---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 22"
description: "CHAPTER 22   :-. PROPHECY AS TO AN
ATTACK ON JERUSALEM. That by Sennacherib, in the
fourteenth year of Hezekiah;  :-, the preparations for defense and sec"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/22"
---

CHAPTER 22

. PROPHECY AS TO AN
ATTACK ON JERUSALEM.
That by Sennacherib, in the
fourteenth year of Hezekiah; , the preparations for defense and securing of water
exactly answer to those in [2 Chronicles 32:4](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/32/4);
[2 Chronicles 32:5](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/32/5); [2 Chronicles 32:30](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/32/30).
"Shebna," too ([2 Chronicles 32:30](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/32/30)), was scribe at this time ([2 Chronicles 32:30](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/32/30)) [MAURER]. The
language of [Isaiah 22:12-14](../../../kjv/isaiah/22/12-14),
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].

**1. of . . . valley of vision**—rather,
"respecting the valley of visions"; namely, Jerusalem, the
seat of divine revelations and visions, "the nursery of
prophets" [JEROME],
([Isaiah 2:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/2/3); [Isaiah 29:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/29/1);
[Ezekiel 23:4](../../../kjv/ezekiel/23/4), *Margin;* [Ezekiel 23:4](../../../kjv/ezekiel/23/4)). It lay in a "valley" surrounded by hills higher
than Zion and Moriah ([Psalms 125:2](../../../kjv/psalms/125/2);
[Jeremiah 21:13](../../../kjv/jeremiah/21/13)).
**thee**—the people of
Jerusalem personified.
**housetops**—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 ([Judges 9:51](../../../kjv/judges/9/51), &c.).

**2. art**—rather, "wert";
for it could not *now* be said to be "a joyous city"
([Isaiah 32:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/32/13)). The cause of
their *joy* ([Isaiah 22:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/22/13))
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 ([Isaiah 22:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/22/13)), 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 ([Isaiah 56:12](../../../kjv/isaiah/56/12)).
**not slain with the sword**—but
with the famine and pestilence about to be caused by the coming siege
([Lamentations 4:9](../../../kjv/lamentations/4/9)). MAURER
refers this to the *plague* by which he thinks Sennacherib's
army was destroyed, and Hezekiah was made sick ([Isaiah 37:36](../../../kjv/isaiah/37/36);
[Isaiah 38:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/38/1)). But there is no
authority for supposing that the Jews in the city suffered such
extremities of plague at *this* time, when God destroyed their
foes. BARNES refers it to
those *slain in flight,* not in open honorable "battle";
[Isaiah 22:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/22/3) favors this.

**3. rulers**—rather, "generals"
([Joshua 10:24](../../../kjv/joshua/10/24); [Judges 11:6](../../../kjv/judges/11/6);
[Judges 11:11](../../../kjv/judges/11/11)).
**bound**—rather, "*are
taken.*"
**by the archers**—literally,
"by the bow"; so [Judges 11:11](../../../kjv/judges/11/11). Bowmen were the light troops, whose province it was to
skirmish in front and ([2 Kings 6:22](../../../kjv/2-kings/6/22))
pursue fugitives ([2 Kings 25:5](../../../kjv/2-kings/25/5));
this verse applies better to the attack of Nebuchadnezzar than that
of Sennacherib.
**all . . . in thee**—all
found in the city ([Isaiah 13:15](../../../kjv/isaiah/13/15)),
not merely the "rulers" or generals.
**fled from far**—those who
had *fled from distant parts* to Jerusalem as a place of safety;
rather, *fled afar.*

**4. Look . . . from me**—Deep
grief seeks to be alone; while others feast joyously, Isaiah mourns
in prospect of the disaster coming on Jerusalem ([Micah 1:8](../../../kjv/micah/1/8);
[Micah 1:9](../../../kjv/micah/1/9)).
**daughter,** c.—(see on
[Isaiah 1:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/8) [Isaiah 1:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/8)).

**5. trouble . . . by the Lord**—that
is, sent by or from the Lord (see on ; [Luke 21:22-24](../../../kjv/luke/21/22-24)).
**valley of vision**—(See
on [Isaiah 22:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/22/2)). Some think a
valley near Ophel is meant as about to be the scene of devastation
(compare see on [Isaiah 22:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/22/3)).
**breaking . . . walls**—that
is, "*a day* of breaking the walls" of the city.
**crying to the mountains**—the
mournful cry of the townsmen "reaches" to (MAURER
translates, *towards*) 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 *escaping* to the
mountains, compare [Matthew 13:14](../../../kjv/matthew/13/14);
[Matthew 24:16](../../../kjv/matthew/24/16), with this.

