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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 22:8

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 22:8

The armor "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 1 Kings 7:2 , 1 Kings 7:3 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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 22:8

The covering of Judah was that which hid their weakness either from themselves or from the enemy—probably the former. God drew this aside, and they suddenly saw their danger, and began to think how they could best defend themselves. Arms were the first things needed. The armor of the house of the forest . "The house of the forest" was probably that portion of the palace of Solomon which he had called "the house of the forest of Lebanon" ( 1 Kings 7:2-5 ). This was, it would seem, used as... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 22:8

Man's trust in his weapons. "Thou didst look in that day to the armor of the house of the forest." A sermon for the times, in which the highest science and inventive skill are devoted to the perfecting of the deadliest engines of war; and when men dare to say that "Providence is always on the side of the largest battalions." "Some trust in horses, and some in chariots, but we will trust in the Name of the Lord;" "A horse is a vain thing for safety;" "God is a Refuge for us." I. MEN ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 22:8

And he discovered - Hebrew, ויגל vayegal - ‘He made naked, or bare.’ The expression, ‘He discovered,’ means simply that it “was” uncovered, without designating the agent.The covering of Judah - The word used here (מסך mâsak) denotes properly “a covering,” and is applied to the “curtain” or veil that was before the tabernacle Exodus 26:36; Exodus 39:38; and to the curtain that was before the gate of the court Exodus 35:17; Exodus 39:40. The Septuagint understands it of the “gates” of Judah,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 22:8-11

Isaiah 22:8-11. And he Namely, the enemy Sennacherib, of whose invasion he seems to speak; discovered the covering of Judah Took those fenced cities which were a covering or safeguard, both to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem. Thou didst look Or, rather, as Dr. Waterland and Bishop Lowth render it, Thou shalt, or wilt look, &c. For the prophet is evidently predicting an invasion which was future, and the behaviour of the Jews on that occasion. He is showing beforehand some... read more

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