24 And they shall hang H8518 upon him all the glory H3519 of his father's H1 house, H1004 the offspring H6631 and the issue, H6849 all vessels H3627 of small H6996 quantity, from the vessels H3627 of cups, H101 even to all the vessels H3627 of flagons. H5035
And Pharaoh H6547 said H559 unto Joseph, H3130 I am Pharaoh, H6547 and without H1107 thee shall no man H376 lift up H7311 his hand H3027 or foot H7272 in all the land H776 of Egypt. H4714 And Pharaoh H6547 called H7121 Joseph's H3130 name H8034 Zaphnathpaaneah; H6847 and he gave H5414 him to wife H802 Asenath H621 the daughter H1323 of Potipherah H6319 priest H3548 of On. H204 And Joseph H3130 went out H3318 over all the land H776 of Egypt. H4714
And Joseph H3130 placed H3427 his father H1 and his brethren, H251 and gave H5414 them a possession H272 in the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 in the best H4315 of the land, H776 in the land H776 of Rameses, H7486 as Pharaoh H6547 had commanded. H6680 And Joseph H3130 nourished H3557 his father, H1 and his brethren, H251 and all his father's H1 household, H1004 with bread, H3899 according H6310 to their families. H2945 And there was no bread H3899 in all the land; H776 for the famine H7458 was very H3966 sore, H3515 so that the land H776 of Egypt H4714 and all the land H776 of Canaan H3667 fainted H3856 by reason H6440 of the famine. H7458 And Joseph H3130 gathered up H3950 all the money H3701 that was found H4672 in the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 and in the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 for the corn H7668 which they bought: H7666 and Joseph H3130 brought H935 the money H3701 into Pharaoh's H6547 house. H1004 And when money H3701 failed H8552 in the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 and in the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 all the Egyptians H4714 came H935 unto Joseph, H3130 and said, H559 Give H3051 us bread: H3899 for why should we die H4191 in thy presence? for the money H3701 faileth. H656 And Joseph H3130 said, H559 Give H3051 your cattle; H4735 and I will give H5414 you for your cattle, H4735 if money H3701 fail. H656 And they brought H935 their cattle H4735 unto Joseph: H3130 and Joseph H3130 gave H5414 them bread H3899 in exchange for horses, H5483 and for the flocks, H6629 and for the cattle H4735 of the herds, H1241 and for the asses: H2543 and he fed H5095 them with bread H3899 for all their cattle H4735 for that year. H8141 When that year H8141 was ended, H8552 they came H935 unto him the second H8145 year, H8141 and said H559 unto him, We will not hide H3582 it from my lord, H113 how that our money H3701 is spent; H8552 my lord H113 also hath H413 our herds H4735 of cattle; H929 there is not ought left H7604 in the sight H6440 of my lord, H113 but our bodies, H1472 and our lands: H127 Wherefore shall we die H4191 before thine eyes, H5869 both we and our land? H127 buy H7069 us and our land H127 for bread, H3899 and we and our land H127 will be servants H5650 unto Pharaoh: H6547 and give H5414 us seed, H2233 that we may live, H2421 and not die, H4191 that the land H127 be not desolate. H3456 And Joseph H3130 bought H7069 all the land H127 of Egypt H4714 for Pharaoh; H6547 for the Egyptians H4714 sold H4376 every man H376 his field, H7704 because the famine H7458 prevailed H2388 over them: so the land H776 became Pharaoh's. H6547 And as for the people, H5971 he removed H5674 them to cities H5892 from one end H7097 of the borders H1366 of Egypt H4714 even to the other end H7097 thereof. Only the land H127 of the priests H3548 bought he H7069 not; for the priests H3548 had a portion H2706 assigned them of Pharaoh, H6547 and did eat H398 their portion H2706 which Pharaoh H6547 gave H5414 them: wherefore they sold H4376 not their lands. H127 Then Joseph H3130 said H559 unto the people, H5971 Behold, I have bought H7069 H853 you this day H3117 and your land H127 for Pharaoh: H6547 lo, H1887 here is seed H2233 for you, and ye shall sow H2232 the land. H127 And it shall come to pass in the increase, H8393 that ye shall give H5414 the fifth H2549 part unto Pharaoh, H6547 and four H702 parts H3027 shall be your own, for seed H2233 of the field, H7704 and for your food, H400 and for them of your households, H1004 and for food H398 for your little ones. H2945 And they said, H559 Thou hast saved our lives: H2421 let us find H4672 grace H2580 in the sight H5869 of my lord, H113 and we will be Pharaoh's H6547 servants. H5650
