The prophecy

ISAIAH.

against Jerusalem.

The displacing of

have humbled themselves under his mighty hand, which conduct God would certainly punish, 12–14. Shebna for his pride, 15-19. Eliakim appointed his successor in office, to the great benefit of the country and his own honour, 20-24.

B. C. 712.

B. C. 712.

A. M. 3292. THE burden of the valley of vision. | thee are bound together, which have A. M. 3292. || What aileth thee now, that thou fled from far. art wholly gone up to the house-tops?

2 Thou that art full of stirs, a tumultuous city, a a joyous city: thy slain men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle.

3 All thy rulers are fled together, they are bound by the archers: all that are found in

4 Therefore said I, Look away from me; b12 will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people.

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5 For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord God of

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a Chapter xxxii. 13.— Heb. of the bow. Jeremiah iv. 19; Heb. I will be bitter in weeping.— - Chap. xxxvii. 3.- d Lam.

ix. 1.

NOTES ON CHAPTER XXII.

Verses 1-3. The burden of the valley of vision Of Judah, and especially of Jerusalem, called a valley, because a great part of it stood in a valley between the opposite hills of Zion and Acra, and between Acra and Moriah; (see Josephus's Jewish War, v. 13; and vi. 6;) and the valley of vision, because it was the seat of divine revelation, the place where || chiefly prophetic visions were given, and where God manifested himself visibly in the most holy place. || The reader will observe this is the seventh discourse of the second part; and relates to the calamity brought on Jerusalem by the invasion of the Assyrians or Chaldeans, or both, and to the fall of Shebna.

i. 5; ii. 2.

lic, the readiest and most effectual way of doing it was, to proclaim it from the house-tops to the people in the streets."-Bishop Lowth.

Thy slain men are not slain with the sword-But either by famine or pestilence in the siege. Sennacherib's army having laid the country waste, and destroyed the fruits of the earth, provisions must needs be very scarce and dear in the city, which would be the death of many of the poorer sort of people, who would be constrained to feed on what was unwholesome. But this prediction, with that contained in the next verse, was more eminently fulfilled when the city was besieged by the Chaldeans. See Jer. xiv. 18; xxxviii. 2. And Vitringa is of opinion, that the prophet has that calamity in view, as well as the affliction suffered under the Assyrian invasion. All thy rulers are fled together-Zedekiah and his chief commanders, whose flight he foretels. See Jer. xxxix. 3, 4. They are bound by the archers

What aileth thee now?—The prophet refers here to the commotion into which the city was, or, he foresaw, would be, thrown upon the report of the approach of the hostile army to besiege it, and to the perturbation of the people's minds and the general confusion. That thou art wholly gone up to the house-tops-Either to reconnoitre the approaching enemy, or to consult for thine own safety. Thou that art-Or rather, wast, full of stirs-Of great trade, people hurrying to and fro about their business; a tumultuous city-Populous and noisy; a joyous city--Full of revelling and jollity. ails thee now that the shops and mercantile houses are quitted, and there is no more walking in the streets, but thou art to be seen crowding the housetops?--"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. The terrace is frequented as much as any part of the house. On this, as the season Verses 4, 5. Therefore said I, &c.--“ Behold the favours, they walk, they eat, they sleep, they trans- prophet here anticipating those lamentations which act business, they perform their devotions. The he was afterward to pour forth, and which Jeremiah house is built with a court within, into which chiefly so pathetically poured forth, an eye-witness of this the windows open; those that are open to the street calamity. For the expressions here are too strong are so obstructed with lattice-work that no one either to be applied to any other calamity than the great without or within can see through them. Whenever, and final one, when the Jews were carried captives therefore, any thing is to be seen or heard in the to Babylon;" of which the prophet had a clear streets, any public spectacle, any alarm of a public foresight. Look away from me-Take off your nature, every one immediately goes up to the house-eyes and thoughts from me, and leave me alone, that tops to satisfy his curiosity. In the same manner, I may take my fill of sorrow. Labour not to comfort when any one had occasion to make any thing pub- || me--For all your labour will be lost. I neither can

Bishop Lowth renders this clause, they are fled from the bow, that is, from the bows and arrows of the Assyrian archers: or, as others translate this former part of the verse, All thy captains are fled together with a wandering flight from the bow. That is, they are fled far and wide; they are bound What-Namely, those who could not flee away fast enough to escape the Chaldeans. All that are found in thee-Namely, in the city, with Zedekiah, during the siege; for those who had fled to the Chaldeans saved their lives and liberties. Or, as the words, To, may be rendered, All that are found of thee, or belonging to thee; which have fied from far --Or, have fled a great way off, namely, who fled from Jerusalem, but were pursued and overtaken by the enemy, 2 Kings xxv. 4-7, and Jer. lii. 8-11.

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against Jerusalem.

