2 Kings 20:15

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible

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."

Berean Standard Bible

“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.”

American Standard Version

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

### SUMMARY
2 Kings 20:15 captures King Hezekiah's candid admission to the prophet Isaiah that he had revealed the entirety of his royal treasury and possessions to the visiting Babylonian envoys. This pivotal moment, occurring immediately after God miraculously extended Hezekiah's life, exposes a profound lapse in the king's spiritual discernment and reliance on worldly display, setting the stage for Isaiah's sobering prophecy of future judgment and exile.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within a critical narrative sequence in Hezekiah's reign. Chapters 18-19 detail Judah's miraculous deliverance from the Assyrian siege under Sennacherib, a testament to God's faithfulness to Hezekiah's trust. Immediately preceding 2 Kings 20:15, Hezekiah falls mortally ill, and Isaiah pronounces his impending death. However, Hezekiah's fervent prayer leads to God's miraculous intervention, adding fifteen years to his life and providing the sign of the sundial's shadow receding (2 Kings 20:1-11). Following this divine healing, Merodach-baladan, the king of Babylon, sends envoys with letters and a present, ostensibly to congratulate Hezekiah on his recovery. In a moment of questionable judgment, Hezekiah, instead of giving glory to God or seeking divine counsel, proudly displays "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" to these foreign dignitaries ([2 Kings 20:13](/2_kings/20-13 "2 Kings 20:13 - Hezekiah Displays His Treasures")). Isaiah's direct and penetrating question in the preceding verse ([2 Kings 20:14](/2_kings/20-14 "2 Kings 20:14 - Isaiah's Question to Hezekiah")) prompts Hezekiah's full confession in verse 15, which then serves as the immediate precursor to Isaiah's dire prophecy of Babylonian captivity and the plundering of these very treasures.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of Hezekiah's reign (late 8th to early 7th century BCE) was marked by significant geopolitical upheaval. The dominant power was the Neo-Assyrian Empire, which had already conquered the Northern Kingdom of Israel and threatened Judah. Babylon, though not yet the supreme power, was an emerging force and a rival to Assyria, often seeking alliances against it. Merodach-baladan's embassy to Hezekiah was likely not purely congratulatory but a diplomatic overture aimed at forging an anti-Assyrian alliance, leveraging Hezekiah's recent miraculous deliverance and perceived strength. In ancient Near Eastern culture, displaying one's wealth and military might could be a show of power, a gesture of hospitality, or a means to impress potential allies. However, for a king of Judah, whose ultimate security lay in Yahweh, such a display to a foreign power, especially without divine consultation, was a profound misstep, indicating a reliance on human strength and alliances rather than God's unfailing protection. This act exposed Judah's vulnerabilities and made it a tempting target for future conquest.

