Isaiah 22

Isaiah 22:1

OF the valley] he doth obscurely speak of Jerusalem, which was encompassed with hils, Psal. 125. 2. and cals it, the valley of vision, by allusion to the name of Ierusalem, forSalem signisieth a place where God sees and provides, see Genesis 22:14. What aileth thee] a propheticall representation of the siege, and sacking of Ierusalem. Gone up] the house topps were made like unto great open terraces, and they went up to them in time of publique mourning and calamities, as it were to present themselves openly to God, and to aske and begge reliefe at his hands, see Isaiah 50:3. Ier. 48. 38.

Isaiah 22:2

The slaine men] he hath a relation to Zedekiah and his men of warre, who were taken after they fled out of the City, whereof the chiefe were slaine, Ier. 39. 4.

Isaiah 22:4

Said I] the prophets hearty sorrow for the miseries which were to come upon his Nation Of the daughter] that is to say, of the City or Communalty.

Isaiah 22:6

Elam] a people of Persia and Media who served the King of Babylon in this warre Of men] see upon Isai. 21. 9. Kir] an Easterly Nation in Persia or Media, 2 Kings 16:9. Uncovered] that is to say, have taken their Armes, for in time of peace they wrapped up their Armes for feare of rufting.

Isaiah 22:8

The covering] namely, the Rampire and defence, that is to say, Gods protection, see Exodus 32:25. Numbers 14:9. Micah 1:11. Thou didst looke] O people you have looked after and trusted in humane meanes for to defend you The house] he meanes the royall Palace, which was called the house of the wood of Lebanon, 1 King. 7. 2. which was also the armorie for the Kings guard, 1 Kings 10:16-17. 2 Chronicles 12:10.

Isaiah 22:9

Ye gathered] you Jews will imitate by reason in your fear, Hezechiah by prevailing against the Assyrians in cutting off the waters from them, and bringing them into the Citie by pipes under ground, 2 Chron. 32. 4. 30. but not in his faith, having a recourse to God by prayers & humiliation.

Isaiah 22:10

Numbred] to know the certain number of the inhabitants, and the people which were for defence, for to give every one their charge, and to distribute the provision of victuall.

Isaiah 22:11

Between the two] this was a place on the north-side of Jerusalem, where the gathering of waters was, between the wall of the City and another compasse of wall within side, which was called Bezera, see 2 King. 25. 4. Jeremiah 39:4. For the water] a great pond, into which were gathered and kept the waters which came from the upper poole, Isaiah 7:3. which was formerly made by Solomon, Nehem. 12. 14. and therefore is called The old pool, or fish-pond, opposite to that which Hezekiah made, 2 Kings 20:20. and is here called, The lower poole,vers 9. Looked] by faith, conversion, and prayer Unto the maker] namely, to God who is the author of these judgements and visitaions, see Isa, 37. 26. Others, to him that made i, that is to say, That built and established Jerusalem and his Church Long agoe] he hath a relation to this vision, which was long before it came to passe.

Isaiah 22:12

Call] that is to say, hath given you great cause of griefe for to bring you to repentance To baldnesse] the Italian, to taring of hair; as Ezra 9:3. Mich. 1. 16.

Isaiah 22:13

Let us eat] a representation of the peoples prophane and desperate thoughts in their calamities.

Isaiah 22:14

And it was] or, and the Lord of hosts hath revealed himselfe to mine ears; that is to say, to me, speaking as followeth.

Isaiah 22:15

Treasurer] it should seeme that he was the chiefe, both for the state and for the treasure Shebna] it may be the same man, as is mentioned, 2 King. 18. 18. where he is named Secretary. There is not any mention made elsewhere of the evill carriages, nor of the end of this man. Others by conjecture onely do beleeve that he was deposed from his government and made secretary onely, and that, that was the beginning of his fall, which was here foretold by Isaiah.

Isaiah 22:16

What hast thou] that is to say, thou art unworthy of this high degree, and oughtest to be deposed, and therefore shalt not enjoy these honours till thine houre of death, upon which hope notwithstanding thou’buildest thy selfe this stately Scpulchre And whom hast] he seems to have a relation to Shbnas base and forraigne parentage: his meaning is, thou art as it were a new man, and therefore oughtest not to build thy selfe a Sepulchre in thy life time, after the manner of great ones, who have burying places common for all their postcrity from father to sonne. And if thou imaginest to give a beginning of this pomp in thine own person; know, that being condemned by God to an ignominious end, thy buiall cannot be hononourable.

Isaiah 22:17

Cover thee] the Italian, quite cover thy face; as they used to doe to criminall, condemned men, whose faces they covered, as being persons unworthy to see the sunne any more, and persons fraught with ignomine, see Esther 7:8 Job 9:24.

Isaiah 22:18

There shalt thou] namely, in that base estate which thou shalt be brought into from all thy fore-passed power and glorie, during which thou didst pompously ride on horsback, and in thy charet.

Isaiah 22:21

With thy girdle] a signe of power and of command, Job 12:18; Job 12:21. Isa. 11. 5. and 45. 1. 5.

Isaiah 22:22

And the key] which is a badge of the generall superintendency of the Palace, so Eliakim was a figure of Christ, Revelation 3:7. He shall open] what soever he shall do in the managing of his place shall be hrme and unvariable, there shall be neither let, nor opposition.

Isaiah 22:23

Fasten him] that is to say, I will establish him in his state, and he shall be a sure stay to all his kindred, yea, to all the tribe of Judah, which shall be honoured and exalted through his dignity.

Isaiah 22:24

Shall hang upon him] all other inferiour Offices, which are but as branches of the generall superintendencie, shall depend upon him, and hee shall order them in very good sort All vessels] he seems to meane all persons in inferiour places and offices, as the officers belonging to the cellar, to shew that through his vertue and care, the Kings house should be well governed, even in the meanest and most abject places.

Isaiah 22:25

The naile] namely, Shebnah, who seemed to be so firmly established And the burden] those that were in his favour and depended upon him, and did wholly rest upon him.