It pleased H6925 H8232 Darius H1868 to set H6966 over H5922 the kingdom H4437 an hundred H3969 and twenty H6243 princes, H324 which should be H1934 over the whole H3606 kingdom; H4437 And over H5924 these H4481 three H8532 presidents; H5632 of whom H4481 Daniel H1841 was first: H2298 that H459 the princes H324 might H1934 give H3052 accounts H2941 unto them, and the king H4430 should have H1934 no H3809 damage. H5142 Then H116 this H1836 Daniel H1841 was H1934 preferred H5330 above H5922 the presidents H5632 and princes, H324 because H3606 H6903 an excellent H3493 spirit H7308 was in him; and the king H4430 thought H6246 to set H6966 him over H5922 the whole H3606 realm. H4437
For G1063 G3761 the Father G3962 judgeth G2919 no man, G3762 but G235 hath committed G1325 all G3956 judgment G2920 unto the Son: G5207 That G2443 all G3956 men should honour G5091 the Son, G5207 even as G2531 they honour G5091 the Father. G3962 He that honoureth G5091 not G3361 the Son G5207 honoureth G5091 not G3756 the Father G3962 which G3588 hath sent G3992 him. G846 Verily, G281 verily, G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 G3754 He that heareth G191 my G3450 word, G3056 and G2532 believeth G4100 on him that sent G3992 me, G3165 hath G2192 everlasting G166 life, G2222 and G2532 shall G2064 not G3756 come G2064 into G1519 condemnation; G2920 but G235 is passed G3327 from G1537 death G2288 unto G1519 life. G2222 Verily, G281 verily, G281 I say G3004 unto you, G5213 G3754 The hour G5610 is coming, G2064 and G2532 now G3568 is, G2076 when G3753 the dead G3498 shall hear G191 the voice G5456 of the Son G5207 of God: G2316 and G2532 they that hear G191 shall live. G2198 For G1063 as G5618 the Father G3962 hath G2192 life G2222 in G1722 himself; G1438 so G2532 G3779 hath he given G1325 to the Son G5207 to have G2192 life G2222 in G1722 himself; G1438 And G2532 hath given G1325 him G846 authority G1849 to execute G4160 judgment G2920 also, G2532 because G3754 he is G2076 the Son G5207 of man. G444
Then G3767 said G2036 Jesus G2424 to them G846 again, G3825 Peace G1515 be unto you: G5213 as G2531 my Father G3962 hath sent G649 me, G3165 even so G2504 send G3992 I G2504 you. G5209 And G2532 when he had said G2036 this, G5124 he breathed on G1720 them, and G2532 saith G3004 unto them, G846 Receive ye G2983 the Holy G40 Ghost: G4151 Whose G5100 soever G302 sins G266 ye remit, G863 they are remitted G863 unto them; G846 and whose G5100 soever G302 sins ye retain, G2902 they are retained. G2902
What if G1487 G1161 God, G2316 willing G2309 to shew G1731 his wrath, G3709 and G2532 to make G1107 his G846 power G1415 known, G1107 endured G5342 with G1722 much G4183 longsuffering G3115 the vessels G4632 of wrath G3709 fitted G2675 to G1519 destruction: G684 And G2532 that G2443 he might make known G1107 the riches G4149 of his G846 glory G1391 on G1909 the vessels G4632 of mercy, G1656 which G3739 he had afore prepared G4282 unto G1519 glory, G1391
But G1161 in G1722 a great G3173 house G3614 there are G2076 not G3756 only G3440 vessels G4632 of gold G5552 and G2532 of silver, G693 but G235 also G2532 of wood G3585 and G2532 of earth; G3749 and G2532 some G3739 G3303 to G1519 honour, G5092 and G1161 some G3739 to G1519 dishonour. G819 If G1437 a man G5100 therefore G3767 purge G1571 himself G1438 from G575 these, G5130 he shall be G2071 a vessel G4632 unto G1519 honour, G5092 sanctified, G37 and G2532 meet G2173 for the master's use, G1203 and prepared G2090 unto G1519 every G3956 good G18 work. G2041
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Isaiah 22
Commentary on Isaiah 22 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 22
Isa 22:1-14. Prophecy as to an Attack on Jerusalem.
That by Sennacherib, in the fourteenth year of Hezekiah; Isa 22:8-11, the preparations for defense and securing of water exactly answer to those in 2Ch 32:4, 5, 30. "Shebna," too (Isa 22:15), was scribe at this time (Isa 36:3) [Maurer]. The language of Isa 22:12-14, as to the infidelity and consequent utter ruin of the Jews, seems rather to foreshadow the destruction by Nebuchadnezzar in Zedekiah's reign, and cannot be restricted to Hezekiah's time [Lowth].
1. of … valley of vision—rather, "respecting the valley of visions"; namely, Jerusalem, the seat of divine revelations and visions, "the nursery of prophets" [Jerome], (Isa 2:3; 29:1; Eze 23:4, Margin; Lu 13:33). It lay in a "valley" surrounded by hills higher than Zion and Moriah (Ps 125:2; Jer 21:13).
thee—the people of Jerusalem personified.
housetops—Panic-struck, they went up on the flat balustraded roofs to look forth and see whether the enemy was near, and partly to defend themselves from the roofs (Jud 9:51, &c.).
