1The prophet lamenteth the invasion of Jewry; 8he reproveth their trust in human means, and not in God; and their desperate rioting, when the times called for humiliation. 15He prophesieth the downfall of Shebna, 20and Eliakim's advancement in his room.
1THE 1burden of 2the valley of vision. 3What aileth thee now, 4that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops?
1 See Isa. 13 on verse 1.
2 The land of Judah is called a valley, because it is situated between many mountains, and the same has Psalm 125:2. And Jerusalem is called a valley of vision, because many seers were there, that is, many prophets in that city unto whom God the Lord was wont to reveal Himself in or by visions. So that the prophet mainly speaks here unto those of Jerusalem, foretelling them what misery was approaching unto them.
3 Some apply this prophecy to the times of king Hezekiah, when Sennacherib invaded the land of Judah. Others understand it of the besieging of the two kings, Pekah and Rezin. See Isaiah 7.
4 Namely, out of fear and astonishment to lament and mourn there. See Isa. 15:3; Jer. 48:38.
25Thou that art full of stirs, a tumultuous city, a joyous city: 6thy 7slain men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle.
5 That is, thou city, wherein there was wont to be a great noise, clamor and stir, of great rushing of mirth, of jollity, of singing and piping, of dancing and leaping, and all other manner of bustle.
6 As if he said: How are the matters thus changed? Heretofore ye were used to be valiant and courageous in battle, and to stand against your enemies, now ye are all fugitives and cowards, or permit yourselves to be carried away captive, as follows. Other thus, namely because thy slain men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle? And thus in the next verse. As if he said: Rejoice ye in this, that many of your fellow citizens did not die by the edge of the sword, as honorable and valiant soldiers are wont to do, but permitted themselves to be carried away captive by their enemies, who abused them most heinously? See the next verse.
7 Other, wounded ones.
3All thy rulers are 8fled together, they are bound by the 9archers: 10all that are found in thee are bound together, which 11have fled from far.
8 Not knowing which way to turn, or what to take in hand.
9 Hebr. bow, that is, bow shooters, or men of the bow. Other, they are bound by the bow, that is, as if their hands were bound, so that they could not bend the bow.
10 Hebr. all thy found ones, that is, all those who are found of thine.
11 That is, while the enemy was yet far from them, yea even before they spied the enemy. Other, they are fled far away.
4Therefore said I, 12Look away from me; 13Ia will weep bitterly, 14labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling 15of the daughter of my people.
12 Namely, all ye together who desire to comfort me.
13 Hebr. let me embitter with weeping.
a Jer. 9:1.
14 Or, trouble yourselves no further, take no more pains, to comfort me.
15 That is, of every small city in the land of the Jews, whereof Jerusalem was as it were the mother city.
5For it is a day 16of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity 17by the Lord GOD of hosts in 18the valley of vision, 19breaking down 20the walls, and 21of crying to the mountains.
16 Or, of tumult, of noise, or of vexation, that is, a time wherein My people are vexed and troubled by their enemies. See 2 Kings 19:3.
17 That is, which God as a righteous Judge (because of the enemies’ invasion) shall cause by astonishment to come upon them.
18 See verse 1.
19 That is, a day that shall break down the walls.
20 Or, the wall, namely, the fenced cities in Judah, 2 Kings 18:13.
21 As if he said: The Jews shall make a dreadful cry, running to the mountains to hide themselves there from their enemies.
6And 22Elam bare the quiver 23with chariots of men and horsemen, and 24Kir 25uncovered the shield.
22 Understand here by Elam the Persians, as Isa. 21:2. The meaning of this verse is, that the Persians and the Medes, with other nations, were ready and in arms to assail, invade and lay waste the land of the Jews.
23 Other, the horses are already at the man’s chariot. Understand here the army chariots or fighting chariots of the Assyrians.
24 That is, the Medes. Kir was a famous city in Media, which is here put for the entire land of Media, or the inhabitants thereof. See Isa. 15 on verse 1.
25 That is, it brings the shields (under which all other weapons are to be comprehended) to light, and prepares itself for war.
