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96 lines
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Title = 'The Book of the Prophet Isaiah';
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<p id="Chapter22" align="center">Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET<br >CHAPTER 22
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<p id="Isa22_1"><a onclick="return mV('Isa',22,'1-14');">Isa 22:1-14</a>. PROPHECY AS TO AN ATTACK ON JERUSALEM.
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<p>That by Sennacherib, in the fourteenth year of Hezekiah; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',22,'8-11');">Isa 22:8-11</a>, the preparations for defense and securing of water exactly answer to those in <a onclick="return mV('2Ch',32,4,5,30);">2Ch 32:4-5, 30</a>. "Shebna," too (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',22,15);">Isa 22:15</a>), was scribe at this time (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',36,3);">Isa 36:3</a>) [MAURER]. The language of <a onclick="return mV('Isa',22,'12-14');">Isa 22:12-14</a>, as to the infidelity and consequent utter ruin of the Jews, seems rather to foreshadow the destruction by Nebuchadnezzar in Zedekiah's reign, and cannot be restricted to Hezekiah's time [LOWTH].
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<p><b>1. of...valley of vision</b>—rather, "respecting the valley of visions"; namely, Jerusalem, the seat of divine revelations and visions, "the nursery of prophets" [JEROME], (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',2,3);">Isa 2:3</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',29,1);">29:1</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Eze',23,4);">Eze 23:4</a>, <i>Margin;</i> <a onclick="return mV('Luk',13,33);">Luk 13:33</a>). It lay in a "valley" surrounded by hills higher than Zion and Moriah (<a onclick="return mV('Psa',125,2);">Psa 125:2</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Jer',21,13);">Jer 21:13</a>).
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<br><br><b>thee</b>—the people of Jerusalem personified.
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<br><br><b>housetops</b>—Panic-struck, they went up on the flat balustraded roofs to look forth and see whether the enemy was near, and partly to defend themselves from the roofs (<a onclick="return mV('Jdg',9,51);">Jdg 9:51</a>, etc.).
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<p id="Isa22_2"><b>2. art</b>—rather, "wert"; for it could not <i>now</i> be said to be "a joyous city" (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',32,13);">Isa 32:13</a>). The cause of their <i>joy</i> (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',22,13);">Isa 22:13</a>) may have been because Sennacherib had accepted Hezekiah's offer to renew the payment of tribute, and they were glad to have peace on any terms, however humiliating (<a onclick="return mV('2Ki',18,'14-16');">2Ki 18:14-16</a>), or on account of the alliance with Egypt. If the reference be to Zedekiah's time, the joy and feasting are not inapplicable, for this recklessness was a general characteristic of the unbelieving Jews (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',56,12);">Isa 56:12</a>).
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<br><br><b>not slain with the sword</b>—but with the famine and pestilence about to be caused by the coming siege (<a onclick="return mV('Lam',4,9);">Lam 4:9</a>). MAURER refers this to the <i>plague</i> by which he thinks Sennacherib's army was destroyed, and Hezekiah was made sick (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',37,36);">Isa 37:36</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',38,1);">38:1</a>). But there is no authority for supposing that the Jews in the city suffered such extremities of plague at <i>this</i> time, when God destroyed their foes. BARNES refers it to those <i>slain in flight,</i> not in open honorable "battle"; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',22,3);">Isa 22:3</a> favors this.
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<p id="Isa22_3"><b>3. rulers</b>—rather, "generals" (<a onclick="return mV('Jos',10,24);">Jos 10:24</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Jdg',11,6,11);">Jdg 11:6, 11</a>).
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<br><br><b>bound</b>—rather, "<i>are taken.</i>"
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<br><br><b>by the archers</b>—literally, "by the bow"; so <a onclick="return mV('Isa',21,17);">Isa 21:17</a>. Bowmen were the light troops, whose province it was to skirmish in front and (<a onclick="return mV('2Ki',6,22);">2Ki 6:22</a>) pursue fugitives (<a onclick="return mV('2Ki',25,5);">2Ki 25:5</a>); this verse applies better to the attack of Nebuchadnezzar than that of Sennacherib.
