15 Thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD H3069 of hosts, H6635 Go, H3212 get H935 thee unto this treasurer, H5532 even unto Shebna, H7644 which is over the house, H1004 and say,
And when they had called H7121 to the king, H4428 there came out H3318 to them Eliakim H471 the son H1121 of Hilkiah, H2518 which was over the household, H1004 and Shebna H7644 the scribe, H5608 and Joah H3098 the son H1121 of Asaph H623 the recorder. H2142
Then came forth H3318 unto him Eliakim, H471 Hilkiah's H2518 son, H1121 which was over the house, H1004 and Shebna H7644 the scribe, H5608 and Joah, H3098 Asaph's H623 son, H1121 the recorder. H2142
Then came H935 Eliakim H471 the son H1121 of Hilkiah, H2518 which was over the household, H1004 and Shebna H7644 the scribe, H5608 and Joah H3098 the son H1121 of Asaph H623 the recorder, H2142 to Hezekiah H2396 with their clothes H899 rent, H7167 and told H5046 him the words H1697 of Rabshakeh. H7262
And he sent H7971 Eliakim, H471 who was over the household, H1004 and Shebna H7644 the scribe, H5608 and the elders H2205 of the priests H3548 covered H3680 with sackcloth, H8242 unto Isaiah H3470 the prophet H5030 the son H1121 of Amoz. H531
And he that was over the house, H1004 and he that was over the city, H5892 the elders H2205 also, and the bringers up H539 of the children, sent H7971 to Jehu, H3058 saying, H559 We are thy servants, H5650 and will do H6213 all that thou shalt bid H559 us; we will not make any H376 king: H4427 do H6213 thou that which is good H2896 in thine eyes. H5869
Then said H559 Eliakim H471 the son H1121 of Hilkiah, H2518 and Shebna, H7644 and Joah, H3098 unto Rabshakeh, H7262 Speak, H1696 I pray thee, to thy servants H5650 in the Syrian language; H762 for we understand H8085 it: and talk H1696 not with us in the Jews' language H3066 in the ears H241 of the people H5971 that are on the wall. H2346
Then said H559 Eliakim H471 and Shebna H7644 and Joah H3098 unto Rabshakeh, H7262 Speak, H1696 I pray thee, unto thy servants H5650 in the Syrian language; H762 for we understand H8085 it: and speak H1696 not to us in the Jews' language, H3066 in the ears H241 of the people H5971 that are on the wall. H2346
Then came H935 Eliakim, H471 the son H1121 of Hilkiah, H2518 that was over the household, H1004 and Shebna H7644 the scribe, H5608 and Joah, H3098 the son H1121 of Asaph, H623 the recorder, H2142 to Hezekiah H2396 with their clothes H899 rent, H7167 and told H5046 him the words H1697 of Rabshakeh. H7262
And G2532 he arose G450 and went: G4198 and, G2532 behold, G2400 a man G435 of Ethiopia, G128 an eunuch G2135 of great authority G1413 under Candace G2582 queen G938 of the Ethiopians, G128 who G3739 had G2258 the charge of G1909 all G3956 her G846 treasure, G1047 and G3739 had come G2064 to G1519 Jerusalem G2419 for to worship, G4352
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Isaiah 22
Commentary on Isaiah 22 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 22
We have now come nearer home, for this chapter is "the burden of the valley of vision,' Jerusalem; other places had their burden for the sake of their being concerned in some way or other with Jerusalem, and were reckoned with either as spiteful enemies or deceitful friends to the people of God; but now let Jerusalem hear her own doom. This chapter concerns,
Isa 22:1-7
The title of this prophecy is very observable. It is the burden of the valley of vision, of Judah and Jerusalem; so all agree. Fitly enough is Jerusalem called a valley, for the mountains were round about it, and the land of Judah abounded with fruitful valleys; and by the judgments of God, though they had been as a towering mountain, they should be brought low, sunk and depressed, and become dark and dirty, as a valley. But most emphatically is it called a valley of vision because there God was known and his name was great, there the prophets were made acquainted with his mind by visions, and there the people saw the goings of their God and King in his sanctuary. Babylon, being a stranger to God, though rich and great, was called the desert of the sea; but Jerusalem, being entrusted with his oracles, is a valley of vision. Blessed are their eyes, for they see, and they have seers by office among them. Where Bibles and ministers are there is a valley of vision, from which is expected fruit accordingly; but here is a burden of the valley of vision, and a heavy burden it is. Note, Church privileges, if they be not improved, will not secure men from the judgments of God. You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore will I punish you. The valley of vision has a particular burden. Thou Capernaum, Mt. 11:23. The higher any are lifted up in means and mercies the heavier will their doom be if they abuse them.
Now the burden of the valley of vision here is that which will not quite ruin it, but only frighten it; for it refers not to the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, but to the attempt made upon it by Sennacherib, which we had the prophecy of, ch. 10, and shall meet with the history of, ch. 36. It is here again prophesied of, because the desolations of many of the neighbouring countries, which were foretold in the foregoing chapters, were to be brought to pass by the Assyrian army. Now let Jerusalem know that when the cup is going round it will be put into her hand; and, although it will not be to her a fatal cup, yet it will be a cup of trembling. Here is foretold,
Isa 22:8-14
What is meant by the covering of Judah, which in the beginning of this paragraph is said to be discovered, is not agreed. The fenced cities of Judah were a covering to the country; but these, being taken by the army of the Assyrians, ceased to be a shelter, so that the whole country lay exposed to be plundered. The weakness of Judah, its nakedness, and inability to keep itself, now appeared more than ever; and thus the covering of Judah was discovered. Its magazines and stores, which had been locked up, were now laid open for the public use. Dr. Lightfoot gives another sense of it, that by this distress into which Judah should be brought God would discover their covering (that is, uncloak their hypocrisy), would show all that was in their heart, as is said of Hezekiah upon another occasion, 2 Chr. 32:31. Now they discovered both their carnal confidence (v. 9) and their carnal security, v. 13. Thus, by one means or other, the iniquity of Ephraim will be discovered and the sin of Samaria, Hos. 7:1.
They were now in a great fright, and in this fright they manifested two things much amiss:-
Isa 22:15-25
We have here a prophecy concerning the displacing of Shebna, a great officer at court, and the preferring of Eliakim to the post of honour and trust that he was in. Such changes are common in the courts of princes; it is therefore strange that so much notice should be taken of it by the prophet here; but by the accomplishment of what was foretold concerning these particular persons God designed to confirm his word in the mouth of Isaiah concerning other and greater events; and it is likewise to show that, as God has burdens in store for those nations and kingdoms abroad that are open enemies to his church and people, so he has for those particular persons at home that are false friends to them and betray them. It is likewise a confirmation in general of the hand of divine Providence in all events of this kind, which to us seem contingent and to depend upon the wills and fancies of princes. Promotion comes not from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south; but God is the Judge, Ps. 75:6, 7. It is probable that this prophecy was delivered at the same time with that in the former part of the chapter, and began to be fulfilled before Sennacherib's invasion; for now Shebna was over the house, but then Eliakim was (ch. 36:3); and Shebna, coming down gradually, was only scribe. Here is,