The Book of the Prophet Isaiah
Isaiah 22
Chapter XXII · Vol. III, p. 1172
1 The prophet lamenteth the invasion of Jewry by the Persians. 8 He reproveth their human wisdom and worldly joy. 15 He prophesieth Shebna's downfall, 20 and Eliakim's advancement in his room.
1 The burden1 of athe valley of 2vision. bWhat aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the house-tops?
1 The denounced heavy judgments, ch.13.1; 21.1,11,13. 2 Ki.9.25.
a Ps.125.2. Je.21.13. Ps.147.19,20. Ro.3.2; 9.3,4. Ge.22.14. ch.2.3. Lu.13.33. Am.7.12.
2 Though Jerusalem comprehended mountains, yet as higher mountains 'stood around' it, it was relatively 'a valley,' and the first member of its name signifies vision.—C.
b ch.15.3. Je.48.38. 2 Ki.18.26, with De.22.8. 2 Sa.11.2. Mat.24.17.
2 Thouc that art full of stirs, a tumultuous city, a joyous city: dthy slain3 men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle.
3 Alle thy rulers are fled together, they are bound by the archers:4 all that are found in thee are bound together, which have fled from far.5
e ch.3.1-8. 2 Ki.25.4,5,7,11,18-21. Je.39.3,4,6. La.4.19. Zec.9.11.
4 Heb. of the bow.
5 'All thy rulers are fled together—they are fled from the bow; all that were found in thee are fled together, they are escaped far away.'—Lowth.
4 Therefore said I, fLook away from me; I will weep bitterly,6 labour not to comfort me; because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.
f Ca.1.5. La.1.2,16; 2.10,11,13,18,19; 3.48. Je.4.19; 13.17; 9.1. Lu.19.41. 2 Co.11.29.
6 Heb. I will be bitter in weeping, Mi.1.8.
5 For git is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord GOD of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains.
7 And it shall come to pass, that thy choicest valleys8 shall be ifull of chariots, and the horsemen shall set themselves in array at9 the gate.
8 Heb. the choice of thy valleys, ch.17.5.
i ch.5.26-30; 10.28,32; 36.2; 37.24.
9 Or, towards.
8 And jhe discovered the covering of Judah, and thou didst klook in that day to the armour of lthe house of the forest.
9 Yen have seen also the breaches of the city of David, that they are many; and ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool.
n 2 Ch.32.4,5,30. ver.10,11; ch.7.3. 2 Ki.20.20.
10 And oye have numbered1 the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses have ye broken down to fortify the wall.
o 1 Ch.21.2,3; 27.23,24.
1 To discover the numbers of men, or the quantity of provision, or the contributions that might be raised; or where defences might be established, or what houses might be spared to repair the dilapidated walls.—C.
11 Ye made also a ditch between the two walls for the water of the old pool: but pye have not looked unto the maker thereof, neither had respect unto him that fashioned it long ago.
p Je.17.5. 2 Ch.16.7,12; 6.6. ch.37.26, with ch.17.7,8; 8.17,19.
12 And in that qday did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, rand to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:
13 And behold, sjoy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh and drinking wine: let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die.
14 And it was trevealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, uSurely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
15 Thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto vShebna, which is over the house, and say,
v 2 Ki.18.37. ch.36.4,22, with 1 Ki.4.6; 18.3. Lu.12.42.
16 What hast thou here?2 and whom hast thou here, that thou hast xhewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he3 that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock?4
2 It seems he was a foreigner.
x Job 3.13,14. 2 Sa.18.18. Mat.27.60. Lu.23.53. ch.14.18. Ec.12.5. Job 30.23. Nu.24.21.
3 Or, O he.
4 It was customary for the nobles of Jerusalem to excavate in the side of some rock or cliff splendid tombs for themselves. The valley of the Kidron is one long cemetery; and some portions of the Mount of Olives are honeycombed with sepulchres. Some of these are large and beautiful.—P.
17 Behold, the LORD5 will carry thee away with a mighty captivity,6 and will ysurely cover thee.
5 Or, the LORD who covered thee with an excellent covering, and clothed thee gorgeously, shall surely, &c., ver.18.
6 Heb. the captivity of a man.
y Ps.35.26. ver.18. 2 Sa.15.30. Es.7.8. Je.14.3.
18 He will zsurely violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country:7 there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord's house.
20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant bEliakim, the son of Hilkiah:
b He.5.4. Ex.31.2. 2 Ki.18.18. ch.36.11.
21 And I cwill clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand; and he shall be a dfather to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.
22 And the ekey of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.8
e Job 12.14. Re.3.7. Mat.18.18,19; 16.18,19, with ch.9.6,7. Mat.28.18. Ep.1.22,23.
8 All access to or exclusion from power shall be through him.—C.
23 And I will fasten him as ga nail in a sure place; and he shall be for ha glorious throne to his father's house.
24 And they ishall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of 1flagons.
i Ge.41.40,41,44; 47.12. Mat.11.27; 28.18. Jn.1.16; 3.35. Col.3.11; 2.10,19. Ro.9.23. 2 Ti.2.20,21. Jn.17.6,12.