* **Key Themes:** Hezekiah's actions in this chapter, culminating in his confession in [2 Kings 20:15](/2_kings/20-15 "2 Kings 20:15 - Hezekiah's Confession to Isaiah"), contribute significantly to several key themes within the book of [2 Kings](/2_kings/1 "The Book of 2 Kings") and the broader Old Testament narrative. Foremost among these is the theme of **Pride and Humility**, particularly after divine blessing. Despite having just experienced God's direct, miraculous intervention to save his life, Hezekiah's immediate response is to boast in his earthly wealth and might, demonstrating a profound lack of humility and gratitude. This contrasts sharply with his earlier reliance on God during the Assyrian siege ([2 Kings 19:14-19](/2_kings/19-14 "2 Kings 19:14-19 - Hezekiah's Prayer Against Sennacherib")). Another crucial theme is **Trust in God vs. Worldly Alliances and Possessions**. Hezekiah's decision to display his treasures and potentially seek an alliance with Babylon highlights the danger of placing confidence in human power or material wealth rather than solely in the Lord, who had just proven His omnipotence. This misplaced trust ultimately leads to the theme of **Consequences of Disobedience and Folly**, as Isaiah's subsequent prophecy directly links Hezekiah's actions to the future Babylonian captivity and the plundering of Judah's treasures ([2 Kings 20:16-18](/2_kings/20-16 "2 Kings 20:16-18 - Isaiah's Prophecy of Babylonian Captivity")). Finally, the narrative subtly reinforces the theme of **Divine Sovereignty and Testing**, demonstrating that even faithful kings can be tested and fall short, and God's overarching plan of judgment and restoration will ultimately unfold.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **House (Hebrew, _bayit_):** While literally meaning "house," in a royal context, this term extends beyond a mere dwelling to encompass the entire royal palace complex, including its various chambers, storehouses, and armories. Hezekiah's statement implies that every part of his royal establishment, including its most secure and valuable areas, was opened for inspection, not just his personal residence.
* **Treasures (Hebrew, _'otsrot_):** This plural noun refers to stored wealth, including precious metals (silver, gold), spices, ointments, and provisions. Crucially, it also denotes "storehouses" or "treasuries" themselves, as well as "armories" or "arsenals." Hezekiah's use of this word emphasizes the totality of his valuable possessions, both monetary and military, which he meticulously displayed to the Babylonian envoys.
* **Shewed (Hebrew, _hir'itim_):** This verb is the Hiphil (causative) form of the root רָאָה (_ra'ah_), meaning "to see." The Hiphil conjugation "I caused them to see" or "I showed them" indicates an active, intentional, and comprehensive display on Hezekiah's part. It was not a casual glance but a deliberate exhibition, underscoring the king's prideful initiative in revealing his kingdom's wealth and resources.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he said, What have they seen in thine house?":** This is Isaiah's direct, probing question to Hezekiah. It is not merely an inquiry for information but a diagnostic question, designed to elicit a confession and expose the king's heart. Isaiah, as God's prophet, already knows what transpired, but he compels Hezekiah to articulate his actions, thereby taking responsibility for his lapse in judgment. The question focuses on "thine house," implying the king's personal domain and the extent of his display.
* **"And Hezekiah answered, All [the things] that [are] in mine house have they seen:":** Hezekiah's immediate and unreserved response confirms the comprehensive nature of his disclosure. He admits to showing "all" that was within his royal domain. This phrase underscores the completeness of his exhibition, leaving no doubt about the extent of his prideful transparency. It's an admission of full disclosure, without reservation or attempt to conceal.
* **"there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.":** This clause serves as an emphatic reiteration and intensification of the previous statement. By declaring that "nothing" was withheld from his "treasures," Hezekiah confirms that he held back absolutely nothing, revealing the full extent of Judah's wealth and military provisions. This complete exposure, while perhaps intended to impress or forge an alliance, ultimately highlighted a profound spiritual vulnerability and misplaced trust.

#### Literary Devices
The passage in [2 Kings 20:15](/2_kings/20-15 "2 Kings 20:15 - Hezekiah's Confession to Isaiah") employs several potent literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, as Hezekiah, having just experienced God's miraculous intervention to save his life and kingdom from Assyria, immediately turns to a display of worldly power and wealth to impress foreign dignitaries, rather than giving glory to the Lord. This act of human pride directly follows a profound demonstration of divine grace. The dialogue between Isaiah and Hezekiah serves as a form of **moral confrontation**, where the prophet's pointed question forces the king to acknowledge his actions and their implications. This direct exchange heightens the dramatic tension and highlights Hezekiah's accountability. Furthermore, the verse acts as powerful **foreshadowing**. Hezekiah's complete revelation of his "treasures" directly sets the stage for Isaiah's subsequent prophecy (2 Kings 20:16-18) that these very treasures, and even his descendants, will be carried away to Babylon, making the act of showing off his wealth a direct precursor to its loss. There is also a subtle **contrast** between the invisible, miraculous power of God that saved Judah from Assyria and Hezekiah's reliance on visible, material wealth to secure his future.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Hezekiah's actions in 2 Kings 20:15 represent a classic biblical example of pride and misplaced trust following a season of profound divine blessing. Having just witnessed God's miraculous power in extending his life and delivering Judah from Assyria, Hezekiah's heart was tested. Instead of responding with deepened humility and exclusive reliance on God, he succumbed to the temptation to impress human powers with his earthly riches. This reveals a fundamental theological truth: God often tests the hearts of His people, especially after great acts of grace, to see where their ultimate trust lies. Hezekiah's failure underscores the danger of human self-sufficiency and the spiritual peril of boasting in material possessions or seeking security through worldly alliances rather than in the unfailing sovereignty of Yahweh. His transparency with Babylon was not an act of wisdom but of folly, exposing his kingdom to the very power that would eventually bring about its downfall.

