Bible passage: Isaiah 39:5-7
Prophet: Isaiah
Written: Between 701-681 BC
The southern kingdom of Judah, unlike the northern kingdom of Israel, survived the wrath and aspirations of the Assyrian Empire. But, a new empire would rise up from Babylon and conquer the Assyrians, as well as the people of Judah.
Isaiah, who had prophesied about the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel, also foretold the conquest of Judah. In Isaiah 39:5-7, the prophet informed King Hezekiah of Judah that there would come a time when the Babylonians would loot and subdue Judah.
After the time of Isaiah, the Babylonians fought and conquered the Assyrians, about 2,600 years ago, and assumed control over a large swath of land that included much of the Middle East. Afterwards, the Babylonians began subjugating Judah. In about the year 605 BC, the Babylonians began taking some of the Jews from Judah as captives to Babylon. And, in 586 BC, the Babylonians destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the Temple.
Babylon dominated Judah until about 539 BC, when a coalition of Medes and Persians conquered Babylon. Afterwards, some Jews returned from exile and began a process of rebuilding and repopulating Jerusalem and the surrounding cities and towns.
- Research and commentary is based on the book 100 Fulfilled Bible Prophecies. © Ray Konig and AboutBibleProphecy.com.
Here is Isaiah 39:5-7 (NIV):
5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the Lord Almighty: 6 The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the Lord. 7 And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon."