Isa. 22 The anguish of Judah: the prophet much grieved, Isa. 22:1–5, by the Persians, Medes, and Assyrians, Isa. 22:6–7. He reproveth their human wisdom, Isa. 22:8–11, and profane joy, Isa. 22:12–13; which God would certainly punish, Isa. 22:14. Shebnah’s deprivation for his pride, Isa. 22:15–19.

Of the valley of vision; of Judah; and especially of the City of Jerusalem, as the next verse showeth; which is called a valley, because a great part of it stood in a valley, and comparatively to those higher mountains wherewith it was encompassed; of which see Ps. 121:1, Ps. 125:2, Isa.

Thou art full of stirs; or, thou who wast full of stirs, or noises, to wit, of joyful shouts, as the following words limit it, and as this word is used, Zech. 4:7, though elsewhere it be taken for doleful cries. Tumultuous; or, streperous; full of noise and clamour, through revelling and jollity.

Thy rulers; Zedekiah and his chief commanders, whose flight he foretells. They are bound by the archers, Heb. from the bow, i.e. so as they were disenabled from using the bow; which is a usual Hebraism; as from a king is put for from being a king, 1 Sam. 15:23; and from seeing, Ps.

Look away from me; take off your eyes and thoughts from me, and leave me alone, that I may take my fill of sorrows. Labour not to comfort me; for all your labour will be lost, I neither can nor will receive any consolation.

Of treading down; in which my people are trodden under foot by their insolent enemies. Of perplexity by the Lord God of hosts: this is added, partly to show that this did not happen without God’s providence; and partly to aggravate their calamity, because not only men, but God himself, fought…

Elam; the Persians, who now, and for a long time after. were subject to the Assyrian and Chaldean emperors, and were employed by them in their Wars. Bare the quiver, being expert bow-men, as appears from Jer. 49:35, and from Strabo’s testimony.

Thy choicest valleys shall be full of chariots: valleys were the most proper places for the use of chariots: see Josh. 17:16. The horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate, to assist and defend the footmen whilst they made their assault, and withal to prevent and take those who endeavoured…

He; the enemy, Sennacherib, of whose invasion he seems to speak. The covering of Judah: he took those fenced cities, which were a covering or safeguard both to the people of Judah, who fled to them, and to Jerusalem, which was begirt and defended by them.

Ye have seen, i.e. observed or considered, as this word is used, Ex. 32:9, and elsewhere, in order to the reparation of them, and to fortify the city, as the next words manifest.

Ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem; that they might exactly know their own strength, and the number of their people, and so lay the burdens more equally upon them, and make sufficient provisions for them.

The two walls; either those 2 Kings 25:4, or those 2 Chron. 32:5, in both which places we read of two walls. For the water of the old pool; to receive the waters conveyed into it by pipes from the old pool. The maker thereof; either, 1.

Call; invite and oblige them by the course of his providence, and require this by the precepts requiring these things in such times and conditions. To baldness; to make themselves bald, by plucking or shaving off the hair of their heads, as was usual in great sorrows, as Ezra 9:3, Job 1:20, Mic.

Eating flesh; not only for necessity, but to excess and luxury, as eating and drinking are taken, Matt. 24:38. Let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we shall die: the prophets tell us that we shall certainly and suddenly be destroyed; it concerns us therefore to make our best of the present time, and…

It was revealed in mine ears; what I am saying is not my own invention, nor uncertain reports, but what I heard with these ears of mine. The like phrase we have 1 Sam. 9:15, the Lord had told Samuel in his ear.

Get thee unto this treasurer; which the prophet might boldly do, because he had the protection not only of God, who sent him upon this errand, but probably of Hezekiah also, who at the time of this prophecy was either king, or his father’s viceroy, or at least heir-apparent to the crown.

What hast thou here? or, What dost thou here? what right hast thou to this place and office? Whom; either, 1. What friends, in whom thou canst confide? Thou hast so ill managed thyself and thy affairs, that thou art universally hated. Or, 2.

I will carry thee away with a mighty captivity; will cause thee to be carried into captivity by a strong hand, or by the hand of a mighty man, from which therefore thou shalt not be able to escape. Or, will cast thee away with the casting of a mighty man, i.e.

He will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball, Heb. wrapping he will wrap thee up like a ball, which consists of materials wrapped and bound together, that it may be tossed far away. Or, Rolling he will roll thee with the rolling of a ball.

And I; the Lord, whose words these are, Isa. 22:15, as is manifest from the following verses. Shall he; the Lord; such sudden changes of persons being very usual in these writings.

I will call, by my Spirit fitting him, and by my powerful providence moving Hezekiah’s heart to call him.

I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle: there was a peculiar sort of robe and girdle which was the badge of his office, which should be taken from him, and given to Eliakim.

The key; the government, the power of opening and shutting, of letting men into it or putting them out of it, whereof a key is a fit emblem; whence the delivering of the keys of a house or city into the hands of another, is a sign to signify and confirm the giving him the power and possession of…

I will fasten him; I will establish the power in his hands. In a sure place; in the strong walls, or solid timber, in the house; which is opposed to Shebna’s instability, signified by a ball, Isa. 22:18.

Of his father’s house; of his own kindred and family, who shall all depend upon him, and receive glory from him; of the house of David, which is called his father’s house, either because kings are called the fathers of all their subjects, both in Scripture, as 1 Sam.

The nail that is fastened in the sure place; Shebna, who seemed to be so, both in his own eyes, and in the eyes of others. The burden that was upon it; all those wicked officers that were advanced and supported by his power.