At that time Merodach-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift, because he had heard of his illness and recovery.

Hezekiah received the envoys gladly and showed them what was in his storehouses. He showed them the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine oil, his entire armory and everything found among his treasures. There was nothing in his palace or in his entire kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.

Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked: What did those men say, and where did they come from? Hezekiah replied: They came from the distant land of Babylon.

The prophet asked: What did they see in your palace? They saw everything in my palace, Hezekiah said. There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.

Isaiah said to Hezekiah: Hear the word of the Jehovah of Hosts:

The time will come when everything in your palace, and all that your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left,' says Jehovah.

Some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away! They will become officers in the palace of the king of Babylon.'

The word of Jehovah you have spoken is good, Hezekiah replied. For he thought: There will be peace and security in my lifetime.