**6. Elam**—the country stretching
east from the Lower Tigris, answering to what was afterwards called
Persia (see on [Isaiah 22:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/22/2)).
Later, Elam was a province of Persia ([Isaiah 22:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/22/2)). In Sennacherib's time, Elam was subject to Assyria ([Isaiah 22:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/22/2)), and so furnished a contingent to its invading armies.
Famed for the bow ([Isaiah 13:18](../../../kjv/isaiah/13/18);
[Jeremiah 49:35](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/35)), in which the
Ethiopians alone excelled them.
**with chariots of men and
horsemen**—that is, they used the bow both *in* chariots and
on horseback. "Chariots of men," that is, chariots in which
men are borne, war chariots (compare see on [Jeremiah 49:35](../../../kjv/jeremiah/49/35); [Isaiah 22:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/22/2)).
**Kir**—another people
subject to Assyria ([2 Kings 16:9](../../../kjv/2-kings/16/9));
the region about the river Kur, between the Caspian and Black Seas.
**uncovered**—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.

**7. valleys**—east, north, and
south of Jerusalem: Hinnom on the south side was the richest valley.
**in array at the
gate**—Rab-shakeh stood at the upper pool close to the city ().

**8. he discovered the
covering**—rather, "the veil of Judah shall be taken off"
[HORSLEY]: figuratively
for, exposing to shame as a captive ([Isaiah 47:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/47/3);
[Nahum 3:5](../../../kjv/nahum/3/5)). Sennacherib dismantled
all "the defensed cities of Judah" ([Nahum 3:5](../../../kjv/nahum/3/5)).
**thou didst look**—rather,
"thou shalt look."
**house of . . . forest**—The
*house* of armory built of cedar from the *forest* of
Lebanon by Solomon, on a slope of Zion called Ophel ([1 Kings 7:2](../../../kjv/1-kings/7/2);
[1 Kings 10:17](../../../kjv/1-kings/10/17); [Nehemiah 3:19](../../../kjv/nehemiah/3/19)).
Isaiah says ([Isaiah 22:8-13](../../../kjv/isaiah/22/8-13))
his countrymen will look to their own strength *to defend*
themselves, while others of them will drown their sorrows as to their
country in *feasting,* but none will look to Jehovah.

**9. Ye have seen**—rather, "Ye
shall see."
**city of David**—the upper
city, on Zion, the south side of Jerusalem ([2 Samuel 5:7](../../../kjv/2-samuel/5/7);
[2 Samuel 5:9](../../../kjv/2-samuel/5/9); [1 Kings 8:1](../../../kjv/1-kings/8/1));
surrounded by a wall of its own; but even in it there shall be
"breaches." Hezekiah's preparations for defense accord with
this ([2 Chronicles 32:5](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/32/5)).
**ye gathered**—rather, "ye
shall gather."
**lower pool**—(See on [2 Chronicles 32:5](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/32/5)). 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 [2 Chronicles 32:5](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/32/5); [2 Kings 20:20](../../../kjv/2-kings/20/20); [2 Chronicles 32:3-5](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/32/3-5),
represent Hezekiah as having *stopped* 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, *stopped* the outflowing
of its waters to debar the foe from the use of them, and turned them
into the city.

**10. numbered**—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 ().
**have ye broken down**—rather,
"ye shall break down."

**11. Ye made . . . a ditch**—rather,
"Ye shall make a reservoir" for receiving the *water.*
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 [Isaiah 22:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/22/2); [Isaiah 7:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/7/3);
[2 Kings 20:20](../../../kjv/2-kings/20/20); [2 Chronicles 32:3-5](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/32/3-5);
[2 Chronicles 32:30](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/32/30); Ecclesiasticus
48:17). Both were southwest of Jerusalem.
**have not looked . . . neither
had respect**—answering by contrast to "*Thou didst look*
to the armor, *ye have seen* ('had respect', or 'regard to') the
breaches" ([Isaiah 22:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/22/8);
[Isaiah 22:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/22/9)).
**maker thereof**—God, by
whose command and aid these defenses were made, and who gave this
fountain "long ago." G. V. SMITH
translates, "Him who *doeth* 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.

**12. did the Lord God call**—Usually
the *priests* gave the summons to national mourning (); now JEHOVAH
Himself shall give it; the "call" shall consist in the
presence of a terrible foe. Translate, "shall call."
**baldness**—emblem of
grief ([Job 1:20](../../../kjv/job/1/20); [Micah 1:16](../../../kjv/micah/1/16)).

**13.** Notwithstanding Jehovah's
"call to mourning" (), many shall make the desperate state of affairs a reason
for reckless revelry ([Isaiah 5:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/5/11);
[Isaiah 5:12](../../../kjv/isaiah/5/12); [Isaiah 5:14](../../../kjv/isaiah/5/14);
[Jeremiah 18:12](../../../kjv/jeremiah/18/12); [1 Corinthians 15:32](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/15/32)).
[1 Corinthians 15:32](../../../kjv/1-corinthians/15/32). PROPHECY
THAT SHEBNA
SHOULD BE
DEPOSED FROM BEING
PREFECT OF THE PALACE,
AND ELIAKIM
PROMOTED TO THE OFFICE.
In [Isaiah 36:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/36/3);
[Isaiah 36:22](../../../kjv/isaiah/36/22); [Isaiah 37:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/37/2),
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 *individual* being so in Isaiah), as
being one of the irreligious faction that set at naught the prophet's
warnings ([Isaiah 28:1-33](../../../kjv/isaiah/28/1-33));
perhaps it was he who advised the temporary ignominious submission of
Hezekiah to Sennacherib.

