Isaiah 22

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:1-14

A PROPHECY AGAINST JERUSALEM . The prophet, present in Jerusalem, either actually, or at any rate in spirit, sees the inhabitants crowded together upon the housetops, in a state of boisterous merriment ( Isaiah 22:1 , Isaiah 22:2 ). Outside the walls is a foreign army threatening the town ( Isaiah 22:5-7 ). Preparations have been made for resistance, which are described ( Isaiah 22:8-11 ); but there has been no turning to God. On the contrary, the danger has but made the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:1-14

Judgment upon Jerusalem. I. THE PROPHET AS SPECTATOR . The valley of vision seems to mean Jerusalem as a whole, round about which are mountains ( Psalms 125:2 ); the city is spoken of, when compared with the surrounding mountains, as the "inhabitant of the valley," otherwise as the "rock of the plain" ( Jeremiah 21:13 ; comp. Jeremiah 17:3 ). If Isaiah is gazing from his house in the lower town, the city would appear as in a valley in relation to the mountains inside as much... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:1-14

The sorrow of the world. We have here a striking picture of that which, in distinction from "godly sorrow," Paul calls "the sorrow of the world." I. THAT GOD SENDS SORROW TO HUMAN SOULS . These national distresses were to be of his sending; it was to be "a day of trouble … by the Lord of hosts" ( Isaiah 22:5 ). The human instrumentality would be visible enough, and both those who inflicted the blow and those who endured it—their enemies and themselves—might fail to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:2

A joyous city (comp. Isaiah 22:13 ). Thy slain men are not slain with the sword. It is a blockade rather than a siege. Men die, not of wounds, but of privations ( Lamentations 4:9 ). Sennacherib himself says, "Hezekiah, like a caged bird, within Jerusalem, his royal city, I confined; towers round about him I raised; and the exit of the great gate of his city I shut". read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:2

The moral influence of pestilence. "Thy slain men are not slain with the sword." "The words imply something like a reproach of cowardice. Those who had perished had not died fighting bravely in battle, but by the pestilence which then, as at all times, was prevalent in the crowded streets of a besieged city? The law of epidemic disease is found to be this—the conditions which are peculiarly favorable to the development of vice and immorality are exactly the conditions most favorable to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:3

All thy rulers are fled together ; rather, all thy chief men . We must make allowance for Oriental hyperbole. The meaning is that numbers of the principal men, regarding resistance as vain, had endeavored to make their escape from the doomed town, but had been captured and bound by the enemies' archers. All that are found in thee ; rather, belonging to thee . The reference is to those who had made their escape and were fleeing far away. The archers seize them, and bind them all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:4

Therefore said I. The prophet turns from the description of the scene before him to an account of his own feelings. Look away from me, he says ; "leave me free to vent my sorrow without restraint; I wish for no consolation—only leave me to myself." Because of the spoiling . The word used sometimes means" destruction;" but" spoiling" is a better rendering here. Sennacherib describes his "spoiling" of Jerusalem on this occasion as follows: "Thirty talents of gold, eight hundred talents of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:4

Christian patriotism. The profound concern which the prophet of the Lord displays for "the daughter of his people," showing us that the reception and the record of the prophetic vision did not interfere with his strong feelings as a Hebrew patriot, may suggest thoughts on Christian patriotism. This is to be clearly distinguished from: 1. The exaggerated self-consciousness or vain-gloriousness which some "patriots" exhibit. 2. The exclusiveness of spirit which others betray. 3.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:4

A time to weep. "Therefore I say, Look away from me; let me weep bitterly." Eastern weeping is excessive, unrestrained. Westerns go to the other extreme, and severely repress all expressions and signs 'of emotion. Eastern grief is often exaggerated, and it is in danger of being conventional and even hypocritical. Public weeping, at least on the part of the prophets, became a testimony and a warning. It belonged to their teaching by signs. Isaiah's weeping here drew public attention, and led... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:4-6

Isaiah weeping for the daughter of his people a type of Christ lamenting over Jerusalem. Isaiah was in many respects a type of Christ. His name, which sight ties "Salvation of Jehovah," is a near equivalent of "Jesus," which means "Jehovah is Savior." Tradition says that he was of royal lineage, like Jesus. The sphere of his teaching was in the main Jerusalem, where our Lord's principal discourses were delivered. He reproved sin, yet pitied the sinner, like Jesus (see Homiletics on Isaiah... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:1-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:1-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:1-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:4-6

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