1 In tempore illo misit Merodach Baladan, filius Baladan, rex Babylonis, libros et munera ad Ezechiam: audierat enim quod ægrotasset et convaluisset.
Tertullian · AD 220 In the parable of the rich man, he flattered himself about the increase of his fields. But God said to him, "Fool! This night your soul is required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?" It was the same way when King Hezekiah heard from Isaiah the sad doom of his kingdom after he had gloried before the envoys of Babylon in his treasures and the deposits…
Jerome · AD 420 (Chapter 39, verses 1 onwards) At that time Merodach Baladan, son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and gifts to Hezekiah, for he had heard that he had been sick and had recovered.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 At that time. Here he sets out the congratulation of friends, shown in the sending of messengers and gifts; and concerning this, he does three things.
2 Lætatus est autem super eis Ezechias, et ostendit eis cellam aromatum, et argenti, et auri, et odoramentorum, et unguenti optimi, et omnes apothecas supellectilis suæ, et universa quæ inventa sunt in thesauris ejus. Non fuit verbum quod non ostenderet eis Ezechias in domo sua, et in omni potestate sua.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Second, he sets out the vainglory of Ezechias himself, which he derived from this, setting out the joy of vainglory: Ezechias rejoiced; against this is what is said in Job 31:25: if I have rejoiced over my great riches; and the manifestation of vainglory in his works, in the exhibition of his riches: and he showed them the storehouses of his aromatical spices, which are called…
3 Introivit autem Isaias propheta ad Ezechiam regem, et dixit ei: Quid dixerunt viri isti, et unde venerunt ad te? Et dixit Ezechias: De terra longinqua venerunt ad me, de Babylone.
Jerome · AD 420 (Verse 3) Then Isaiah the Prophet came to King Hezekiah and said to him: What did these men say, and where did they come from to you? And Hezekiah said: They have come to me from a distant land, from Babylon.
Cosmas Indicopleustes · AD 550 When the ambassadors of the Babylonian king came to Hezekiah, his heart in a fresh access of human weakness was lifted up with pride, and he received them with all gladness, for his own glory; and contrary to the will of God, he led them into the palace, displaying to them his treasures and all his riches.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Third, he sets out the reprimand of his vainglory: then Isaiah the prophet came. And first, he sets out the inquiry and the manifestation of his fault: there was not any thing which I have not shown them in my treasures: counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water (Prov 20:5).
4 Et dixit: Quid viderunt in domo tua? Et dixit Ezechias: Omnia quæ in domo mea sunt viderunt; non fuit res quam non ostenderim eis in thesauris meis.
Jerome · AD 420 (Verse 4) And he said: What did they see in your house? And Hezekiah said: They saw everything that is in my house; there was nothing, neither word nor thing, that I did not show them in my treasures.
5 Et dixit Isaias ad Ezechiam: Audi verbum Domini exercituum.
Jerome · AD 420 (Verses 5-7) And Isaiah said to Hezekiah: Listen to the word of the Lord of hosts. Behold, the day will come, and everything that is in your house, and what your fathers have laid up until this day, will be carried away to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord.
Cosmas Indicopleustes · AD 550 When the ambassadors of the Babylonian king came to Hezekiah, his heart in a fresh access of human weakness was lifted up with pride, and he received them with all gladness, for his own glory; and contrary to the will of God, he led them into the palace, displaying to them his treasures and all his riches.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Second, he threatens punishment: and Isaiah said; as to the loss of his goods: all that is in your house: thus says the Lord to you: I have given all these lands into the hand of Nabuchodonosor king of Babylon (Jer 27:6).
6 Ecce dies venient, et auferentur omnia quæ in domo tua sunt, et quæ thesaurizaverunt patres tui usque ad diem hanc, in Babylonem; non relinquetur quidquam, dicit Dominus.
7 Et de filiis tuis, qui exibunt de te, quos genueris, tollent, et erunt eunuchi in palatio regis Babylonis.
Aphrahat the Persian Sage · AD 345 Be quiet, you who exalt yourself. Do not think you are better than you are! For if your wealth has caused your heart to be proud, it still is not more abundant than that of Hezekiah. He went in and boasted of his wealth before the Babylonians, yet it was all carried away to Babylon.
Jerome · AD 420 Therefore, Isaiah delivers the judgment of God's word: 'Listen to the word of the Lord of Hosts: A time will come when all these things that are in your house, acquired not by your own labor but by the labor of your fathers, will be transferred to Babylon, and from your descendants they will become eunuchs in the royal palace.' From where the Hebrews want Daniel, Hananiah, Mish…
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 As to the servitude of his children: and of your children, which they say was fulfilled in Daniel and his companions, not because they were such in body, but in mind and office: your sons and your daughters will be given to another people (Deut 28:32).
8 Et dixit Ezechias ad Isaiam: Bonum verbum Domini, quod locutus est. Et dixit: Fiat tantum pax et veritas in diebus meis!
Jerome · AD 420 (Verse 8) And Hezekiah said to Isaiah: Good is the word of the Lord which he has spoken. And he said: Let there be only peace and truth in my days. So Hezekiah said: It is a good word of the Lord that he has spoken.
Thomas Aquinas · AD 1274 Third, he sets out his acceptance of the punishment: and Ezechias said; good, just; peace, from the Assyrians; truth, of religion, above: Lord, you will give us peace (Isa 26:12).