2 Kings 20 13

2 Kings 20:13 kjv

And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and showed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.

2 Kings 20:13 nkjv

And Hezekiah was attentive to them, and showed them all the house of his treasures?the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armory?all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them.

2 Kings 20:13 niv

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

2 Kings 20:13 esv

And Hezekiah welcomed them, and he showed them all his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.

2 Kings 20:13 nlt

Hezekiah received the Babylonian envoys and showed them everything in his treasure-houses ? the silver, the gold, the spices, and the aromatic oils. He also took them to see his armory and showed them everything in his royal treasuries! There was nothing in his palace or kingdom that Hezekiah did not show them.

2 Kings 20 verses

2 Kings 20 13 Meaning

2 Kings 20:13 describes King Hezekiah's complete display of his vast treasury and military armory to the envoys from Babylon. After miraculously recovering from a fatal illness, and having received a congratulatory visit from the Babylonian king's representatives, Hezekiah unveiled all his wealth and strength, revealing the extent of his kingdom's material resources and might. This action was a profound error, stemming from pride and a reliance on earthly riches and alliances, rather than continuing to demonstrate faith in the God who had just healed him. It set the stage for the prophetic judgment that immediately followed.

2 Kings 20 13 Context

2 Kings chapter 20 begins with King Hezekiah's dire illness, a pronouncement of death from the prophet Isaiah, and Hezekiah's fervent prayer and subsequent miraculous healing, marked by the sign of the sun's shadow moving backward on the sundial of Ahaz. News of this extraordinary event reached other nations. The King of Babylon, Berodach-Baladan, seized the opportunity to send envoys ostensibly to congratulate Hezekiah on his recovery. In a moment of vulnerability or pride, perhaps aiming to impress a rising world power or secure a political alliance against Assyria, Hezekiah fully displayed his wealth and military capabilities to these foreign representatives, demonstrating his human trust rather than giving glory to the Lord who had just preserved him.

Historically, this event occurs during a volatile period in the Near East. The Neo-Assyrian Empire was dominant but beginning to decline, and Babylon was a growing power, eager to form alliances that could counter Assyrian influence. Hezekiah's display was a political statement, showcasing his kingdom's strength to a potential ally.

2 Kings 20 13 Word analysis

• Hezekiah: (Hebrew: יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ, Y'ḥizqiyahu or Ḥizqiyahu) - "Yahweh strengthens" or "Yahweh is my strength." Irony pervades this act, as Hezekiah, whose name means "Yahweh is my strength," here relies on his earthly strength and treasures, not the God who recently healed him.
• listened: (Hebrew: שָׁמַע, sham'a) - This root implies not just hearing but paying heed, taking to heart, or obeying. Here, it indicates Hezekiah's receptive and agreeable posture towards the envoys. He fully considered their mission and perhaps sought their favor.
• unto them: Referring to the envoys, or "messengers" (מַלְאָכִים, mal'akhim) from the King of Babylon mentioned in 2 Kgs 20:12.
• shewed them: (Hebrew: וַיַּרְאֵם, vayyar'em) - From the verb רָאָה (ra'ah), meaning "to see," in the Hiphil stem, which denotes causation. "He caused them to see" or "he made them look at." This highlights Hezekiah's active and deliberate action in presenting his wealth. It implies a show-off or boast.
• house of his precious things: (Hebrew: בֵּית נְכֹתֹה, beit nek̲hoto) - Literally "house of his treasures/deposits." "Precious things" (נְכוֹת, nekot) refers to valuable items, wealth, or stores. This was his royal treasury or storage vault for rare and costly goods.
• the silver, and the gold: Fundamental measures of wealth in the ancient world, often in bullion, coinage, or ornate artifacts.
• and the spices: (Hebrew: בֹּשֶׂם, bosem) - Aromatic substances, highly valuable due to their rarity, foreign origin, and uses in perfumes, embalming, and medicine. Often a sign of immense wealth and trade connections.
• and the precious ointment: (Hebrew: שֶׁמֶן הַטּוֹב, shemen haṭov) - "Oil of the good/finest quality." These would be expensive, rare, and fragrant oils, perhaps for anointing or medicinal use, imported from distant lands.
• all the house of his armour: (Hebrew: בֵּית כֵּלָיו, beit kelav) - "House of his vessels/equipment/weapons." This refers to his arsenal, displaying not only wealth but also military readiness and might, including offensive and defensive weapons.
• all that was found in his treasures: Emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the display. Nothing was hidden; the Babylonians saw the full extent of Judah's wealth.
• there was nothing… that Hezekiah shewed them not: This strong double negative reinforces the absolute totality of Hezekiah's disclosure. It implies a lack of discretion, an eager transparency in revealing all his kingdom's assets.

Words-group analysis:

• "Hezekiah listened unto them, and shewed them...": This sequence of "listened" and then "showed" highlights a cause-and-effect relationship: Hezekiah was receptive to their presence and purposes, leading him to an act of self-revelation. It implies that their visit was seen as an opportunity for Hezekiah.
• "house of his precious things... the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment... all the house of his armour... all that was found in his treasures": This detailed and exhaustive inventory emphasizes the vastness of Hezekiah's possessions, and consequently, his pride in showcasing it. It's a comprehensive inventory of material, financial, and military strength, a clear display of the kingdom's self-reliance.
• "there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not": This emphasizes the boundless and complete nature of his display. It highlights that Hezekiah left nothing hidden, implying an unguarded openness to potential adversaries or an overly eager desire to impress. This lack of discernment led to serious consequences, as the prophet Isaiah immediately declared.

2 Kings 20 13 Bonus section

This incident, particularly when compared with 2 Chr 32:25, 31, highlights Hezekiah's pride and a testing of his heart. After being greatly blessed and receiving great honor from God, Hezekiah "rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up." God allowed this visit as a test to "know all that was in his heart." Tragically, Hezekiah failed this test, revealing his inclination to glory in human achievement and material wealth rather than the God who empowers all. This display contrasts sharply with his earlier reliance on God during Sennacherib's invasion, showcasing that even a man of great faith can falter due to pride and a lapse in spiritual discernment. The ultimate irony is that the "treasures" he displayed would become the very objects of a future divine judgment, emphasizing the futility of trusting in earthly riches.

2 Kings 20 13 Commentary

King Hezekiah, recently restored to health by divine intervention, committed a grave error by displaying his entire kingdom's wealth and military strength to the Babylonian envoys. Instead of using this moment to testify to the power and goodness of Yahweh, who had miraculously healed him and delivered Jerusalem from Assyria, he sought to impress human allies with material possessions and military might. This act revealed a lapse in his trust, showcasing human pride and self-reliance rather than continuing to lean on God. His motivations were likely a blend of showing off his prosperity, potentially to form a political alliance against Assyria, and perhaps an inflated sense of security following his miraculous recovery. This seemingly benign act of hospitality proved to be a pivotal moment of disloyalty, as it opened the door to the subsequent prophecy of the Babylonian captivity, where all that Hezekiah had boasted about would be carried off by the very nation he sought to impress. It stands as a timeless warning against relying on worldly treasures or alliances rather than God's unfailing provision and protection.