Wajumbe Kutoka Babeli
(2 Wafalme 20:12-19)
139:1 2Fal 20:12; 2Nya 32:31Wakati huo Merodaki-Baladani, mwana wa Baladani mfalme wa Babeli, akamtumia Hezekia barua na zawadi, kwa sababu alikuwa amesikia habari za kuugua na kupona kwake. 239:2 2Nya 32:31; 2Fal 18:15; 2Nya 32:27-29Hezekia akawapokea wale wajumbe kwa furaha na kuwaonyesha vitu vile vilivyokuwa katika ghala zake: yaani fedha, dhahabu, vikolezo na mafuta safi, ghala la silaha lote, na kila kitu kilichokuwa katika hazina zake. Hapakuwa na kitu chochote katika jumba lake la kifalme au katika ufalme wake wote ambacho Hezekia hakuwaonyesha.
339:3 Kum 28:49Ndipo nabii Isaya akaenda kwa Mfalme Hezekia na kumuuliza, “Watu hao walisema nini, na wametoka wapi?”
Hezekia akamjibu, “Wametoka nchi ya mbali. Walikuja kwangu kutoka Babeli.”
4Nabii akauliza, “Waliona nini katika jumba lako la kifalme?”
Hezekia akajibu, “Waliona kila kitu katika jumba langu la kifalme. Hakuna kitu chochote katika hazina yangu ambacho sikuwaonyesha.”
539:5 Isa 38:4Ndipo Isaya akamwambia Hezekia, “Sikia neno la Bwana Mwenye Nguvu Zote: 639:6 Law 26:33; Amu 6:4; Yer 20:5; Amo 5:27; 2Fal 24:13Hakika wakati unakuja ambapo vitu vyote katika jumba lako la kifalme, na vyote ambavyo baba zako waliweka akiba mpaka siku hii, vitachukuliwa kwenda Babeli. Hakuna chochote kitakachosalia, asema Bwana. 739:7 2Fal 24:15; Dan 1:1-7Nao baadhi ya wazao wako, nyama yako na damu yako mwenyewe watakaozaliwa kwako, watachukuliwa mbali, nao watakuwa matowashi katika jumba la mfalme wa Babeli.”
839:8 1Sam 3:18; 2Nya 32:26; Amu 10:15; Ay 1:21; Za 39:9Hezekia akamjibu Isaya, “Neno la Bwana ulilosema ni jema.” Kwa kuwa alifikiri, “Patakuwepo amani na usalama wakati wa uhai wangu.”
Messengers Come From Babylon to Hezekiah
1At that time Marduk-Baladan, the king of Babylon, sent Hezekiah letters and a gift. He had heard that Hezekiah had been sick but had gotten well again. Marduk-Baladan was the son of Baladan. 2Hezekiah gladly received the messengers. He showed them what was in his storerooms. He showed them the silver and gold. He took them to where the spices and the fine olive oil were kept. He showed them where he kept all his weapons. And he showed them all his treasures. In fact, he showed them everything that was in his palace and in his whole kingdom.
3Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah. Isaiah asked him, “What did those men say? Where did they come from?”
“They came from a land far away,” Hezekiah said. “They came to me from Babylon.”
4Isaiah asked, “What did they see in your palace?”
“They saw everything in my palace,” Hezekiah said. “I showed them all my treasures.”
5Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Listen to the message of the Lord who rules over all. He says, 6‘You can be sure the time will come when everything in your palace will be carried off to Babylon. Everything the kings before you have stored up until this day will be taken away. There will not be anything left,’ says the Lord. 7‘Some of the members of your family line will be taken away. They will be your own flesh and blood. They will include the children who will be born into your family line. And they will serve the king of Babylon in his palace.’ ”
8“The message the Lord has spoken through you is good,” Hezekiah replied. He thought, “There will be peace and safety while I’m still living.”
