[1] About that same time the king of Babylonia, Merodach Baladan, son of Baladan, heard that King Hezekiah had been sick, so he sent him a letter and a present. [2] Hezekiah welcomed the messengers and showed them his wealth-his silver and gold, his spices and perfumes, and all his military equipment. There was nothing in his storerooms or anywhere in his kingdom that he did not show them. [3] Then the prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah and asked, "Where did these messengers come from and what did they say to you?" Hezekiah answered, "They came from a very distant country, from Babylonia." [4] "What did they see in the palace?" "They saw everything. There is nothing in the storerooms that I didn't show them." [5] Isaiah then told the king, "The LORD Almighty says that [6] a time is coming when everything in your palace, everything that your ancestors have stored up to this day, will be carried off to Babylonia. Nothing will be left. [7] Some of your own direct descendants will be taken away and made eunuchs to serve in the palace of the king of Babylonia." [8] King Hezekiah understood this to mean that there would be peace and security during his lifetime, so he replied, "The message you have given me from the LORD is good."
