So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, saying, "I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me."
And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria. And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: and the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.
(Many years passed away. The prophet tried to make his people better, but often without success. He tried to get the rulers to trust in Jehovah rather than in armies and the aid of foreign kings. Sometimes he succeeded, but more often he failed. The land was still subject to Assyria, and had paid heavy tribute ever since Ahaz had hired the king of Assyria to help him against the Northern kings. Other lands were also under the yoke of Assyria, and all of them wanted to win their freedom. At last the king of Babylon sent messengers to these other countries to see if he could not get [{268}] their kings to join in revolt against Assyria. But Isaiah did not favor this alliance, for this also was trusting, not to Jehovah, but to armies and foreign kings.)
At that time Merodach-baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he heard that he had been sick, and was recovered. 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 oil, 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. Then 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."
Then 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."
Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the Lord of hosts. Behold, 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. And thy sons shall they take away; they shall be servants in the palace of the king of Babylon."
Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, "Good is the word of the Lord which thou hast spoken."