* [Proverbs 16:18](/proverbs/16-18 "Proverbs 16:18 - Pride Precedes Destruction")
* [Jeremiah 17:5](/jeremiah/17-5 "Jeremiah 17:5 - Cursed is the one who trusts in man")
* [1 John 2:16](/1_john/2-16 "1 John 2:16 - The Lust of the Eyes and the Pride of Life")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of Hezekiah's display of his treasures serves as a timeless cautionary tale for believers today. It powerfully reminds us that even after experiencing profound divine blessings or miraculous interventions, our hearts remain susceptible to pride and misplaced trust. It's easy to shift our focus from the Giver of all good gifts to the gifts themselves, or to take credit for what God has accomplished through us. Hezekiah's error was not in possessing wealth, but in using it to glorify himself and seek human approval or alliances, rather than stewarding it for God's glory and relying solely on His protection. This passage challenges us to examine our own lives: when we achieve success, receive a blessing, or overcome a challenge, where do we direct the praise? Do we subtly (or overtly) display our "treasures"—be they financial, intellectual, relational, or spiritual gifts—to impress others or secure our own future, or do we humbly acknowledge God as the source of all good things? Our ultimate security and identity must be rooted in Christ, not in what we possess or achieve.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How do I respond to God's blessings in my life—with genuine humility and gratitude, or with a subtle (or overt) desire for human recognition and boasting?**
* **In what areas of my life might I be tempted to display my "treasures" (talents, achievements, possessions, or even spiritual experiences) for self-glory rather than for God's glory?**
* **Where do I truly place my ultimate trust for security and provision: in my financial resources, my network of connections, my personal abilities, or in the unfailing power and faithfulness of God alone?**

### FAQ
**Why was Hezekiah showing his treasures to the Babylonians such a significant misstep?**

Answer: Hezekiah's display of his treasures was a significant misstep for several reasons. Spiritually, it demonstrated a profound lack of discernment and humility, especially immediately after God had miraculously saved his life and delivered Judah from Assyrian oppression. Instead of glorifying God, Hezekiah sought to impress a foreign power with his material wealth and military strength. Politically, it was a strategic blunder; by revealing the full extent of Judah's resources, Hezekiah inadvertently exposed his kingdom's wealth and vulnerabilities to a rising imperial power, essentially inviting future plunder. The Babylonians, who were then rivals of Assyria, were likely assessing Judah as a potential ally or, as history proved, a future target. This act symbolized a misplaced trust in worldly alliances and possessions rather than in the Lord, who had just proven Himself to be Judah's true defender ([2 Kings 19:35-36](/2_kings/19-35 "2 Kings 19:35-36 - The Angel of the Lord Destroys the Assyrian Army")).

**Did Hezekiah understand the consequences of his actions when he showed his treasures?**

Answer: It is unlikely that Hezekiah fully understood the long-term, dire consequences of his actions at the moment he displayed his treasures. He probably intended to impress the Babylonian envoys and perhaps secure a favorable alliance against Assyria. However, Isaiah's immediate and unequivocal prophecy in the verses that follow ([2 Kings 20:16-18](/2_kings/20-16 "2 Kings 20:16-18 - Isaiah's Prophecy of Babylonian Captivity")) made the consequences abundantly clear: "Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD." This prophecy explicitly linked Hezekiah's prideful display to the future Babylonian captivity, demonstrating that God holds His people accountable for their choices, even when those choices stem from a lack of foresight rather than malicious intent.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Hezekiah's failure in 2 Kings 20:15, marked by his prideful display of earthly treasures and misplaced trust in worldly alliances, stands in stark contrast to the perfect humility and unwavering reliance on God exemplified by Jesus Christ. While Hezekiah boasted in his material wealth, Jesus, "though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich" ([2 Corinthians 8:9](/2_corinthians/8-9 "2 Corinthians 8:9 - Christ's Poverty for Our Riches")). Our Lord did not seek to impress earthly kings or secure His kingdom through a display of worldly power or possessions. Instead, He consistently rejected the temptations of worldly dominion and glory, as seen in His wilderness encounter with Satan ([Matthew 4:8-10](/matthew/4-8 "Matthew 4:8-10 - Temptation to Worldly Power")). Jesus declared that His kingdom "is not of this world" ([John 18:36](/john/18-36 "John 18:36 - Jesus' Kingdom Not of This World")), and He taught His disciples to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal" ([Matthew 6:19-21](/matthew/6-19 "Matthew 6:19-21 - Lay Up Treasures in Heaven")). Hezekiah's "treasures" were fleeting and ultimately plundered; Christ is the ultimate, eternal treasure, the "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), offering a secure and everlasting inheritance to all who trust in Him, not in the fading glories of this world. His life and sacrifice perfectly fulfill the call to absolute trust in the Father, providing the true model for humility and stewardship that Hezekiah tragically missed.

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

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.