7And it shall come to pass, that 26thy 27choicest valleys shall be full of chariots, and the horsemen shall 28set themselves in array 29at the gate.
26 O, thou valley of vision.
27 Hebr. the choice of thy valleys, that is, the best and the most fruitful low grounds. In the Hebrew this and some other verses are put in the past-perfect tense, according to the manner of the prophets.
28 Hebr. setting they did set.
29 By the gates must be understood the fenced cities.
8¶And 30he 31discovered 32the covering of Judah, and 33thou didst 34look in that day to the armour 35of the house of the forest.
30 Namely, king Sennacherib.
31 The prophet speaks in the Hebrew tongue as of a thing that was already done, although the thing whereof he speaks was yet to be done. Other, and they uncovered the covering of Judah.
32 Thus the prophet calls the strongholds at the borders of the land of Judah. So that to uncover the covering of Judah signifies to capture the strong places in Judah.
33 Namely, ye people of Jerusalem.
34 That is, thou shalt look to get weapons out of the armory, to defend thyself, in hopes that thou shalt be able to free thyself out of trouble and danger. Understand additionally: but it shall be all in vain.
35 It is perceived here that the magazine or armory of the kingdom is understood. Compare 1 Kings 7:2, with the annotation.
9Ye have 36seen also the breaches 37of the city of David, that they are many: and ye gathered together the waters of the 38lower pool.
36 Or, examine, that is, to mend.
37 Of the city of David see 2 Sam. 5:7, 9.
38 Thus called in respect of the upper pool, whereof mention is made 2 Kings 18:17; Isa. 7:3.
10And ye have numbered 39the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses have ye broken down to fortify the wall.
39 That is, the men in the houses, to know how strong ye are in people or men to oppose and resist the enemy, and how much provision ye shall need. Or, according to the letter, ye shall not only view, but also number the houses which stand at or near to the city walls, and set down in writing what houses and how many shall need to be pulled down, when the city walls shall be repaired.
11Ye made also a 40ditch 41between the two walls for the water 42of the old pool: but ye have not looked 43unto the maker thereof, neither had respect unto him that fashioned it long ago.
40 Hebr. a gathering, namely, of waters, as Gen. 1:9.
41 Namely, to bring the water of Gihon from the upper pool to the lower pool. Compare 2 Kings 20:20; 2 Chron. 32:30. The sense of these words of this verse, and of those in verse 8 (in that day, etc.) hitherto, is this: Ye shall diligently heed and observe all and singular points, and ye shall repair in the cities all that is amiss, all that was fallen to decay, and was neglected in the times of your ancestors, but ye shall not look up, etc. As if the prophet said: Ye shall entirely rely upon human aid and means, and in the meanwhile forget the Lord your Helper in time of need.
42 See Isa. 7:3.
43 Namely, unto God in heaven, by Whom these judgments are determined and sent upon you, and to Whom ye ought to have returned if ye wanted to be helped by Him.
12And 44in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts 45call to weeping, and to mourning, and 46to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:
44 See on verse 1.
45 Namely, by someone of His prophets.
46 Other, to make bald. This used to be an evidence of hearty grief and sorrow. See Micah 1:16.
13And beholdb joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: 47letc us eat and drink; 48for to morrow we shall die.
b Isa. 56:12.
47 Hebr. eat and drink, namely, we will.
c 1 Cor. 15:32.
48 This the wicked speak in a scoffing manner, as if they said: Our prophets tell us that we shall soon be slain; let us then be jovial and merry, as long as it may happen to us.
1449And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, 50Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you 51till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
49 Other, It is revealed before mine ears, I that am the Lord of hosts.
50 It is a manner of oath. See the annotation Gen. 14 on verse 23. The sense is: Surely, this offence shall not be covered, that is, not forgiven unto you.
51 That is, all your life long, or never. See Gen. 28:15. Understand additionally: unless you do in time cease from sinning.
