Daily Tanach Tuesday 10th Nissan Sefer Melachim 2 Chapter 20 Part 2: Chizkiyah shows his palace to messengers from Babylon and receives a dire prophecy

* The article below is an excerpt from the above Sefer
  1. Chizkiyah shows his palace to messengers from Babylon and receives a dire prophecy:
  • At that time [after Chizkiyah miraculously recovered from his illness], Berodach-Baladan the son of Baladan, the king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Chizkiyah after hearing of his recovery.
  • Chizkiyah shows his palace to the emissaries of Babylon: Chizkiyah listened to the emissaries, and he showed them his entire treasure, the silver, the gold, the spices, and oil, and the entire house in which he kept his vessels. Chizkiyah showed them everything in his palace and in his kingdom [including the Aron and Luchos, and Sefer Torah[1]], without leaving anything unshown.
  • Yeshayahu confronts Chizkiyah for what he did: Yeshayahu, the prophet, came to King Chizkiyah and confronted him asking him as to what the men from Babylon said and as to what they wanted. Chizkiyah replied to him that the men came from a distant country, from Babylon. Yeshayahu then asked him as to what he showed them in the palace? Chizkiyah replied that he showed them everything that is in the palace and treasury.
  • Yeshayahu prophesizes the downfall of Chizkiyah and exile of his children: Yeshayahu then told Chizkiyah, to listen to the following prophecy that he has to say: “A time will come when everything in your palace and what your ancestors have stored there, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will remain. Your descendants [Chananyah, Mishael, and Azaria[2]] will be taken down to exile in Babylon and become officers in the palace of the king of Babylon.” Chizkiyah replied to Yeshayahu that he is happy that at least there will still be peace during his days.

 

  1. The legacy of Chizkiyah:
  • The remaining events of Chizkiyah and all of his mighty deeds, and how he brought a channel of water into the city of Jerusalem, are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Yehuda.
  • His passing: Chizkiyah passed away and was buried together with his ancestors.
  • His successor: Menashe, the son of Chizkiyah, reigned in his stead.

 

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[1] Rashi 20:13

[2] Rashi 20:17

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