2 Kings 20:14

KJV

Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, [even] from Babylon.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then came {H935} Isaiah {H3470} the prophet {H5030} unto king {H4428} Hezekiah {H2396}, and said {H559} unto him, What said {H559} these men {H582}? and from whence {H370} came {H935} they unto thee? And Hezekiah {H2396} said {H559}, They are come {H935} from a far {H7350} country {H776}, even from Babylon {H894}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then Yesha'yahu the prophet came to King Hizkiyahu and asked him, "What did these men say? Where did they come from?" Hizkiyahu answered, "They came from a distant country, Bavel."

Berean Standard Bible

Then the prophet Isaiah went to King Hezekiah and asked, “Where did those men come from, and what did they say to you?” “They came from a distant land,” Hezekiah replied, “from Babylon.”

American Standard Version

Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 20:14 marks a critical juncture where the prophet Isaiah confronts King Hezekiah after the king's ill-advised display of his kingdom's wealth to Babylonian envoys. This pivotal moment, occurring shortly after Hezekiah's miraculous healing and an extension of his life by divine grace, reveals a lapse in judgment as Hezekiah chose to showcase his earthly treasures rather than magnify the Lord. Isaiah's incisive questions immediately expose Hezekiah's actions and set the stage for a sobering divine pronouncement of future judgment and exile, underscoring God's omnipresent awareness and the severe consequences of misplaced trust and prideful boasting.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed within the narrative of [2 Kings](/2_kings/1 "The Book of 2 Kings") following a profound demonstration of God's power and mercy. Immediately preceding it, Hezekiah experiences a miraculous recovery from a terminal illness, with God granting him an additional fifteen years of life and delivering Jerusalem from the formidable Assyrian threat ([2 Kings 20:1-11](/2_kings/20-1-11 "2 Kings 20:1-11 - Hezekiah's Illness and Recovery")). The narrative then introduces the arrival of envoys from Merodach-baladan, the king of Babylon, ostensibly to congratulate Hezekiah on his recovery ([2 Kings 20:12](/2_kings/20-12 "2 Kings 20:12 - Babylonian Envoys Visit Hezekiah")). Hezekiah's subsequent action of displaying "all his treasure house, 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 treasures" ([2 Kings 20:13](/2_kings/20-13 "2 Kings 20:13 - Hezekiah Displays His Riches")) directly precipitates Isaiah's immediate arrival and the divine confrontation described in 2 Kings 20:14. This confrontation serves as the narrative bridge to Isaiah's devastating prophecy concerning Judah's future exile to Babylon ([2 Kings 20:16-18](/2_kings/20-16-18 "2 Kings 20:16-18 - Isaiah Prophesies Exile")).
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King Hezekiah ruled Judah during a tumultuous period, approximately 715-686 BC. The dominant global power was the Neo-Assyrian Empire, which had recently laid siege to Jerusalem, only to be miraculously repelled by divine intervention (as detailed in [2 Kings 18-19](/2_kings/18-19 "2 Kings 18-19 - Sennacherib's Invasion and God's Deliverance")). Babylon, though an ancient and significant city-state, was at this time largely a vassal of Assyria, frequently attempting to assert its independence. Merodach-baladan, a persistent Chaldean rebel against Assyrian rule, likely saw Hezekiah's recent miraculous deliverance and perceived strength as an opportunity to forge an anti-Assyrian alliance. His "get well" visit was, therefore, a shrewd diplomatic maneuver. Culturally, it was common for kings to display their wealth and military might to impress foreign dignitaries and project power. However, Hezekiah's actions here are portrayed as a profound spiritual misstep—a failure to attribute his prosperity and deliverance solely to God, instead relying on a worldly show of strength and seeking human affirmation.