rances of Isaiah and Hezekiah, that
the chief men at Jerusalem had required any foreign assistance. The
Assyrian prince marched immediately to meet the approaching enemy, after
having written a letter to Hezekiah, full of blasphemy against the God of
Israel, whom he insolently boasted he would speedily vanquish, as he had
done all the gods of the other nations round about him. In short, he
discomfited the AEgyptians, and pursued them even into their own country,
which he ravaged, and returned laden with spoil.

It was probably during Sennacherib's absence, which was pretty long, or at
least some little time before, that Hezekiah fell sick, and was cured in a
miraculous manner;(1023) and that (as a sign of God's fulfilling the
promise he had made him of curing him so perfectly, that within three days
he should be able to go to the temple,) the shadow of the sun went ten
degrees backwards upon the dial of the palace. Merodach-Baladan, king of
Babylon, being informed of the miraculous cure of king Hezekiah, sent
ambassadors to him with letters and presents, to congratulate him upon
that occasion, and to acquaint themselves with the miracle that had
happened in the land at this juncture, with respect to the sun's
retrogradation ten degrees. Hezekiah was extremely sensible of the honour
done him by that prince, and very forward to show his ambassadors the
riches and treasures he possessed, and to let them see the whole
magnificence of his palace. Humanly speaking, there was nothing in this
proceeding but what was allowable and commendable; but in the eyes of the
supreme Judge, which are infinitely more piercing and delicate than ours,
this action discovered a lurking pride, and secret vanity, with which his
righteousness was offended. Accordingly, he instantly informed the king by
his prophet Isaiah, that the riches and treasures which he had been
showing to those ambassadors with so much ostentation, should one day be
transported to Babylon; and that his children should be carried thither,
to become servants in the palace of that monarch. This was then utterly
improbable; for Babylon, at the time we are speaking of, was in friendship
and alliance with Jerusalem, as appears by her having sent ambassadors
thither: nor did Jerusalem then seem to have any thing to fear, but from
Nineveh; whose power was at that time formidable, and who had entirely
declared against her. But the fortune of those two cities was to change,
and the