Bible Strands
Isaiah 39:2
And Hezekiah welcomed the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his treasure house—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, as well as his entire armory—all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — King Hezekiah receives Babylonian envoys who arrived with letters and gifts after hearing of his illness and recovery. He personally displays his entire treasury, armory, and palace stores to them without reservation.
The words — The verb וַ/יִּשְׂמַ֣ח (va/i.yis.Mach) literally means "and he was pleased," describing Hezekiah's glad reception of the delegation. The phrase בֵּ֣ית נְכֹת֡/וֹ (beit ne.kho.t/o) translates directly to "his treasure house," denoting the physical stores he displayed.
The thread — The narrative of this display continues in 2 Chronicles 32:31, which notes the Babylonian rulers sent ambassadors to inquire about the divine wonder. The king's subsequent pride and failure to repay favor are recorded in 2 Chronicles 32:25, while Job 31:25 warns against rejoicing in great wealth gained by one's own hand.
Why it lands — The text records Hezekiah's complete disclosure of his resources before foreign dignitaries. It requires the reader to examine whether total transparency in displaying power and wealth serves strategic wisdom or invites future exploitation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And 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.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 32:25 But because his heart was proud, Hezekiah did not repay the favor shown to him. Therefore wrath came upon him and upon Judah and Jerusalem.
- 2 Chronicles 32:31 And so when ambassadors of the rulers of Babylon were sent to him to inquire about the wonder that had happened in the land, God left him alone to test him, that He might know all that was in Hezekiah’s heart.
- Job 31:25 if I have rejoiced in my great wealth because my hand had gained so much,
- Psalms 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save.
- Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
- 1 Kings 10:2 She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large caravan—with camels bearing spices, gold in great abundance, and precious stones. And she came to Solomon and spoke to him all that was on her mind.
- 1 Kings 10:10 Then she gave the king 120 talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones. Never again were spices in such abundance brought in as those the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
- 1 Kings 10:15 not including the revenue from the merchants, traders, and all the Arabian kings and governors of the land.
- 1 Kings 10:25 Year after year, each visitor would bring his tribute: articles of silver and gold, clothing, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.
- 2 Kings 20:13 And Hezekiah received the envoys and showed them all that was in his treasure house—the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, as well as his armory—all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his palace or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.