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several overarching themes prevalent throughout the books of [Kings](/1_kings/1 "The Books of Kings"). Firstly, it vividly illustrates **Divine Scrutiny and Accountability**, demonstrating God's acute awareness of the actions and motivations of His people, especially their leaders. Isaiah's immediate, divinely prompted arrival and probing questions underscore that no act, however seemingly private, escapes God's notice. Secondly, the passage serves as a stark warning against the **Danger of Pride and Worldly Display**. Hezekiah's eagerness to parade his earthly treasures, rather than offering humble gratitude and glory to God for his recent healing and deliverance, reveals a critical spiritual lapse. This misplaced trust in material wealth and earthly alliances is a recurring biblical theme, often cautioned against in wisdom literature such as [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before Destruction"). Lastly, the seemingly innocuous mention of "Babylon" introduces the ominous theme of **Foreshadowing of Future Judgment**. At this historical juncture, Babylon was not the preeminent world power; yet, its appearance here chillingly prefigures its future role as the instrument of God's judgment against Judah, where the very treasures Hezekiah displayed would eventually be plundered, as prophesied by Isaiah in [2 Kings 20:17](/2_kings/20-17 "2 Kings 20:17 - Isaiah's Prophecy of Exile to Babylon").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Hezekiah (Hebrew, _Chizqîyâh'_):** From the root meaning "strengthened" and "Jah" (a shortened form of Yahweh), this name means "Yahweh has strengthened" or "Strengthened of Jah." The king's name itself highlights the very source of his recent miraculous healing and national deliverance. His actions in this verse, however, tragically contradict the meaning of his name, as he relies on his own earthly strength and treasures rather than the God who strengthened him.
* **Isaiah (Hebrew, _Yᵉshaʻyâh'_):** Meaning "Yahweh has saved" or "Jah has saved," Isaiah's name is highly significant in this context. As God's prophet, he embodies the message of salvation that comes from Yahweh. His immediate arrival after Hezekiah's display underscores that true salvation and security come from God alone, not from worldly alliances or material wealth, directly contrasting Hezekiah's misplaced trust.
* **Babylon (Hebrew, _Bâbel'_):** Derived from a root meaning "confusion," Babylon represents a city-state that, at this time, was a significant ancient power but not yet the dominant empire. Its specific mention by Hezekiah is profoundly ironic and serves as a crucial **foreshadowing** element. The "far country" from which these envoys came would, in the future, become the instrument of God's judgment, bringing confusion and exile to Judah, precisely because of the kind of pride and misplaced trust Hezekiah demonstrated.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him":** This clause emphasizes the divine initiative and the immediacy of the confrontation. Isaiah's arrival is not a casual visit but a divinely orchestrated intervention, signaling God's swift and direct response to Hezekiah's actions. As "the prophet," Isaiah functions as God's authoritative messenger, bringing divine scrutiny directly to the king.
* **"What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee?":** Isaiah's questions are not born of ignorance but are deeply penetrating and rhetorical. They are designed to compel Hezekiah to articulate his actions and to expose the spiritual implications of his choices. These questions serve as a divine cross-examination, forcing the king to confront his own discernment, priorities, and the potential consequences of his interactions with foreign powers.
* **"And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, [even] from Babylon.":** Hezekiah's response is a simple statement of fact, devoid of any spiritual reflection, apology, or acknowledgment of error. His straightforward identification of the visitors' origin, particularly the mention of "Babylon," unwittingly sets the stage for the devastating prophecy that Isaiah is about to deliver. This seemingly innocent detail highlights Hezekiah's short-sightedness and his failure to grasp the profound, long-term implications of his actions.