15¶Thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, Go, get thee unto this 52treasurer, even unto 53Shebna, 54which is over the house, and say,
52 Or, steward of the house. Other, helping master or helper, that is, favorer of these wicked ones.
53 This Shebna became afterward secretary from having been steward, as appears 2 Kings 18:18.
54 Hebr. who is over the household, namely, over the king’s house. See the annotation 1 Kings 4 on verse 6.
1655What hast thou 56here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast 57hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock?
55 As if he said: Thou hast neither estate of inheritance, nor kindred here at Jerusalem, but thou art a stranger here, therefore thou oughtest not to carry thyself so stately and proudly here.
56 Namely, at Jerusalem.
57 That is, has caused to be hewn out.
17Behold, the LORD will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will 58surely cover thee.
58 Hebr. covering over cover thee over, namely, with disgrace. Yet others translate and expound this entire verse thus: Behold, the Lord covereth thee with a covering of a valiant man, and he covereth thee over gloriously, so that it is an account of the mercies which God had shown him.
1859He 60will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball 61into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there 62the chariots of thy glory shall be 63the shame of thy lord's house.
59 Namely, the Lord.
60 Hebr. he shall rolling roll thee, with the rolling of a ball.
61 As Gen. 34:21.
62 Or, thy glorious chariots. Hebr. the chariots of thy glory.
63 Or, unto a reproach of thy lord’s house.
19And 64I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall 65he 66pull thee down.
64 Namely, I, the Lord.
65 Namely, the king Hezekiah, thy lord. This is fulfilled before Sennacherib besieged Jerusalem, 2 Kings 18:18.
66 Or, remove thee, thrust thee away.
20¶And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakimd the son of Hilkiah:
d 2 Kings 18:18, 26, 37.
21And I will clothe him 67with thy robe, and 68strengthen him with thy 69girdle, and I will commit thy 70government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.
67 Namely, with that robe or coat, which thou wearest as steward of the king, that is, I (the Lord) will give him thy office. The garment was formerly in kings’ courts a designation of the office which they serve at court. See Isa. 3:6.
68 Other, install, namely, in his office.
69 Understand here the girdle whereby the honor and dignity of a person was shown.
70 Command, authority, power.
22And 71the key of the house of David will I 72lay upon his shoulder; so 73he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
71 When in kings’ courts the key is delivered to anyone, it signifies that authority and power is given to him in his service. In Isa. 9:6 the like phrase is used of Christ, Whose type this Eliakim was. See likewise Rev. 3:7, where these words of the prophet are also applied unto Christ.
72 Hebr. give.
73 See the annotation at Job 12 on verse 14.
23And I will fasten him 74as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be 75for a glorious throne to his father's house.
74 Here Eliakim is promised that God will confirm and establish him in his government by a similitude borrowed from a nail, which, being driven fast and deep into a wall or wood, cannot easily be plucked out. See this phrase also Ezra 9:8.
75 As thou, Shebna, wast on the contrary a shame and reproach unto thy lord’s house. See verse 18.
24And they shall hang 76upon him all the glory of his father’s house, 77the offspring 78and the issue, 79all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels 80of flagons.
76 Or, upon it, namely, upon that nail.
77 Compare the annotation Job 5 on verse 25.
78 Other translators have for the words offspring and issue, sons and daughters; others, children and grandchildren. It is all one sense.
79 Or, all trivial instruments, that is, vessels of small use.
80 Others retain the Hebrew word Nebalim, rendered here flagons. The meaning of this 24th verse is, that all great and small matters would be committed to that nail, namely unto Eliakim; as also that all both great and small persons would address themselves unto him for refuge and would find comfort by him.
25In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall 81the nail 82that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden 83that was upon it 84shall be cut off: for the LORD hath spoken it.
81 Namely, Shebna. This is the antithesis of the 23rd verse.
82 According to the judgment of all men, Shebna was in so great authority, that he could never fall, nor come to shame; but God can remove the great and high ones from the throne and pull out the nail, though it seems to be driven in so secure.
83 Or, that hangeth upon it, that is, that was laid upon it.
84 Compare 2 Kings 24:13 and the annotation at 2 Kings 24 on verse 13.