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Matthew Henry

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 22:1

Art - gone up to the house-tops "Are gone up to the house-tops" - The houses in the east were in ancient times, as they are still, generally, built in one and the same uniform manner. The roof or top of the house is always flat, covered with broad stones, or a strong plaster of terrace, and guarded on every side with a low parapet wall; see Deuteronomy 22:8 . The terrace is frequented as much as any part of the house. On this, as the season favors, they walk, they eat, they sleep, they... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 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, according to the obvious construction and course of the sentence, is a circumstance prior to their flight. I therefore follow Houbigant, who reads הסרו huseru , remoti sunt , "they are gone off." גלו galu , ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:1

The burden of the valley of vision . "The valley of vision" is only mentioned here and in Isaiah 22:5 . It must have been one of the deep depressions near Jerusalem troll which there is a good view of the town. The LXX . render, "the burden of the valley of Zion ." What aileth thee now ? Jerusalem is addressed by the prophet, who assumes the role of a spectator, surprised at what he sees , and asks an explanation. That thou art wholly gone up to the housetops . Partly, no... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:1-2

Ill-timed joy. The "valley of vision" is, without doubt, Jerusalem, though Mr. Birks thinks Samaria may be meant. The Prophet Isaiah speaks thus poetically of it as the place where he had his visions. Now he sees the people hurrying, in great excitement, on to the fiat roofs of the city, to watch the gathering hosts of Sennacherib's army. The attitude of the people surprised him. At such a time, when pestilence decimated the inhabitants, the leading citizens had fled to secure their personal... read more

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