy reveals a far-off judgment.
Isaiah 39:6 is a pivotal moment in Scripture. It's the first time the prophet Isaiah explicitly names Babylon as the future captor of Judah and the destination of their treasures and people.
A Specific Threat:
While earlier prophets like Moses and Amos spoke of exile, they didn't name the specific nation. Even Micah, a contemporary, spoke more generally. Isaiah's prophecy, however, precisely identifies Babylon, a detail that would be fulfilled about 120-150 years later.
A Bitter Irony:
Hezekiah had shown his treasures to the Babylonian delegation, a display of wealth and power. The prophecy turns this act of pride and misplaced trust into the very mechanism of judgment. What was meant to impress would ultimately be plundered.
Hezekiah’s pride led him to show off his kingdom's wealth. This seemingly innocent act of diplomacy had profound, devastating consequences for generations to come.
Hezekiah’s response to the Babylonian delegation was driven by pride and a desire for status, rather than a humble reliance on God.
The Sin of Display:
Instead of honoring God, who had just miraculously healed him, Hezekiah showed off his treasures. This wasn't just showing hospitality; it was a display of worldly power and wealth, seeking validation from a foreign king.
A Father's Legacy:
The prophecy isn't just about material possessions; it extends to Hezekiah's own descendants. 'And of your sons that shall issue from you, which you shall beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.' This highlights how personal pride and poor decisions can negatively impact future generations.
Understand the original words
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, revealing His self-existence and faithfulness to His people. It is the name by which He entered into covenant relationship with Israel.
Babel · Hebrew Proper Noun
A city and empire that historically functioned as the arch-enemy of God’s people in the Old Testament. Symbolically, it often represents worldly power, rebellion against God, and the place of divine judgment and captivity.
saris · Hebrew Noun
Male individuals castrated or physically altered; in a royal context, they often served as trusted administrators or attendants in the inner courts of ancient Near Eastern monarchs.
This prophecy, delivered after Hezekiah's display of wealth to Babylonian envoys, marks the first time Scripture explicitly names Babylon as the destination for Judah's future exile, a stark warning directly tied to Hezekiah's misplaced pride.
c. 701 BC
Assyrian Siege of Jerusalem
King Sennacherib of Assyria invades Judah and besieges Jerusalem. Though Sennacherib boasts of capturing many cities, Jerusalem is miraculously spared.
c. 701 BC— this verse
Hezekiah shows treasures to Babylonians
Merodach-baladan, king of Babylon, sends envoys to Hezekiah to congratulate him on his recovery. Hezekiah foolishly displays all his wealth and armories to them, provoking God's displeasure.
c. 701 BC
Isaiah prophesies Babylonian Exile
Isaiah confronts Hezekiah, revealing that his treasures and descendants will be taken to Babylon, marking the first specific prophecy of this future captivity.
c. 686-642 BC
Manasseh's reign and exile
Hezekiah's son, Manasseh, is later taken captive to Babylon by the Assyrians (under Esarhaddon) and exiled. This is seen as a partial fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.
This passage directly echoes Isaiah's prophecy, stating that Hezekiah's treasures and descendants would be taken to Babylon, confirming the fulfillment of the word spoken.
Jeremiah 20:5Jeremiah, writing much later, foretold the terror and plunder that would come upon Judah, specifically mentioning their captors coming from Babylon, aligning with Isaiah's earlier warning of captivity.
Daniel 1:1-2This passage shows the direct fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, as the 'days' had indeed come when the Babylonians took treasures and even royal descendants into captivity.
Deuteronomy 28:36This verse from the Law of Moses provides the foundational warning of exile for disobedience, stating that Israel would be carried away to a nation they did not know, which was later fulfilled in Babylon.
barnesIsaiah 39:6: "Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD."
Behold, the days come - The captivity of the Jews in Babylon commenced about one hundred and twenty years after this prediction (compare Jeremiah 20:5 ). That all that is in thine house - That is, all the treasures that are in the treasure-house Isaiah 39:2. And that which thy fathers have laid…
clarkeIsaiah 39:6: "Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD."
To Babylon - בבלה babelah, so two MSS., (one ancient); rightly, without doubt as the other copy ( 2 Kings 20:17 ) has it. This prediction was fulfilled about one hundred and fifty years after it was spoken: see Daniel 1:2 , Daniel 1:3-7 . What a proof of Divine omniscience!
This isn't just a prophecy of future plunder; it's a stark, personal judgment on Hezekiah's pride. God declares that everything he so foolishly displayed to the Babylonians – his house, his ancestral treasures – will be taken away, leaving absolutely nothing. This emphasizes that Hezekiah's show of wealth was not a sign of strength, but a direct provocation for this coming devastation.
After Hezekiah foolishly paraded his kingdom's wealth before Babylonian envoys, Isaiah pronounces a severe judgment. This prophecy reveals that not only will all Hezekiah's treasures be carried off to Babylon, but his own descendants will also be taken captive and serve in the Babylonian palace.
After Hezekiah foolishly paraded his kingdom's wealth before Babylonian envoys, Isaiah pronounces a severe judgment. This prophecy reveals that not only will all Hezekiah's treasures be carried off to Babylon, but his own descendants will also be taken captive and serve in the Babylonian palace.
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A Glimmer of Hope:
Despite the severe judgment, Hezekiah's eventual response is remarkably repentant. He states, 'Good is the word of the LORD which you have spoken.' He then adds, 'For there shall be peace and truth in my days.' This shows a shift from pride to humility, accepting God’s word and finding comfort in the immediate peace God granted him, even while acknowledging future sorrow for his nation.
605 BC
First deportation to Babylon
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon begins deporting skilled individuals, including nobles and royalty like Daniel, to Babylon following his victory over the Assyrians and Egyptians.
597 BC
Second deportation to Babylon
King Jehoiachin of Judah and many others are exiled to Babylon, along with treasures from the temple and royal palace.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar destroys Jerusalem and the Temple, completing the Babylonian Exile and fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy that nothing would be left.
"Behold, the days are coming, when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up till this day, shall be carried to Babylon. Nothing shall be left, says the LORD. And some of your own sons, who will come from you, wh…" — This isn't just a prophecy of future plunder; it's a stark, personal judgment on Hezekiah's pride. God declares that everything he so foolishly displayed to the Babylonians – his house, his ances…
