CHAPTER XXII _Prophecy concerning Jerusalem_, 1-14. _Sentence against Shebna, who was over the household_, 15-19. _Prophecy concerning Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah_, 20, 21. _From Eliakim, Isaiah, (agreeably to the mode universally_ _adopted in the prophetical writings, of making the things then... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 22:3. _ALL THY RULERS - ARE BOUND BY THE ARCHERS_ - "All thy leaders - are fled from the bow"] There seems to be somewhat of an inconsistency in the sense according to the present reading. If the leaders were bound, אסרו _usseru_, how could they flee away? for their being bound, accordi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 22:6. _CHARIOTS OF MEN_ - "The Syriac"] It is not easy to say what רכב אדם _recheb adam_, a _chariot of men_, can mean. It seems by the form of the sentence, which consists of three members, the first and the third mentioning a particular people, that the second should do so likewise.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 22:8. _THE ARMOUR_ - "The arsenal"] Built by Solomon within the city, and called the house of the forest of Lebanon; probably from the great quantity of cedar from Lebanon which was employed in the building. See 2 Kings 7:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 22:9. _YE GATHERED TOGETHER THE WATERS_ - "And ye shall collect the waters"] There were two pools in or near Jerusalem, supplied by springs: the upper pool, or the old pool, supplied by the spring called Gihon, 2 Chronicles 32:30, towards the higher part of the city, near Sion, or the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 22:11. _UNTO THE MAKER THEREOF_ - "To him that hath disposed this"] That is, to God the Author and Disposer of this visitation, the invasion with which he now threatens you. The very same expressions are applied to God, and upon the same occasion, Isaiah 37:26: - "Hast thou not heard o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 22:13. _LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TO-MORROW WE SHALL DIE._] This has been the language of all those who have sought their portion in this life, since the foundation of the world. So the poet: - Heu, heu nos miseri! quam totus homuncio nil est! Sic erimus cuncti, postquam nos auferet o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 22:14. _IT WAS REVEALED IN MINE EARS_ - "The voice of Jehovah"] The _Vulgate_ has _vox Domini_; as if in his copy he had read קול יהוה _kol Yehovah_; and in truth, without the word קול _kol, voice_, it is not easy to make out the sense of the passage; as appears from the strange versio... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 22:15. _GO - UNTO SHEBNA_] The following prophecy concerning Shebna seems to have very little relation to the foregoing, except that it might have been delivered about the same time; and Shebna might be a principal person among those whose luxury and profaneness is severely reprehended... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 22:16. _A SEPULCHRE ON HIGH - IN A ROCK_] It has been observed before, on Isaiah 13:1, that persons of high rank in Judea, and in most parts of the east, were generally buried in large sepulchral vaults, hewn out in the rock for the use of themselves and their families. The vanity of S... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 22:17. _COVER THEE_] That is, thy face. This was the condition of mourners in general, and particularly of condemned persons. See Esther 6:12; Esther 7:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 22:19. _I WILL DRIVE THEE_] אהרסך _ehersecha_, in the first person, _Syr. Vulg_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 22:21. _TO THE INHABITANTS_] ליושבי _leyoshebey_, in the plural number, four of Dr. _Kennicott's_ MSS., (two ancient,) and two of _De_ _Rossi's_, with the _Septuagint, Syriac_, and _Vulgate_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 22:22. _AND THE KEY OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID WILL I LAY UPON HIS_ _SHOULDER_] As the robe and the baldric, mentioned in the preceding verse, were the ensigns of power and authority, so likewise was the key the mark of office, either sacred or civil. The priestess of Juno is said to be the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 22:23. _A NAIL_] In ancient times, and in the eastern countries, as the way of life, so the houses, were much more simple than ours at present. They had not that quantity and variety of furniture, nor those accommodations of all sorts, with which we abound. It was convenient and even n... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 22:24. _ALL THE GLORY_] One considerable part of the magnificence of the eastern princes consisted in the great quantity of gold and silver vessels which they had for various uses. "Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Isaiah 22:25. _THE NAIL THAT IS FASTENED_] This must be understood of Shebna, as a repetition and confirmation of the sentence above denounced against him. WHAT is said of Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, Isaiah 22:20, is very remarkable; and the literal meaning is not easy to be understood. From... [ Continue Reading ]