**15. Go, get thee unto**—rather,
"Go in to" (that is, into the house to).
**treasurer**—"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 "*principal officer of the
court*" ([1 Kings 4:5](../../../kjv/1-kings/4/5); [1 Kings 18:3](../../../kjv/1-kings/18/3);
[1 Chronicles 27:33](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/27/33), "the king's
counsellor") [MAURER].
"This" is prefixed contemptuously ([1 Chronicles 27:33](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/27/33)).
**unto Shebna**—The *Hebrew*
for "unto" indicates an accosting of Shebna *with an
unwelcome message.*

**16. What . . . whom**—The
prophet accosts Shebna at the very place where he was building a
grand sepulcher for himself and his family (compare [Isaiah 14:18](../../../kjv/isaiah/14/18);
[Genesis 23:1-20](../../../kjv/genesis/23/1-20); [Genesis 49:29](../../../kjv/genesis/49/29);
[Genesis 50:13](../../../kjv/genesis/50/13)). "*What*
(business) hast thou here, and *whom* hast thou (of thy family,
who is likely to be buried) here, that thou *buildest,*"
&c., seeing that thou art soon to be deposed from office and
carried into captivity? [MAURER].
**on high**—Sepulchres were
made in the *highest* rocks ([Genesis 50:13](../../../kjv/genesis/50/13), *Margin*).
**habitation for
himself**—compare "his own house" ([Genesis 50:13](../../../kjv/genesis/50/13)).

**17. carry . . . away with . . .
captivity**—rather, "will cast thee away with a mighty
throw" [MAURER].
"Mighty," literally, "of a man" (so ).
**surely cover**—namely,
with shame, where thou art rearing a monument to perpetuate thy fame
[VITRINGA]. "Rolling
will roll thee," that is, will *continually* roll thee on,
as a ball to be tossed away [MAURER].
Compare [Isaiah 22:18](../../../kjv/isaiah/22/18).

**18. violently turn and
toss**—literally, "whirling He will whirl thee," that
is, He will, *without intermission,* 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].
**large country**—perhaps
Assyria.
**chariots . . . shall be the
shame of thy lord's house**—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.

**19. state**—office.
**he**—God. A similar
change of persons occurs in .

**20. son of Hilkiah**—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 ().

**21. thy robe**—of office.
**girdle**—in which the
purse was carried, and to it was attached the sword; often adorned
with gold and jewels.
**father**—that is, a
counsellor and friend.

**22. key**—emblem of his office
over the house; to "open" or "shut"; access
rested with him.
**upon . . . shoulder**—So
keys are carried sometimes in the East, hanging from the kerchief on
the shoulder. But the phrase is rather figurative for *sustaining
the government on one's shoulders.* Eliakim, as his name implies,
is here plainly a type of the God-man Christ, the son of "David,"
of whom Isaiah ([Isaiah 9:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/9/6)) uses
the same language as the former clause of this verse. In [Isaiah 9:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/9/6), the same language as the latter clause is found (compare [Isaiah 9:6](../../../kjv/isaiah/9/6)).

**23. nail . . . sure place**—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 "nail" is used of the large spike driven into the
ground to fasten the cords of the tent to.
**throne**—resting-place to
his family, as applied to Eliakim; but "throne," in the
strict sense, as applied to Messiah, the antitype ([Luke 1:32](../../../kjv/luke/1/32);
[Luke 1:33](../../../kjv/luke/1/33)).

**24.** Same image as in . It was customary to "hang" the valuables of a
house on nails ([1 Kings 10:16](../../../kjv/1-kings/10/16);
[1 Kings 10:17](../../../kjv/1-kings/10/17); [1 Kings 10:21](../../../kjv/1-kings/10/21);
[Song of Solomon 4:4](../../../kjv/song-of-solomon/4/4)).
**offspring and the
issue**—rather, "the offshoots of the family, high and low"
[VITRINGA]. Eliakim would
reflect honor even on the latter.
**vessels of cups**—of
small capacity: answering to the *low* and humble *offshoots.*
**vessels of flagons**—larger
vessels: answering to the *high offshoots.*

**25. nail . . . fastened**—Shebna,
who was *supposed* to be firmly fixed in his post.
**burden . . . upon it**—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 ([Exodus 20:5](../../../kjv/exodus/20/5)).

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/22#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","width":640,"height":370,"caption":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 22"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/22#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/22","name":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Isaiah 22","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/22#primaryimage"},"datePublished":null,"dateModified":null,"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"CHAPTER 22   :-. PROPHECY AS TO AN\nATTACK ON JERUSALEM. That by Sennacherib, in the\nfourteenth year of Hezekiah;  :-, the preparations for defense and sec","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/22#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/22"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/22#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/","name":"Home"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries","name":"Commentaries"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible","name":"Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah","name":"Isaiah"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":5,"item":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/22","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/isaiah/22","name":"22"}}]},{"@type":["Person","Organization"],"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/android-chrome-512x512.png","width":512,"height":512},"logo":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#personlogo"},"sameAs":["https://twitter.com/RBiblebeliever","https://www.facebook.com/RBibleBelievers"]}]}
```