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<br><br><b>all...in thee</b>—all found in the city (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',13,15);">Isa 13:15</a>), not merely the "rulers" or generals.
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<br><br><b>fled from far</b>—those who had <i>fled from distant parts</i> to Jerusalem as a place of safety; rather, <i>fled afar.</i>
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<p id="Isa22_4"><b>4. Look...from me</b>—Deep grief seeks to be alone; while others feast joyously, Isaiah mourns in prospect of the disaster coming on Jerusalem (<a onclick="return mV('Mic',1,8,9);">Mic 1:8-9</a>).
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<br><br><b>daughter,</b> etc.—(see on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Isa/Isa001.html#Isa1_8">Isa 1:8</a>; JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Lam/Lam002.html#La2_11">Lam 2:11</a>).
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<p id="Isa22_5"><b>5. trouble...by the Lord</b>—that is, sent by or from the Lord (see on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Isa/Isa019.html#Isa19_15">Isa 19:15></a>; <a onclick="return mV('Luk',21,'22-24');">Luk 21:22-24</a>).
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<br><br><b>valley of vision</b>—(See on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Isa/Isa022.html#Isa22_1">Isa 22:1</a>). Some think a valley near Ophel is meant as about to be the scene of devastation (compare see on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Isa/Isa032.html#Isa32_13">Isa 32:13</a>, <a href="./Comm/jfb/Isa/Isa032.html#Isa32_14">Isa 32:14</a>).
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<br><br><b>breaking...walls</b>—that is, "<i>a day</i> of breaking the walls" of the city.
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<br><br><b>crying to the mountains</b>—the mournful cry of the townsmen "reaches" to (MAURER translates, <i>towards</i>) the mountains, and is echoed back by them. JOSEPHUS describes in the very same language the scene at the assault of Jerusalem under Titus. To this the prophecy, probably, refers ultimately. If, as some think, the "cry" is that of those <i>escaping</i> to the mountains, compare <a onclick="return mV('Mat',13,14);">Mat 13:14</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Mat',24,16);">24:16</a> , with this.
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<p id="Isa22_6"><b>6. Elam</b>—the country stretching east from the Lower Tigris, answering to what was afterwards called Persia (see on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Isa/Isa021.html#Isa21_2">Isa 21:2</a>). Later, Elam was a province of Persia (<a onclick="return mV('Ezr',4,9);">Ezr 4:9</a>). In Sennacherib's time, Elam was subject to Assyria (<a onclick="return mV('2Ki',18,11);">2Ki 18:11</a>), and so furnished a contingent to its invading armies. Famed for the bow (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',13,18);">Isa 13:18</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Jer',49,35);">Jer 49:35</a>), in which the Ethiopians alone excelled them.
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<br><br><b>with chariots of men and horsemen</b>—that is, they used the bow both <i>in</i> chariots and on horseback. "Chariots of men," that is, chariots in which men are borne, war chariots (compare see on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Isa/Isa021.html#Isa21_7">Isa 21:7</a>; JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Isa/Isa021.html#Isa21_9">Isa 21:9</a>).
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<br><br><b>Kir</b>—another people subject to Assyria (<a onclick="return mV('2Ki',16,9);">2Ki 16:9</a>); the region about the river Kur, between the Caspian and Black Seas.
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<br><br><b>uncovered</b>—took off for the battle the leather covering of the shield, intended to protect the embossed figures on it from dust or injury during the march. "The quiver" and "the shield" express two classes—light and heavy armed troops.
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<p id="Isa22_7"><b>7. valleys</b>—east, north, and south of Jerusalem: Hinnom on the south side was the richest valley.
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<br><br><b>in array at the gate</b>—Rab-shakeh stood at the upper pool close to the city (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',36,'11-13');">Isa 36:11-13</a>).
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<p id="Isa22_8"><b>8. he discovered the covering</b>—rather, "the veil of Judah shall be taken off" [HORSLEY]: figuratively for, exposing to shame as a captive (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',47,3);">Isa 47:3</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Nah',3,5);">Nah 3:5</a>). Sennacherib dismantled all "the defensed cities of Judah" (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',36,1);">Isa 36:1</a>).