#### Literary Devices
The passage masterfully employs several potent literary devices to convey its theological message. **Interrogation** is central, as Isaiah's direct and probing questions are not merely for information gathering but serve to elicit Hezekiah's confession and to underscore God's omniscience regarding the king's actions. There is profound **Dramatic Irony** at play; Hezekiah, in his prideful display of wealth, remains oblivious to the ominous future represented by the seemingly benign visitors from "a far country, even from Babylon," while the reader, privy to the broader biblical narrative and Isaiah's prophetic role, understands the devastating implications of this seemingly innocent exchange. The specific mention of "Babylon" functions as powerful **Foreshadowing**, chillingly hinting at the future exile and destruction of Judah, directly linking Hezekiah's present lack of discernment to the nation's eventual calamity. Finally, a stark **Contrast** is evident between Hezekiah's recent miraculous healing and God's powerful deliverance from Assyria, and his immediate turn to worldly pride and reliance on earthly displays of power, highlighting the persistent fragility of human faithfulness even in the wake of profound divine intervention.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse delivers a profound theological statement on the nature of divine accountability and the insidious perils of human pride. Despite Hezekiah's generally righteous reign and his recent, extraordinary experience of divine deliverance and healing, his moment of weakness in seeking to impress foreign dignitaries with his earthly wealth reveals a dangerous, albeit subtle, shift in trust from God to worldly power and human affirmation. God's immediate and direct response through Isaiah demonstrates His unwavering sovereignty, His demand for exclusive devotion, and His intolerance for pride that usurps His glory. The seemingly small act of displaying treasures becomes a profound spiritual failure, illustrating how pride can blind even the most devoted leaders to the long-term consequences of their actions, not only for themselves but for future generations. It underscores the vital truth that God's blessings are intended to draw us closer to Him in humility and gratitude, not to inflate our self-importance or foster reliance on material security.

* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Goes Before Destruction")
* [Luke 12:16-21](/luke/12-16-21 "Luke 12:16-21 - The Parable of the Rich Fool")
* [Jeremiah 20:4-5](/jeremiah/20-4-5 "Jeremiah 20:4-5 - Prophecy of Babylonian Captivity")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The confrontation in 2 Kings 20:14 offers a timeless and sobering lesson on the insidious nature of pride, particularly when it emerges in the wake of divine blessing. Hezekiah had just experienced God's direct, miraculous intervention in his life and the life of his nation, yet his immediate response was to parade his earthly possessions before those from "a far country," seeking human admiration and perhaps political advantage, rather than giving God the exclusive glory. This serves as a potent and challenging reminder that our greatest spiritual vulnerabilities often surface not in times of hardship or adversity, but precisely in moments of success, blessing, or perceived security. It compels us to engage in honest self-examination: when God blesses us, delivers us from a difficult situation, or grants us success in our endeavors, do we instinctively point others to Him as the source, or do we subtly (or overtly) draw attention to our own achievements, possessions, talents, or perceived strength? Our actions, even those that seem minor or inconsequential in the moment, can have far-reaching consequences, impacting not only our own spiritual walk but also the legacy we leave for those who follow us. This passage calls us to cultivate a posture of sustained humility, profound gratitude, and unwavering dependence, recognizing that all true and lasting blessings flow from God, and our trust must remain steadfastly in Him alone, never in the fleeting allure of worldly recognition or material security.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you most tempted to display your "treasures" (whether material possessions, intellectual achievements, or personal talents) for human approval rather than giving God the glory?**
* **How do you typically respond to God's blessings and deliverances in your life? Do they lead you to deeper humility and dependence on Him, or to a subtle form of self-reliance or pride?**
* **Can you identify a specific time when a seemingly small act of pride or misplaced trust led to unforeseen negative consequences in your life or the lives of those around you?**
* **What practical steps can you take to cultivate a heart that consistently acknowledges God as the ultimate source of all good, even when facing opportunities for worldly recognition or self-exaltation?**

### FAQ

**Why did Merodach-baladan send envoys to Hezekiah, and why was Hezekiah's response problematic?**

Answer: Merodach-baladan, the king of Babylon, sent envoys to Hezekiah ostensibly to congratulate him on his recovery from a severe illness. However, the deeper, underlying motive was almost certainly political: to sound out Hezekiah as a potential ally in a coalition against their mutual overlord, the powerful Assyrian Empire. Hezekiah's response was problematic because, instead of using this opportunity to testify to God's miraculous healing and the divine deliverance of Jerusalem, he chose to display all his personal and national treasures, his armory, and everything found in his palace ([2 Kings 20:13](/2_kings/20-13 "2 Kings 20:13 - Hezekiah Displays His Riches")). This act demonstrated a profound misplacement of trust in earthly wealth and military might rather than in the omnipotent God who had just saved him and his kingdom. It was a moment of pride and a failure to discern the spiritual and long-term geopolitical implications of his actions, thereby opening the door to a divine rebuke and a sobering prophecy of future judgment.