B. C. 712.

9 h Ye have seen also the breaches A. M. 3292. of the city of David, that they are many: and ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool.

10 And ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses have ye broken down to fortify the wall.

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11 i Ye made also a ditch between the two walls for the water of the old pool; but ye have not looked unto the maker thereof, neither had respect unto him that fashioned it long ago.

31 Kings vii. 2; x. 17.- h 2 Kings xx. 20; 2 Chron. xxxii. 4, 5, 30. Neh. iii. 16.- -k Chap. xxxvii. 26.

ple 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 occa

The

nor will receive any consolation. Because of the spoiling, &c.-Of that city and nation, whereof I| am a member. The title of daughter is often given both to cities and nations, as hath been observed before. For it is a day of treading down--In || which my people are trodden under foot by their sion. He is showing beforehand some of the causes insolent enemies; and of perplexity by the Lord of || of these judgments, namely, the crimes and vices of hosts--This is added, partly to show, that this did the people; and first, in these verses, their inconnot happen without God's providence; and partly sideration and want of faith. They would look, he to aggravate their calamity, because, not only men, says, to the armour of the house of the forest--But but God himself fought against them; breaking || not to God. The history (2 Chron. xxxii. 2, &c.) down the walls-Of the strong cities of Judah;|| best explains this passage. From thence we learn, which was done both by Sennacherib and by Nebu- that the prince and the people were rather solicitous chadnezzar; and of crying to the mountains-With to seek for human defence, by fortifying their city, such loud and dismal outcries as should reach to than for that which was divine, by having respect the neighbouring mountains. "Who does not see," unto him who was their king and protector. says Vitringa, “in Isaiah, thus weeping over Jerusa- house of the forest is that mentioned 1 Kings vii. 2, lem, a type of Jesus weeping over this same city in where the armory was kept. See the note there. its last extremity ?" The prophet proceeds to foretel that they would see, that is, observe or consider, the breaches of the city of David-Namely, in order to the reparation of them, and to fortify the city; that they would gather the waters of the lower pool-In order that they might both deprive the enemy of water, and supply the city with it: of which see on 2 Chron. xxxii. 3, 4. That they would number the houses of Jerusalem-Namely, with a view to know their own strength, and the number of their people, that so they might lay the burdens more equally upon them, and make sufficient provision for them; that they would break down the houses--Namely, which stood upon or without the walls of their city, and which therefore would have given their enemies advantage against them, and have hindered the fortifying of the city. But, adds he, ye have not looked, or will not look, unto the maker thereof-That is, of Jerusalem, mentioned in the foregoing verse; him that fashioned it-Hebrew, 7, the former, or framer of it, God, who made it a city, and the place of his special presence and worship; which also he had undertaken to protect, on condition that the people would Ver. 8-11. And he-Namely, the enemy Sennache- observe his commands; to whom, therefore, they rib, of whose invasion he seems to speak; discovered should have had recourse in this time of their disthe covering of Judah--Took those fenced cities tress. The expression pin, of old, or long ago, which were a covering or safeguard, both to the peo- || may be added to aggravate their sin in distrusting VOL. III.

Verses 6, 7. And Elam bare the quiver-This second member of the first part of this prophecy, which begins here, seems evidently to refer to the Assyrian invasion; for the Medes and Elamites, or Persians, were united with the Assyrians in the time of Sennacherib, but not of Nebuchadnezzar. The Persians were expert bowmen, as appears from Jer. xlix. 35, and from Strabo's testimony. With chariots of men and horsemen-As some of them fought on foot, so others from chariots and horses. And Kir-That is, the Medes, so called, from an eminent city and region of that name in Media, 2 Kings xvi. 9; Amos i. 5; uncovered the shield-Prepared their defensive and offensive weapons, and themselves, for the battle; for in times of peace arms were wrapped up and covered, to preserve them clean and fit for use. Thy choicest valleys shall be full of chariots-Valleys were the most proper places for the use of chariots; and the horsemen at the gate-To assist and defend the footmen, while they made the assault, and to prevent those who endeavoured to escape.

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that God who had now, for a long time, given proof of his care and kindness in defending that city.

Shebna for his pride.

B. C. 712.

16 What hast thou here, and whom A. M. 3292. hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth a habitation for himself in a rock?

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17 Behold, the LORD will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee.

18 He will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord's house. 19 And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down.

7 Or, the LORD, who covered thee with an excellent covering, and clothed thee gorgeously, shall surely, &c., Verse 18.- Hebrew, the captivity of a man.Esther vii. 8.-9 Hebrew, large of

spaces.

