Caged birds: Hezekiah shows treasure to Babylon

In 701 Hezekiah and Jerusalem miraculously escaped the conquering and destruction of Jerusalem by Sennacherib, the ruler of Assyria.

Sometime after, Hezekiah showed the treasures of Israel to the emissaries of the king of Babylon.

Isaiah prophecies that Babylon would carry away their treasures and that they would become captive to them. This was almost 100 years before the Assyrian Empire ended and the Babylonian empire ascended under Nebuchadnezzar.

In 701 BC Hezekiah and Jerusalem miraculously escaped the conquering and destruction of Jerusalem by Sennacherib, the ruler of Assyria.
Isaiah the prophet was inside the city of Jerusalem during the siege, providing prophecies from God.

This is recorded both in the Bible and in secular history and on an ancient prism discovered and deciphered. In the Bible, an angel smites 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in one night.

On the prism of Sennacherib, Sennacherib recounts how he had trapped Hezekiah in Jerusalem "like a caged bird" (which was true) but leaving out the overnight disaster and having to retreat. Some secular sources attribute the disaster to a sudden plague, but the two viewpoints had the same effect.
Hezekiah is mentioned by name on the prism. It was during this siege of Jerusalem that the tunnel of Hezekiah was dug to obtain water for Jerusalem.

Details are left as a future topic.

Jeremiah 5:26 For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. [kjv]

5:27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. [kjv]

ως παγις εφεσταμενη πληρης πετεινων ουτως οι οικοι αυτων πληρεις δολου δια τουτο εμεγαλυνθησαν και επλουτησαν [lxx]

Apparently the idiom of a "caged bird" was common in the time of Hezekiah and Sennacherib. Jeremiah uses a similar wording but not in a good sense. The sense is not of a "cage" but of a "snare" or "trap".

More: A snare laced by a lasso string

More: Matthew 11:6: Idiomatic misinterpretations that offend

Jeremiah 5:27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich. [kjv]

This idea of "caged birds" can be compared to the "Rock of Jesus" and the "House of Sand" but as a human infrastructure and hierarchy.
That hierarchy can be compared to a tree in whose branches those birds build nests.

More: Building a house on sand

More: Building a house on sand continued

More: Building a house

More: Tower of Babel: Two houses attempted using sand

Jeremiah 5:26

All

KJV: For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.

Hebrew: כי נמצאו בעמי רשעים ישור כשך יקושים הציבו משחית אנשים ילכדו׃

Greek: οτι ευρεθησαν εν τω λαω μου ασεβεις και παγιδας εστησαν διαφθειραι ανδρας και συνελαμβανοσαν

Brenton: For amongst my people were found ungodly men; and they have set snares to destroy men, and have caught them.

Jeremiah 5:27

All

KJV: As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.

Hebrew: ככלוב מלא עוף כן בתיהם מלאים מרמה על כן גדלו ויעשירו׃

Greek: ως παγις εφεσταμενη πληρης πετεινων ουτως οι οικοι αυτων πληρεις δολου δια τουτο εμεγαλυνθησαν και επλουτησαν

Revelation 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. [kjv]

και εκραξεν εν ισχυρα φωνη λεγων επεσεν επεσεν βαβυλων η μεγαλη και εγενετο κατοικητηριον δαιμονιων και φυλακη παντος πνευματος ακαθαρτου και φυλακη παντος ορνεου ακαθαρτου και μεμισημενου [gnt]

In Revelation, Babylon is described as a "cage" of every "unclean" and "hateful" type of "bird".

Discuss: How might the world be a cage for a believer?

The Greek word for "cage" is that of a "prison" as in something that is "watched".
The Greek word for "bird" is not the word used in Matthew but is that of "fowl", as used by John, or "hen", as used in Matthew and Luke.

More: Mysteries in Babylon

Revelation 18:2

All

KJV: And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

Greek: και εκραξεν εν ισχυι ισχυρα φωνη μεγαλη λεγων επεσεν επεσεν βαβυλων η μεγαλη και εγενετο κατοικητηριον δαιμονων δαιμονιων και φυλακη παντος πνευματος ακαθαρτου και φυλακη παντος ορνεου ακαθαρτου και μεμισημενου

Tyndale: And he cryed myghtyly with a stronge voyce sayinge: Great Babilon is fallen ys fallen and ys become the habitation of devels and the holde of all fowle sprettes and a cage of all vnclene and hatefull byrdes

2 Kings 18:3 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did. [kjv]

18:4 He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. [kjv]

Hezekiah did many good things for Israel. Hezekiah was considered a good king.

