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, even from Babylon.
Then the prophet Isaiah came to King Hezekiah and asked him, 'What did those men say to you? And where did they come from?' Hezekiah answered, 'They came from a distant country, from Babylon.'
The prophet Isaiah is questioning King Hezekiah about visitors from Babylon, showing concern about who the king has been meeting with.
📚 Historical Context
In the historical context of 2 Kings 20, King Hezekiah of Judah had recently recovered from a life-threatening illness through a divine miracle arranged by the prophet Isaiah, which included the sun's shadow moving backward as a sign. Babylonian envoys then visited Hezekiah to inquire about this event, reflecting the rising power of Babylon as an emerging empire in the ancient Near East. This encounter underscores the political tensions of the time, as Hezekiah's interaction with them revealed his vulnerability to pride and foreign influences, foreshadowing Judah's future judgment.
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