Isaiah 39

KJV · Capítulo 39/66

1At that time Merodach–baladan, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

📖 Estudo do capítulo

Resumo

Mensageiros da Babilônia visitam Ezequias, que orgulhosamente lhes mostra todos os seus tesouros e armamentos. Isaías o repreende, profetizando que um dia tudo isso, e até os descendentes do rei, seriam levados cativos para a Babilônia.

Explicação

Este capítulo funciona como uma dobradiça importante no livro de Isaías: a menção da Babilônia aqui (ainda um reino secundário na época de Ezequias, cerca de 701 a.C.) prepara o terreno para a segunda metade do livro (capítulos 40-66), que trata extensamente do futuro exílio babilônico e do retorno. A ingenuidade de Ezequias, orgulhoso em mostrar riquezas a visitantes estrangeiros sem perceber o perigo político, contrasta com sua sabedoria espiritual mostrada nos capítulos anteriores — lembrando que até bons líderes cometem erros de julgamento. A resposta surpreendentemente resignada de Ezequias ('boa é a palavra do Senhor... haja paz em meus dias') mostra aceitação, ainda que egoísta, do julgamento que só afetaria gerações futuras. A aplicação hoje é que ostentar conquistas ou riquezas sem discernimento pode abrir portas para problemas futuros que talvez não vejamos, mas que afetarão os que vêm depois de nós.

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