Hezekiah’s vanity and Isaiah’s rebuke

39 At that time, merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, King of Babylon, having heard that Hezekiah had been ill and had recovered, despatched 2 eunuchs to him with a present. Hezekiah, delighted, proceeded to display to them his treasure-house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine oil, the armoury, and the whole range of his treasures: there was nothing in his place or indeed in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.

3 Then came the prophet Isaiah to King Hezekiah and said, ‘Where do these men come from, and what have they said?’ ‘They have come,’ said Hezekiah, ‘from a distant land, from Babylon.’ 4 ‘What have they seen in your palace?’ said Isaiah; and Hezekiah answered, ‘Everything: there is none of my treasures that I have not shown them.’ 5 ‘Listen, then,’ said Isaiah, ‘to the word of the Lord 6 of Hosts. Mark, the day is coming, when all that is in your palace, and all the treasures that you ancestors have hither to amassed, will be carried to 7 Babylon: nothing will be left, says the Lord. And of the sons who may yet be born to you, some will be taken to become eunuchs is the palace of the 8 King of Babylon.’ Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, ‘I accept the word of the Lord which you have spoken.’ At least, thought he, there will be peace and stability in my day.