1 Or, instruments of viols.
25 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the nail2 that is fastened in the sure place be removed,3 and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the LORD hath spoken it.
* 'The nail that is now fastened,' even Shebna, 'shall be removed.'—Note, The prophecies of Shebna and Eliakim are no doubt personal; but yet they are both types and specimens of that progressive march of events which is to terminate in the overthrow of every successive Shebna (every one who rests from labour) either in the kingdom of the world, or in the church; and the elevation of Eliakim (every one who makes God his strength) to the enjoyment of office and power in both.—C.
2 Shebna, ver.15,16, and all his dependants and schemes, Es.9.12-14. Ps.146.3; 62.9,10; 39.5,6; 118.8,9. Je.17.5. ch.2.2. Pr.23.5
3 See note * in first column.
Notes
Ver. 1-3. The heavy judgments of Jerusalem, which is surrounded with mountains, and favoured with God's revelations and ordinances. Ye inhabitants, what is become of all your former security and confidence when ye made light of God's threatenings, that ye are gone to the house-tops to view the approaching army, or to hide yourselves? There is now nothing but doleful outcries and confusion, instead of the wonted shouts of mirth. The men of war die by famine and pestilence, or by their own fears. The rulers have fled; but being overtaken, they and others are chained for prisoners. 6. The Persians and Medes served in the Assyrian and Chaldean armies. 8-14. When Sennacherib had dismantled the fortified cities of Judah, he provided armour, repaired your walls, or built new ones, pulling down part of the houses for that purpose, and conveyed all the water into the city; but ye never applied, by prayer or fasting, to God who formed your city, but instead thereof, spent the little time you had reason to expect, in profane revelling and mirth; which impudent contempt of God and his judgments shall never be forgiven you. 15-19. And you, Shebna, what property or relations have you, a foreigner here, that you should build a stately palace or tomb for yourself? Behold, God shall, in an irresistible manner, drive you into captivity, and overwhelm you with shame and contempt. In a distant country thou shalt live and die obscurely; and your stately chariots and other marks of honour shall remain, to the reproach of king Ahaz, who preferred so worthless a wretch. 20-24. Eliakim shall be advanced into thine office, and tenderly govern the people. He shall have the supreme government of the king's court and family, and dispose of everything belonging to them. He shall be established in his office; and by his prudent carriage shall procure respect to himself and his relations: all of whom, from the highest to the lowest, shall be advanced by him, and own their dependence on him. 25. But you, Shebna, who now appear so firmly fixed in honour, shall then be disgraced and ruined, and all your dependants along with you.
Ver. 6. Uncovered the shield. Polished metallic shields were covered to preserve them from being tarnished; but were uncovered in battle, when their brightness was intended to dazzle and confound the eyes of the enemy. C.
Ver. 8. He discovered the covering of Judah. This expression has been interpreted to 'take away the veil,' an allusion not likely to be applied to Judah. Is it not rather a military allusion, signifying, 'he has passed the fortresses of the frontier,' the covering lines of defence? C.
Ver. 15. Shebna. All that is known of Shebna is contained in ch. xxxvi. xxxvii.; 2 Ki. 18. 19; but from the threatenings here denounced, he appears to have been a leader in the epicurean riot? that occupied the place of repentance towards God. C.
Ver. 23. I will fasten him, &c. In eastern houses there are many pins or pegs fastened in the walls for the suspension of vessels, &c. In reference to this custom, Eliakim is characterized by his capacity, ver. 24, of attending to the greatest amounts and the minutest details—one of the highest practical qualifications of a truly great mind: nothing too great for its capacity; nothing too little for its condescension. C.
Reflections.—How unbounded is the knowledge of God! Not a motion in our course, not a word in our tongue, not a thought in our heart, but he knows it long beforehand! How severe are God's corrections of his own professed people! Pious men, and especially faithful ministers, will be distinguished patterns of grief for public calamities, and of eyeing the hand of God therein. In times of peace many things lie quite neglected. And even in danger, many mind nothing but external means of relief, atheistically overlooking God himself. Nor can the best of rulers reform the hearts of their subjects. Luxury leads to infidelity. But how dreadful is it when professors riot in revellings and mirth, when God is calling them to uncommon humiliation for sin! Alas! such luxurious feasts and frothy songs issue in everlasting damnation! It is very rash for court favourites to pride themselves in their station, or to tyrannize over others. God may suddenly displace and debase them. Preferment is only honourable when it is obtained unsought for, and when it is wholly improved to the glory of God and the benefit of mankind. It is a great mercy for churches and nations to have men prudent, active, and faithful in the principal places of government, especially after almost everything has been mismanaged by others. And above all, infinite is the mercy of Jehovah, in setting up Jesus Christ a Saviour to restore what he took not away; and that he has intrusted him with the whole concerns of his own glory and of our eternal happiness!