2 Kings 18:3

All

KJV: And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.

Hebrew: ויעש הישר בעיני יהוה ככל אשר עשה דוד אביו׃

Greek: και εποιησεν το ευθες εν οφθαλμοις κυριου κατα παντα οσα εποιησεν δαυιδ ο πατηρ αυτου

2 Kings 18:4

All

KJV: He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

Hebrew: הוא הסיר את הבמות ושבר את המצבת וכרת את האשרה וכתת נחש הנחשת אשר עשה משה כי עד הימים ההמה היו בני ישראל מקטרים לו ויקרא לו נחשתן׃

Greek: αυτος εξηρεν τα υψηλα και συνετριψεν πασας τας στηλας και εξωλεθρευσεν τα αλση και τον οφιν τον χαλκουν ον εποιησεν μωυσης οτι εως των ημερων εκεινων ησαν οι υιοι ισραηλ θυμιωντες αυτω και εκαλεσεν αυτον νεεσθαν

Hezekiah did some things that caused problems after his life was over.

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: [kjv]

μη θησαυριζετε υμιν θησαυρους επι της γης οπου σης και βρωσις αφανιζει και οπου κλεπται διορυσσουσιν και κλεπτουσιν [gnt]

More: Matthew 6: A treasury of treasures of which to treasure

More: Matthew 13: Eighth kingdom parable: treasure of new and old codes

Matthew 6:19

All

KJV: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

Greek: μη θησαυριζετε υμιν θησαυρους επι της γης οπου σης και βρωσις αφανιζει και οπου κλεπται διορυσσουσιν και κλεπτουσιν

Latin: nolite thesaurizare vobis thesauros in terra ubi erugo et tinea demolitur ubi fures effodiunt et furantur

Wessex: Nellen ge goldhordian eow on eorðan goldhordas. þaer öm & mohþe hit fornymð. & þaer þeofes hit delfeð & for-steleð.

Wycliffe: Nile ye tresoure to you tresouris in erthe, where ruste and mouyte destrieth, and where theues deluen out and stelen;

Tyndale: Se that ye gaddre you not treasure vpon ye erth where rust and mothes corrupte and where theves breake through and steale.

Isaiah 39:1 At that time Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered. [kjv]

At that time, Babylon was a growing but small and as of yet unimportant regional area.

Isaiah 39:1

All

KJV: At that time Merodach-baladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.

Hebrew: בעת ההיא שלח מרדך בלאדן בן בלאדן מלך בבל ספרים ומנחה אל חזקיהו וישמע כי חלה ויחזק׃

Greek: εν τω καιρω εκεινω απεστειλεν μαρωδαχ υιος του λααδαν ο βασιλευς της βαβυλωνιας επιστολας και πρεσβεις και δωρα εζεκια ηκουσεν γαρ οτι εμαλακισθη εως θανατου και ανεστη

Isaiah 39:2 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 ointment, 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. [kjv]

Hezekiah shows the emissaries of Babylon the wealth of Israel.

Traditionally this included opening the Ark of the Covenant.

Isaiah 39:2

All

KJV: 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 ointment, 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.

Hebrew: וישמח עליהם חזקיהו ויראם את בית נכתה את הכסף ואת הזהב ואת הבשמים ואת השמן הטוב ואת כל בית כליו ואת כל אשר נמצא באצרתיו לא היה דבר אשר לא הראם חזקיהו בביתו ובכל ממשלתו׃

Greek: και εχαρη επ αυτοις εζεκιας χαραν μεγαλην και εδειξεν αυτοις τον οικον του νεχωθα και της στακτης και των θυμιαματων και του μυρου και του αργυριου και του χρυσιου και παντας τους οικους των σκευων της γαζης και παντα οσα ην εν τοις θησαυροις αυτου και ουκ ην ουθεν ο ουκ εδειξεν εζεκιας εν τω οικω αυτου

Isaiah 39:3 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. [kjv]

39:4 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. [kjv]

Isaiah 39:3

All

KJV: 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.

