1At that time Marduk-Baladan, the king of Babylon, sent Hezekiah letters and a gift. He had heard that Hezekiah had been ill but had got well again. Marduk-Baladan was the son of Baladan.2Hezekiah gladly received the messengers. He showed them what was in his storerooms. He showed them the silver and gold. He took them to where the spices and the fine olive oil were kept. He showed them where he kept all his weapons. And he showed them all his treasures. In fact, he showed them everything that was in his palace and in his whole kingdom.3Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah. Isaiah asked him, ‘What did those men say? Where did they come from?’ ‘They came from a land far away,’ Hezekiah said. ‘They came to me from Babylon.’4Isaiah asked, ‘What did they see in your palace?’ ‘They saw everything in my palace,’ Hezekiah said. ‘I showed them all my treasures.’5Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, ‘Listen to the message of the LORD who rules over all. He says,6“You can be sure the time will come when everything in your palace will be carried off to Babylon. Everything the kings before you have stored up until this day will be taken away. There will not be anything left,” says the LORD.7“Some of the members of your family line will be taken away. They will be your own flesh and blood. They will include the children who will be born into your family line. And they will serve the king of Babylon in his palace.” ’8‘The message the LORD has spoken through you is good,’ Hezekiah replied. He thought, ‘There will be peace and safety while I’m still living.’
1Strax efteråt skickade kungen i Babylon, Merodak-Baladan, Baladans son, gåvor och hälsningar till Hiskia, därför att han hört att denne varit svårt sjuk men blivit frisk igen.2Hiskia uppskattade detta mycket och tog med sig sändebuden från Babylon på en rundvandring i palatset och visade dem allt silver och guld, alla välluktande kryddor och parfymer. Han lät dem också komma in i skattkammaren och öppnade kassakistan. Han undanhöll inte något för dem.3Profeten Jesaja kom då till kungen och frågade: "Vad ville dina besökare? Var kom de ifrån?""De kom ända bortifrån Babylon", svarade Hiskia.4"Hur mycket lät du dem se?" undrade Jesaja."Jag visade dem allt. Jag dolde ingenting."5Då sa Jesaja till honom: "Hör här vad Herren, härskarornas Gud, säger till dig:6'Den tid ska komma då allt du äger, alla skatter som dina förfäder har samlat, ska föras bort till Babylon. Ingenting kommer att lämnas kvar.7Och några av dina egna söner kommer att bli slavar i den babyloniske kungens palats.' "8"Jaha", kommenterade Hiskia. "Allt som Herren säger är rätt och riktigt." Men för sig själv tänkte han: "Det kommer åtminstone att vara fred under min livstid!"