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<br><br><b>thou didst look</b>—rather, "thou shalt look."
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<br><br><b>house of...forest</b>—The <i>house</i> of armory built of cedar from the <i>forest</i> of Lebanon by Solomon, on a slope of Zion called Ophel (<a onclick="return mV('1Ki',7,2);">1Ki 7:2</a>; <a onclick="return mV('1Ki',7,2);">10:17</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Neh',3,19);">Neh 3:19</a>). Isaiah says (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',22,'8-13');">Isa 22:8-13</a>) his countrymen will look to their own strength <i>to defend</i> themselves, while others of them will drown their sorrows as to their country in <i>feasting,</i> but none will look to Jehovah.
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<p id="Isa22_9"><b>9. Ye have seen</b>—rather, "Ye shall see."
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<br><br><b>city of David</b>—the upper city, on Zion, the south side of Jerusalem (<a onclick="return mV('2Sa',5,7,9);">2Sa 5:7, 9</a>; <a onclick="return mV('1Ki',8,1);">1Ki 8:1</a>); surrounded by a wall of its own; but even in it there shall be "breaches." Hezekiah's preparations for defense accord with this (<a onclick="return mV('2Ch',32,5);">2Ch 32:5</a>).
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<br><br><b>ye gathered</b>—rather, "ye shall gather."
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<br><br><b>lower pool</b>—(See on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Isa/Isa022.html#Isa22_11">Isa 22:11</a>). Ye shall bring together into the city by subterranean passages cut in the rock of Zion, the fountain from which the lower pool (only mentioned here) is supplied. see on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Isa/Isa007.html#Isa7_3">Isa 7:3</a>; <a onclick="return mV('2Ki',20,20);">2Ki 20:20</a>; <a onclick="return mV('2Ch',32,'3-5');">2Ch 32:3-5</a>, represent Hezekiah as having <i>stopped</i> the fountains to prevent the Assyrians getting water. But this is consistent with the passage here. The superfluous waters of the lower pool usually flowed into Hinnom valley, and so through that of Jehoshaphat to the brook Kedron. Hezekiah built a wall round it, <i>stopped</i> the outflowing of its waters to debar the foe from the use of them, and turned them into the city.
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<p id="Isa22_10"><b>10. numbered</b>—rather, "ye shall number," namely, in order to see which of them may be pulled down with the least loss to the city, and with most advantage for the repair of the walls and rearing of towers (<a onclick="return mV('2Ch',32,5);">2Ch 32:5</a>).
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<br><br><b>have ye broken down</b>—rather, "ye shall break down."
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<p id="Isa22_11"><b>11. Ye made...a ditch</b>—rather, "Ye shall make a reservoir" for receiving the <i>water.</i> Hezekiah surrounded Siloah, from which the old (or king's, or upper) pool took its rise, with a wall joined to the wall of Zion on both sides; between these two walls he made a new pool, into which he directed the waters of the former, thus cutting off the foe from his supply of water also. The opening from which the upper pool received its water was nearer Zion than the other from which the lower pool took its rise, so that the water which flowed from the former could easily be shut in by a wall, whereas that which flowed from the latter could only be brought in by subterranean conduits (compare see on JFB for <a href="./Comm/jfb/Isa/Isa022.html#Isa22_9">Isa 22:9</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',7,3);">Isa 7:3</a>; <a onclick="return mV('2Ki',20,20);">2Ki 20:20</a>; <a onclick="return mV('2Ch',32,'3-5',30);">2Ch 32:3-5, 30</a>; <u>Ecclesiasticus 48:17</u>). Both were southwest of Jerusalem.
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<br><br><b>have not looked...neither had respect</b>—answering by contrast to "<i>Thou didst look</i> to the armor, <i>ye have seen</i> ('had respect', or 'regard to') the breaches" (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',22,8,9);">Isa 22:8-9</a>).
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<br><br><b>maker thereof</b>—God, by whose command and aid these defenses were made, and who gave this fountain "long ago." G. V. SMITH translates, "Him who <i>doeth</i> it," that is, has brought this danger on you—"Him who hath prepared it from afar," that is, planned it even from a distant time.