**What is the significance of "Babylon" being mentioned in this context?**

Answer: At the time of Hezekiah's reign, Babylon was not yet the dominant world power that would eventually conquer Judah; Assyria held that supremacy. The specific mention of "Babylon" by Hezekiah, therefore, carries immense prophetic significance. It serves as a powerful and ominous **foreshadowing** of the future Babylonian exile, a major turning point in Israelite history. The very treasures Hezekiah proudly displayed would eventually be carried away to Babylon, and his descendants would serve as eunuchs in the Babylonian king's palace ([2 Kings 20:17-18](/2_kings/20-17-18 "2 Kings 20:17-18 - Isaiah's Prophecy of Exile")). This seemingly innocuous detail connects Hezekiah's immediate act of pride and misplaced trust to the long-term national consequences, emphasizing God's sovereign knowledge of future events and the severe repercussions of human disobedience and spiritual compromise.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hezekiah's tragic flaw in 2 Kings 20:14—his immediate turn to worldly display and reliance on earthly strength after experiencing profound divine blessing—stands in stark and illuminating contrast to the perfect humility, unwavering trust, and self-emptying love of Jesus Christ. Hezekiah, despite being a generally righteous king, succumbed to the temptation to glorify himself and his kingdom's earthly riches, ultimately inviting a prophecy of future judgment and national exile. This deeply ingrained human tendency to trust in visible, tangible assets rather than the unseen, all-sufficient God is a universal spiritual ailment that pervades human history. In Christ, however, we witness the ultimate fulfillment of what Hezekiah failed to embody. Jesus, though eternally "in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" ([Philippians 2:6-7](/philippians/2-6-7 "Philippians 2:6-7 - Christ's Humility and Obedience")). He did not display earthly treasures or seek worldly alliances; instead, He perfectly trusted His Father and gave His very life as the ultimate sacrifice, becoming the true "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). The true and eternal treasure is not found in earthly palaces or material wealth, but "in Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" ([Colossians 2:3](/colossians/2-3 "Colossians 2:3 - In Christ are Hidden All Treasures")). While Hezekiah's actions led to a prophecy of exile to a "far country" (Babylon), Christ's redemptive work brings us into an eternal kingdom that is "not of this world" ([John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom Not of This World")), a heavenly citizenship where our true and imperishable treasures are stored ([Matthew 6:19-21](/matthew/6-19-21 "Matthew 6:19-21 - Lay Up Treasures in Heaven")). Hezekiah's story serves as a poignant reminder of our profound need for a King who perfectly trusts God and who offers true and lasting security, not in fleeting earthly displays, but in His perfect life, atoning death, and glorious resurrection.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 28:49

The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, [as swift] as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;

2 Chronicles 25:7

But there came a man of God to him, saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee; for the LORD [is] not with Israel, [to wit, with] all the children of Ephraim.

2 Chronicles 25:9

And Amaziah said to the man of God, But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the army of Israel? And the man of God answered, The LORD is able to give thee much more than this.

2 Chronicles 25:15

Wherefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against Amaziah, and he sent unto him a prophet, which said unto him, Why hast thou sought after the gods of the people, which could not deliver their own people out of thine hand?

2 Chronicles 25:16

And it came to pass, as he talked with him, that [the king] said unto him, Art thou made of the king's counsel? forbear; why shouldest thou be smitten? Then the prophet forbare, and said, I know that God hath determined to destroy thee, because thou hast done this, and hast not hearkened unto my counsel.

Joshua 9:6

And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.

Joshua 9:9

And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,