Assyria Timeline

Assyria Timeline 701 BC Assyrian Invasion Four kings of Judah are included: Uzziah (good), Jotham (OK), Ahaz (horrible), and Hezekiah (good) We are talking about Hezekiah. He was good, but flawed (like we all are).

Isaiah 39 • 1At 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. • Merodach-baladan was (temporary) king of Babylon. He had taken it away from the Assyrian, Shalmaneser, in 721 BC. Here we are now, at the time of Chapter 39, 701 BC, with a bit of history inserted among the prophecies. • So, Babylon was not part of Assyria at that time. • It was inevitable that Assyria was going to menace Judah some more, as this had already begun. • It was inevitable that Assyria would eventually, under Sargon, come back and reconquer Babylon. • To explore possibly a mutual assistance pact, the envoys from Babylon worked their way into Hezekiah’s armory. • Hezekiah, vainly, stupidly, let them in. And like Eve, he was taken in by flattery and smooth talk.

Isaiah 39 2And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them 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. I can imagine that these Babylonians were intrigued by the miracles of the overwhelming defeat of the Assyrians and Hezekiah’s healing, and that they might have thought to tap into that “mojo”. But he also would like to know what sort of resources Judah had and what sort of potential ally they might be. And if I know Middle Easterners, and politicians, the wealth of Hezekiah would have been of interest for future reference. In other words, the envoys, acting like well-wishers and flatterers, were actually spies.

Isaiah 39 “Impressed?”

Isaiah 39 3Then 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 unto me, even from Babylon. 4Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.. This reminds me a lot of when God came down into the Garden and asked Adam some questions. God already knew about Adam; Isaiah already knew about Hezekiah. So the question was rhetorical. The difference was that Adam KNEW he had sinned. Hezekiah seemed almost proud of what he had done. Like a politician, he thought what he’d done made good political sense. He never took into account how God would perceive it – as a betrayal of HIM, relying instead on some pagan power.

Isaiah 39 5Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: 6Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. There is a subtle difference between what Isaiah told Hezekiah here and what God told Adam in Genesis 3:17 God said to Adam, “Because you have done this…(things will never be the same)”. Isaiah didn’t exactly say that to Hezekiah. He said, “Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re not the sole cause, it was a team ‘effort’, your whole country is guilty, over a long period; but you had a hand in it. And you know very well what I am talking about. Things will never be the same. You guys like Babylon so much? I’ll give you a 70-year vacation there. Jerusalem will be given a facelift.” Sometimes God gives the desires of our hearts in unexpected ways.

Isaiah 39 7And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. This adds injury to insult! 2 Kings 24 and 25 8Then 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. Hezekiah is saying, “Well, you got me. My bad. And if punishment is coming sooner or later, I’m glad it’s later. Peace for now…” Scripture, overall, commends Hezekiah as one of the greats. 2 Chronicles 32:25ff This section of Isaiah closes here. Next, deliverance!

Isaiah 39 1a Behold, the Lord makes the earth empty, He makes it waste

Assyria Timeline