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<p id="Isa22_12"><b>12. did the Lord God call</b>—Usually the <i>priests</i> gave the summons to national mourning (<a onclick="return mV('Joe',1,14);">Joe 1:14</a>); now JEHOVAH Himself shall give it; the "call" shall consist in the presence of a terrible foe. Translate, "shall call."
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<br><br><b>baldness</b>—emblem of grief (<a onclick="return mV('Job',1,20);">Job 1:20</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Mic',1,16);">Mic 1:16</a>).
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<p id="Isa22_13"><b>13.</b> Notwithstanding Jehovah's "call to mourning" (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',22,12);">Isa 22:12</a>), many shall make the desperate state of affairs a reason for reckless revelry (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',5,11,12);">Isa 5:11-12, 14</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Jer',18,12);">Jer 18:12</a>; <a onclick="return mV('1Cr',15,32);">1Cr 15:32</a>).
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<p id="Isa22_15"><a onclick="return mV('Isa',22,'15-25');">Isa 22:15-25</a>. PROPHECY THAT SHEBNA SHOULD BE DEPOSED FROM BEING PREFECT OF THE PALACE, AND ELIAKIM PROMOTED TO THE OFFICE.
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<p>In <a onclick="return mV('Isa',36,3,22);">Isa 36:3, 22</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Isa',37,2);">37:2</a>, we find Shebna "a scribe," and no longer prefect of the palace ("over the household"), and Eliakim in that office, as is here foretold. Shebna is singled out as the subject of prophecy (the only instance of an <i>individual</i> being so in Isaiah), as being one of the irreligious faction that set at naught the prophet's warnings (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',28,'1-');">Isa 28:1-33:24</a>); perhaps it was he who advised the temporary ignominious submission of Hezekiah to Sennacherib. <p><b>15. Go, get thee unto</b>—rather, "Go in to" (that is, into the house to).
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<br><br><b>treasurer</b>—"him who dwells in the tabernacle" [JEROME]; namely, in a room of the temple set apart for the treasurer. Rather, "the king's friend," or "<i>principal officer of the court</i>" (<a onclick="return mV('1Ki',4,5);">1Ki 4:5</a>; <a onclick="return mV('1Ki',18,3);">18:3</a>; <a onclick="return mV('1Ch',27,33);">1Ch 27:33</a>, "the king's counsellor") [MAURER]. "This" is prefixed contemptuously (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',32,1);">Exd 32:1</a>).
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<br><br><b>unto Shebna</b>—The <i>Hebrew</i> for "unto" indicates an accosting of Shebna <i>with an unwelcome message.</i>
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<p id="Isa22_16"><b>16. What...whom</b>—The prophet accosts Shebna at the very place where he was building a grand sepulcher for himself and his family (compare <a onclick="return mV('Isa',14,18);">Isa 14:18</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Gen',23,'1-20');">Gen 23:1-20</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Gen',49,29);">49:29</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Gen',50,13);">50:13</a>). "<i>What</i> (business) hast thou here, and <i>whom</i> hast thou (of thy family, who is likely to be buried) here, that thou <i>buildest,</i>" etc., seeing that thou art soon to be deposed from office and carried into captivity? [MAURER].
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<br><br><b>on high</b>—Sepulchres were made in the <i>highest</i> rocks (<a onclick="return mV('2Ch',32,33);">2Ch 32:33</a>, <i>Margin</i>).
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<br><br><b>habitation for himself</b>—compare "his own house" (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',14,18);">Isa 14:18</a>).
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<p id="Isa22_17"><b>17. carry...away with...captivity</b>—rather, "will cast thee away with a mighty throw" [MAURER]. "Mighty," literally, "of a man" (so <a onclick="return mV('Job',38,3);">Job 38:3</a>).
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<br><br><b>surely cover</b>—namely, with shame, where thou art rearing a monument to perpetuate thy fame [VITRINGA]. "Rolling will roll thee," that is, will <i>continually</i> roll thee on, as a ball to be tossed away [MAURER]. Compare <a onclick="return mV('Isa',22,18);">Isa 22:18</a>.
