“At that time, King Merodach-baladan son of Baladan of Babylon sent envoys with letters and a present to King Hezekiah. He had heard that King Hezekiah had been sick. King Hezekiah welcomed them. He showed them all his treasure house, the silver, the gold, the spices, the precious oil, his armory, all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house or in the entire realm that King Hezekiah did not show them.”
King Merodach-baladan was the king of Babylon. He was trying to prevent the king of Assyria from taking over his land and wanted to make an alliance with the king of Judah. King Hezekiah was very generous to these envoys and showed them all the treasures of his realm, when they came to see him about his illness.
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 