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2 Kings 20:12

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¶ At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.

At that time {H6256} Berodachbaladan {H1255}, the son {H1121} of Baladan {H1081}, king {H4428} of Babylon {H894}, sent {H7971} letters {H5612} and a present {H4503} unto Hezekiah {H2396}: for he had heard {H8085} that Hezekiah {H2396} had been sick {H2470}.

B'rodakh-Bal'adan the son of Bal'adan, king of Bavel, heard that Hizkiyahu had been ill, so he sent a letter and a gift to him.

At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard about Hezekiah’s illness.

At that time Berodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah; for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.

Commentary

The verse 2 Kings 20:12 introduces a pivotal diplomatic encounter during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. It sets the stage for events that reveal Hezekiah's character and lead to significant prophetic pronouncements concerning the future of Judah.

Context

This verse immediately follows the miraculous healing of King Hezekiah from a deadly illness, a recovery granted by God and confirmed by the sign of the sun's shadow moving backward on the sundial (2 Kings 20:1-11). At this time, the dominant world power was Assyria, and Babylon was a rising force, often in opposition to Assyria. Berodachbaladan (also known as Merodach-Baladan in Isaiah 39 and 2 Chronicles 32) was a Babylonian king who sought to establish alliances against the Assyrian empire. His stated reason for sending envoys and gifts to Hezekiah was to congratulate him on his recovery, but the underlying motive was likely political: to assess Judah's strength and potential as an ally against their common Assyrian foe. Jerusalem, under Hezekiah, had recently withstood an Assyrian siege (2 Kings 19:35-36), making Judah a seemingly valuable partner.

Key Themes

  • Diplomacy and Alliances: The verse highlights the complex international relations of the ancient Near East, where kings engaged in strategic gift-giving and correspondence to forge alliances.
  • Divine Intervention and Human Response: Hezekiah had just experienced God's direct intervention in his life, yet this visit presents a new test of his faith and wisdom.
  • Testing of Faith and Pride: The Babylonian embassy, seemingly an act of goodwill, becomes an occasion for Hezekiah to demonstrate his heart, and unfortunately, his pride, as seen in the subsequent verses (2 Kings 20:13).
  • Foreshadowing of Exile: This seemingly innocuous visit sets the stage for a critical prophetic warning from Isaiah regarding Judah's future captivity in Babylon (2 Kings 20:17-18 and Isaiah 39:6-7).

Linguistic Insights

The name Berodachbaladan is also rendered as Merodach-Baladan in the parallel account in Isaiah 39:1 and 2 Chronicles 32:31. This slight variation in spelling is common in ancient texts and refers to the same historical figure, a prominent Chaldean prince who ruled Babylon multiple times during the late 8th and early 7th centuries BC, challenging Assyrian dominance.

Practical Application

This passage serves as a powerful reminder that moments of great blessing or recovery can also be times of significant spiritual testing. Like Hezekiah, we might be tempted to seek validation or trust in human alliances and displays of wealth rather than relying solely on God. It emphasizes the importance of:

  • Humility after blessings: God's favor should lead to deeper dependence, not pride.
  • Discerning motives: Not all seemingly good gestures are purely benevolent; understanding underlying intentions is crucial.
  • Stewardship: Our possessions and achievements are gifts from God, to be used for His glory, not for personal boasting or worldly alliances that compromise faith.

Hezekiah's subsequent error in judgment after this visit serves as a cautionary tale, urging believers to remain vigilant and faithful even in times of peace and prosperity.

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 (May 20, 2025) 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

  • 2 Chronicles 32:31 (4 votes)

    Howbeit in [the business of] the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was [done] in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all [that was] in his heart.

  • Isaiah 39:1 (4 votes)

    ¶ At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.

  • Isaiah 39:8 (4 votes)

    Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good [is] the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.

  • Isaiah 14:4 (2 votes)

    ¶ That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!

  • Genesis 10:10 (2 votes)

    And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

  • Isaiah 13:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.

  • Isaiah 13:19 (2 votes)

    ¶ And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.