Hebrew: ויבא ישעיהו הנביא אל המלך חזקיהו ויאמר אליו מה אמרו האנשים האלה ומאין יבאו אליך ויאמר חזקיהו מארץ רחוקה באו אלי מבבל׃

Greek: και ηλθεν ησαιας ο προφητης προς τον βασιλεα εζεκιαν και ειπεν προς αυτον τι λεγουσιν οι ανθρωποι ουτοι και ποθεν ηκασιν προς σε και ειπεν εζεκιας εκ γης πορρωθεν ηκασιν προς με εκ βαβυλωνος

Isaiah 39:4

All

KJV: 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.

Hebrew: ויאמר מה ראו בביתך ויאמר חזקיהו את כל אשר בביתי ראו לא היה דבר אשר לא הראיתים באוצרתי׃

Greek: και ειπεν ησαιας τι ειδοσαν εν τω οικω σου και ειπεν εζεκιας παντα τα εν τω οικω μου ειδοσαν και ουκ εστιν εν τω οικω μου ο ουκ ειδοσαν αλλα και τα εν τοις θησαυροις μου

Wars are caused by unprotected wealth. Douglas MacArthur (American military leader)

One way is a strong defense. Another way is not to let anyone know about that wealth.

More: Douglas MacArthur

Isaiah 39:5 Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: [kjv]

Isaiah is not happy with what Hezekiah has done.

Isaiah 39:5

All

KJV: Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts:

Hebrew: ויאמר ישעיהו אל חזקיהו שמע דבר יהוה צבאות׃

Greek: και ειπεν αυτω ησαιας ακουσον τον λογον κυριου σαβαωθ

Isaiah 39:6 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. [kjv]

Isaiah prophecies that Babylon would carry away their treasures and that they would become captive to them. This was almost 100 years before the Assyrian Empire ended and the Babylonian empire ascended under Nebuchadnezzar.

Some of that treasure would be used by Belshazzar for a celebration at the "writing on the wall" episode in Daniel 5.

What is not in the list of items (later) carried off to Babylon was the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant appears to have disappeared before then. There are many theories about where it is.

Under the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
In a church in Ethiopia. There is credible circumstantial evidence for Ethiopia and thousands of churches there all claim to have that Ark.

Details are left as a future topic.

Isaiah 39:6

All

KJV: 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.

Hebrew: הנה ימים באים ונשא כל אשר בביתך ואשר אצרו אבתיך עד היום הזה בבל לא יותר דבר אמר יהוה׃

Greek: ιδου ημεραι ερχονται λεγει κυριος και λημψονται παντα τα εν τω οικω σου και οσα συνηγαγον οι πατερες σου εως της ημερας ταυτης εις βαβυλωνα ηξει και ουδεν ου μη καταλιπωσιν ειπεν δε ο θεος

Isaiah 39:7 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. [kjv]

Those "eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon" would include Daniel and his friends, carried away into captivity.

This would happen about 100 years after this prophecy of Isaiah.

Isaiah 39:7

All

KJV: And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.

Hebrew: ומבניך אשר יצאו ממך אשר תוליד יקחו והיו סריסים בהיכל מלך בבל׃

Greek: οτι και απο των τεκνων σου ων εγεννησας λημψονται και ποιησουσιν σπαδοντας εν τω οικω του βασιλεως των βαβυλωνιων

Brenton: that they shall take also of your children whom you shall beget; and they shall make them eunuchs in the house of the king of the Babylonians.

Isaiah 39:8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days. [kjv]

Hezekiah was otherwise a good king. He ask God for, and received, 15 years of additional life during which Israel was at peace.

This peace ended after his death.

Isaiah 39:8

All

KJV: Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.

Hebrew: ויאמר חזקיהו אל ישעיהו טוב דבר יהוה אשר דברת ויאמר כי יהיה שלום ואמת בימי׃

Greek: και ειπεν εζεκιας προς ησαιαν αγαθος ο λογος κυριου ον ελαλησεν γενεσθω δη ειρηνη και δικαιοσυνη εν ταις ημεραις μου