What hast thou here?—Or, What

which they infer from "the pride of his desire to ennoble himself by a splendid sepulchre:" but of Verses 12-14. And in that day did, or will, the these things there is no evidence. Lord call, &c.—Another fault, which the prophet Verses 16-19. imputes to the carnal Jews, is impenitence, or carnal dost thou here? What right hast thou to this place security. He foretels that God would call them to and office? And whom hast thou here?-What reweeping and mourning, and other instances and evi- lations or family? That thou hast hewed thee out dences of humiliation and godly sorrow; but that, a sepulchre That thou art ambitious of raising a instead thereof, he should find them given up to joy stately sepulchre for thyself and thine heirs? As he and gladness, slaying oxen, &c., that is, to levity and that heweth out a sepulchre on high-In a high luxury, mirth and feasting: saying, Let us eat and and eminent place; a habitation for himself in a drink, for to-morrow we die-The prophet tells us, rock-A monument that shall preserve his memory that we shall certainly and suddenly be destroyed; to all succeeding times. The Lord will carry thee it concerns us, therefore, to make our best of the away with a mighty captivity-Will cause thee to present time, and to be merry while we have oppor- be carried into captivity by a strong hand, or by the tunity: a most perverse and desperate conclusion, hand of a mighty man, from which, therefore, thou proceeding from obstinate profaneness and contempt shalt not be able to escape. The Hebrew, shohon of God's judgments. It was revealed in mine ears hoho, is rendered by Dr. Waterland, will throw -God himself hath said to me; Surely this iniquity || thee out hence with a mighty throw, and may also shall not be purged till you die--This, your harden-be rendered, will cast thee away with the casting ing your hearts, under and against God's judgments, of a mighty man, that is, with great force; and will and defeating and rendering ineffectual the means provided for bringing you to repentance, shall never be forgiven you, but you shall feel the effects of such conduct, and of God's displeasure against you for it, as long as you live.

like a ball-Hebrew,

surely cover thee-Namely, with confusion, as is here implied, and as this phrase is more fully expressed Psa. cix. 29. Or, this may be an allusion to the condition of mourners in general, and particularly of condemned persons, whose faces were wont to Verse 15. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, &c.-be covered. He will violently turn and toss thee This second part of the prophet's discourse, which contains the judgment upon Shebna, seems to be so connected with the former as to give reason to suppose that this man was the chief among the profane nobles of that time, against whom the prophet declaims in the preceding verses; and that, having the first place in the state and palace after the king, he had, by his example, corrupted many others. We know nothing certain concerning him, further than that he was the treasurer, or steward of the king's household. He seems to have been a different person from that Shebna, the scribe, mentioned chap. xxxvii. 2. Some have thought that he was not a native Jew, but a foreigner, and a man of low birth;

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rus, rolling he will roll thee with the rolling of a ball; into a large country-Like a ball which is cast into a large and plain spot of ground, where, being thrown with great force, it runs far and wide. Or, to a far country, meaning probably Assyria. There shalt thou die-After having lived in obscurity. And the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord's house--The honour thou didst arrive at, and the chariots in which thou didst ride with so much state at Jerusalem, shall turn to thy shame, and to the reproach of those who preferred so unworthy a person. Dr. Waterland translates the verse, He will toss and whirl thee, as he were whirling a ball, &c., and ( 10* )

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CHAPTER XXII.

A. M. 3292. 20 ¶ And it shall come to pass in ||
that day, that I will call my servant
"Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah.

21 And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.

22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder: so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

pressed here with great clearness as well as force by the sole and exclusive authority to open and to shut. || Our Saviour, therefore, has, upon a similar occasion, made use of a like manner of expression, Matt. xvi. 19; and in Rev. iii. 7 has applied to himself the very words of the prophet."

ISAIAH.

against Tyre. -Great and small, the children and grand-children, || of Shebna, as a repetition and confirmation of of his father's house. All vessels of small quan- the sentence above denounced against him; shall tity-The meanest of them shall receive a lustre the nail that is fastened-That seemed to be so, and advantage from their relation to him; from both in his own eyes, and in the eyes of others; be the vessels of cups, &c.-All sorts of vessels, great removed and fall-As above described; and the or small, mean or precious, may be hanged upon burden that was upon it shall be cut off-All those him, without any fear of falling. In that day wicked officers that were advanced and supported shall the nail, &c.-This must be understood || by his power.

CHAPTER XXIII.

In this chapter is foretold, (1,) The lamentable desolation of Tyre, by the Chaldeans, to the consternation of the Tyrians themselves, and their neighbours, 1-14. (2,) The restoration of Tyre after seventy years, when their trade and commerce should flourish again, 15-17. (3,) The conversion of the Tyrians to God, 18.

THE burden of Tyre. Howl, ye|| 2 Be still, ye inhabitants of the A. M. 3289. ships of Tarshish; for it is laid isle; thou whom the merchants of waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: Zidon, that pass over the sea, have replenished. b from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them. 3 And by great waters the seed of Sihor, the