2 Kings 20:15

And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All [the things] that [are] in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.

And he said {H559}, What have they seen {H7200} in thine house {H1004}? And Hezekiah {H2396} answered {H559}, All the things that are in mine house {H1004} have they seen {H7200}: there is nothing {H1697} among my treasures {H214} that I have not shewed {H7200} them.

Yesha'yahu asked, "What have they seen in your palace?" "They have seen everything in my palace," said Hizkiyahu. "There isn't a thing among my treasures that I haven't shown them."

“What have they seen in your palace?” Isaiah asked. “They have seen everything in my palace,” answered Hezekiah. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”

And he said, What have they seen in thy house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in my house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not showed them.

Commentary

2 Kings 20:15 records a pivotal moment in the life of King Hezekiah, immediately following his miraculous recovery from a terminal illness. This verse captures his direct admission to the prophet Isaiah about displaying his entire treasury to the visiting Babylonian envoys.

Context of 2 Kings 20:15

This verse comes after a significant period in King Hezekiah's reign. Having been told by Isaiah that he would die, Hezekiah prayed fervently, and God miraculously added fifteen years to his life (2 Kings 20:1-6). Following this divine intervention, Merodach-baladan, the king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, ostensibly to congratulate him on his recovery. In response, Hezekiah, perhaps out of pride or a desire to form an alliance, showed the envoys all his treasure house, the armory, and everything in his dominion (2 Kings 20:13). Isaiah's question in the preceding verse (2 Kings 20:14) and Hezekiah's candid reply in verse 15 set the stage for the prophet's sobering pronouncement of future judgment.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Hezekiah's Pride and Lack of Discernment: Despite having just experienced God's direct miraculous intervention, Hezekiah's actions reveal a profound lapse in judgment. Instead of giving God glory or seeking divine counsel, he boasted in his earthly wealth and might. This display of "all the things that are in mine house" was a moment of human pride overshadowing divine gratitude.
  • Vulnerability to Foreign Powers: By revealing the extent of his wealth and military provisions, Hezekiah inadvertently exposed Judah's vulnerabilities and made his kingdom a tempting target for future plunder. This act of showing off invited the very trouble that Isaiah would soon prophesy.
  • Consequences of Worldly Trust: The verse highlights the danger of placing trust in material possessions or human alliances rather than in God alone. Hezekiah's reliance on his treasures, rather than the Lord who had just saved him, would lead to dire consequences for his descendants, as prophesied by Isaiah in the following verses (2 Kings 20:16-18).

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "treasures" here is 'otsrotay (אוֹצְרֹתַי), which denotes not only precious metals and riches but also storehouses, arsenals, and provisions. Hezekiah's statement, "there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them," emphasizes the completeness of his disclosure. This was not a partial tour but a full exhibition of everything Judah possessed, highlighting the extent of his prideful display.

Practical Application

The account of Hezekiah's actions in 2 Kings 20:15 serves as a timeless warning:

  • Humility After Blessing: It underscores the need for humility, especially after receiving significant blessings or experiencing God's miraculous favor. It's easy to shift focus from the Giver to the gifts or to take credit for what God has done.
  • Trust in God Alone: Believers are reminded to place their ultimate trust not in wealth, power, or human connections, but solely in the Lord. Just as Hezekiah learned, showing off earthly resources can lead to spiritual and physical vulnerability. Consider the wisdom found in Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
  • Stewardship vs. Self-Glorification: Our possessions and talents are gifts from God, meant to be stewarded for His glory, not for personal aggrandizement or worldly admiration. Hezekiah's error was using his blessings to impress men rather than to honor God.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Job 31:33

    ¶ If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom:

  • 2 Kings 20:13

    And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, 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: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

  • Proverbs 28:13

    ¶ He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh [them] shall have mercy.

  • Joshua 7:19

    And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide [it] not from me.

  • 1 John 1:8

    ¶ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

  • 1 John 1:10

    If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
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