Isaiah 22:1-14

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 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... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 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... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 22:1

The burden of the valley of vision ,.... A prophecy concerning Jerusalem, so called, because it lay in a valley, encompassed about with mountains, and which was the habitation of the prophets or seers, and the seat of vision and prophecy; and perhaps there is an allusion to its name, which signifies the vision of peace, or they shall see peace. The Septuagint version calls it, "the word of the valley of Sion"; and the Arabic version, "a prophecy concerning the inhabitants of the valley of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 22:2

Thou art full of stirs ,.... Or, "wast full of stirs"; through the multitude of people walking about in it, and the vast hurry of business done in it; but now all hush and quiet, the streets clear of people, and the shops shut up, and all got up to the housetops for shelter; or, "full of noises" F12 תשאת מלאה "plena strepitibus", Munster; "tumultuationibus", Montanus, Junius & Tremellius; "fragoribus", Piscator. , as a populous trading city is. The word signifies shoutings and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 22:3

All thy rulers are fled together ,.... Either the rulers of Jerusalem, civil and ecclesiastical, that should have been at the head of the people, and have encouraged them, fled together to the housetops, or to the temple and strongholds; or the generals and officers of their militia, one and all of them fled, as if they had done it by joint consultation and consent; or the rulers of the several cities of Judea, which, when invaded by Sennacherib, stayed not to defend them, but left them and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 22:4

Therefore said I ,.... Not God to the ministering angels, as Jarchi; but the prophet to those that were about him, his relations, friends, and acquaintance: look away from me ; turn away from me, look another way; cease from me, let me alone; leave me to myself, that I may weep in secret, take my fill of sorrow, and give full vent to it: I will weep bitterly ; or, "I will be bitter", or, "bitter myself in weeping" F14 אמרר בבכי "amarificabo me in fletu", Montanus;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 22:5

For it is a day of trouble ,.... To Hezekiah, and also Jerusalem, and all the inhabitants of the land: and of treading down ; the people of it by Sennacherib's army, like mire in the streets, when their cities were taken by him: and of perplexity by the Lord of hosts in the valley of vision ; in Jerusalem, besieged, and threatened with desolation; which threw the king and his nobles, and all the inhabitants, into the utmost perplexity, confusion, and distress; and all this was not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 22:6

And Elam bare the quiver with chariots of men and horsemen ,.... Or the Elamites, as the Targum and Septuagint, that is, the Persians, who were at this time subject to the Assyrians, and served in Sennacherib's army, which consisted of many nations; see Isaiah 29:7 these bore the quiver, a case for arrows, being expert in the use of the bow, which was the chief of their might, Jeremiah 49:35 and so Strabo F15 Geograph. l. 16. p. 512. reports, that the Elamites had many archers... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 22:7

And it shall come to pass, that thy choicest valleys ,.... The valleys that were near Jerusalem, that used to be covered with the choicest corn or vines, or with grass and flocks of sheep, and used to be exceeding delightful and pleasant: shall be full of chariots ; where they can be more easily driven than on mountains; these were chariots not for pleasure, but for war; chariots full of soldiers, to fight against and besiege Jerusalem: and the horsemen shall set themselves in array... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 22:8

And he discovered the covering of Judah ,.... Either God himself, who uncloaked them of their hypocrisy, as Dr. Lightfoot; or took away his power and presence from them, and his protection of them, and discovered their weakness; or rather the enemy Sennacherib: and then by the covering is meant, not Jerusalem, nor the temple, as Jarchi and Kimchi, for neither of them came into his hands; but the fenced cities of Judah, which were the strength and protection of the country; these he took and... read more

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