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<p id="Isa22_18"><b>18. violently turn and toss</b>—literally, "whirling He will whirl thee," that is, He will, <i>without intermission,</i> whirl thee [MAURER]. "He will whirl thee round and round, and (then) cast thee away," as a stone in a sling is first whirled round repeatedly, before the string is let go [LOWTH].
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<br><br><b>large country</b>—perhaps Assyria.
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<br><br><b>chariots...shall be the shame of thy lord's house</b>—rather, "thy splendid chariots shall be there, O thou disgrace of thy lord's house" [NOYES]; "chariots of thy glory" mean "thy magnificent chariots." It is not meant that he would have these in a distant land, as he had in Jerusalem, but that he would be borne thither in ignominy instead of in his magnificent chariots. The Jews say that he was tied to the tails of horses by the enemy, to whom he had designed to betray Jerusalem, as they thought he was mocking them; and so he died.
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<p id="Isa22_19"><b>19. state</b>—office.
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<br><br><b>he</b>—God. A similar change of persons occurs in <a onclick="return mV('Isa',34,16);">Isa 34:16</a>.
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<p id="Isa22_20"><b>20. son of Hilkiah</b>—supposed by KIMCHI to be the same as Azariah, son of Hilkiah, who perhaps had two names, and who was "over the household" in Hezekiah's time (<a onclick="return mV('1Ch',6,13);">1Ch 6:13</a>).
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<p id="Isa22_21"><b>21. thy robe</b>—of office.
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<br><br><b>girdle</b>—in which the purse was carried, and to it was attached the sword; often adorned with gold and jewels.
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<br><br><b>father</b>—that is, a counsellor and friend.
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<p id="Isa22_22"><b>22. key</b>—emblem of his office over the house; to "open" or "shut"; access rested with him.
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<br><br><b>upon...shoulder</b>—So keys are carried sometimes in the East, hanging from the kerchief on the shoulder. But the phrase is rather figurative for <i>sustaining the government on one's shoulders.</i> Eliakim, as his name implies, is here plainly a type of the God-man Christ, the son of "David," of whom Isaiah (<a onclick="return mV('Isa',9,6);">Isa 9:6</a>) uses the same language as the former clause of this verse. In <a onclick="return mV('Rev',3,7);">Rev 3:7</a>, the same language as the latter clause is found (compare <a onclick="return mV('Job',12,14);">Job 12:14</a>).
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<p id="Isa22_23"><b>23. nail...sure place</b>—Large nails or pegs stood in ancient houses on which were suspended the ornaments of the family. The sense is: all that is valuable to the nation shall rest securely on him. In <a onclick="return mV('Ezr',9,8);">Ezr 9:8</a> "nail" is used of the large spike driven into the ground to fasten the cords of the tent to.
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<br><br><b>throne</b>—resting-place to his family, as applied to Eliakim; but "throne," in the strict sense, as applied to Messiah, the antitype (<a onclick="return mV('Luk',1,32,33);">Luk 1:32-33</a>).
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<p id="Isa22_24"><b>24.</b> Same image as in <a onclick="return mV('Isa',22,23);">Isa 22:23</a>. It was customary to "hang" the valuables of a house on nails (<a onclick="return mV('1Ki',10,16,17,21);">1Ki 10:16-17, 21</a>; <a onclick="return mV('Sgs',4,4);">Sgs 4:4</a>).
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<br><br><b>offspring and the issue</b>—rather, "the offshoots of the family, high and low" [VITRINGA]. Eliakim would reflect honor even on the latter.
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<br><br><b>vessels of cups</b>—of small capacity: answering to the <i>low</i> and humble <i>offshoots.</i>
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<br><br><b>vessels of flagons</b>—larger vessels: answering to the <i>high offshoots.</i>
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<p id="Isa22_25"><b>25. nail...fastened</b>—Shebna, who was <i>supposed</i> to be firmly fixed in his post.
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<br><br><b>burden...upon it</b>—All that were dependent on Shebna, all his emoluments and rank will fail, as when a peg is suddenly "cut down," the ornaments on it fall with it. Sin reaches in its effects even to the family of the guilty (<a onclick="return mV('Exd',20,5);">Exd 20:5</a>).
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