2. art—rather, "wert"; for it could not now be said to be "a joyous city" (Isa 32:13). The cause of their joy (Isa 22:13) may have been because Sennacherib had accepted Hezekiah's offer to renew the payment of tribute, and they were glad to have peace on any terms, however humiliating (2Ki 18:14-16), or on account of the alliance with Egypt. If the reference be to Zedekiah's time, the joy and feasting are not inapplicable, for this recklessness was a general characteristic of the unbelieving Jews (Isa 56:12).
not slain with the sword—but with the famine and pestilence about to be caused by the coming siege (La 4:9). Maurer refers this to the plague by which he thinks Sennacherib's army was destroyed, and Hezekiah was made sick (Isa 37:36; 38:1). But there is no authority for supposing that the Jews in the city suffered such extremities of plague at this time, when God destroyed their foes. Barnes refers it to those slain in flight, not in open honorable "battle"; Isa 22:3 favors this.
3. rulers—rather, "generals" (Jos 10:24; Jud 11:6, 11).
bound—rather, "are taken."
by the archers—literally, "by the bow"; so Isa 21:17. Bowmen were the light troops, whose province it was to skirmish in front and (2Ki 6:22) pursue fugitives (2Ki 25:5); this verse applies better to the attack of Nebuchadnezzar than that of Sennacherib.
all … in thee—all found in the city (Isa 13:15), not merely the "rulers" or generals.
fled from far—those who had fled from distant parts to Jerusalem as a place of safety; rather, fled afar.
4. Look … from me—Deep grief seeks to be alone; while others feast joyously, Isaiah mourns in prospect of the disaster coming on Jerusalem (Mic 1:8, 9).
daughter, &c.—(see on Isa 1:8; La 2:11).
5. trouble … by the Lord—that is, sent by or from the Lord (see on Isa 19:15; Lu 21:22-24).
valley of vision—(See on Isa 22:1). Some think a valley near Ophel is meant as about to be the scene of devastation (compare see on Isa 32:13,14).
breaking … walls—that is, "a day of breaking the walls" of the city.
crying to the mountains—the mournful cry of the townsmen "reaches" to (Maurer translates, towards) the mountains, and is echoed back by them. Josephus describes in the very same language the scene at the assault of Jerusalem under Titus. To this the prophecy, probably, refers ultimately. If, as some think, the "cry" is that of those escaping to the mountains, compare Mt 13:14; 24:16, with this.
6. Elam—the country stretching east from the Lower Tigris, answering to what was afterwards called Persia (see on Isa 21:2). Later, Elam was a province of Persia (Ezr 4:9). In Sennacherib's time, Elam was subject to Assyria (2Ki 18:11), and so furnished a contingent to its invading armies. Famed for the bow (Isa 13:18; Jer 49:35), in which the Ethiopians alone excelled them.
with chariots of men and horsemen—that is, they used the bow both in chariots and on horseback. "Chariots of men," that is, chariots in which men are borne, war chariots (compare see on Isa 21:7; Isa 21:9).
Kir—another people subject to Assyria (2Ki 16:9); the region about the river Kur, between the Caspian and Black Seas.
uncovered—took off for the battle the leather covering of the shield, intended to protect the embossed figures on it from dust or injury during the march. "The quiver" and "the shield" express two classes—light and heavy armed troops.
7. valleys—east, north, and south of Jerusalem: Hinnom on the south side was the richest valley.
in array at the gate—Rab-shakeh stood at the upper pool close to the city (Isa 36:11-13).
8. he discovered the covering—rather, "the veil of Judah shall be taken off" [Horsley]: figuratively for, exposing to shame as a captive (Isa 47:3; Na 3:5). Sennacherib dismantled all "the defensed cities of Judah" (Isa 36:1).
thou didst look—rather, "thou shalt look."
house of … forest—The house of armory built of cedar from the forest of Lebanon by Solomon, on a slope of Zion called Ophel (1Ki 7:2; 10:17; Ne 3:19). Isaiah says (Isa 22:8-13) his countrymen will look to their own strength to defend themselves, while others of them will drown their sorrows as to their country in feasting, but none will look to Jehovah.
9. Ye have seen—rather, "Ye shall see."
city of David—the upper city, on Zion, the south side of Jerusalem (2Sa 5:7, 9; 1Ki 8:1); surrounded by a wall of its own; but even in it there shall be "breaches." Hezekiah's preparations for defense accord with this (2Ch 32:5).
ye gathered—rather, "ye shall gather."
lower pool—(See on Isa 22:11). Ye shall bring together into the city by subterranean passages cut in the rock of Zion, the fountain from which the lower pool (only mentioned here) is supplied. See on Isa 7:3; 2Ki 20:20; 2Ch 32:3-5, represent Hezekiah as having stopped the fountains to prevent the Assyrians getting water. But this is consistent with the passage here. The superfluous waters of the lower pool usually flowed into Hinnom valley, and so through that of Jehoshaphat to the brook Kedron. Hezekiah built a wall round it, stopped the outflowing of its waters to debar the foe from the use of them, and turned them into the city.
10. numbered—rather, "ye shall number," namely, in order to see which of them may be pulled down with the least loss to the city, and with most advantage for the repair of the walls and rearing of towers (2Ch 32:5).
have ye broken down—rather, "ye shall break down."
11. Ye made … a ditch—rather, "Ye shall make a reservoir" for receiving the water. Hezekiah surrounded Siloah, from which the old (or king's, or upper) pool took its rise, with a wall joined to the wall of Zion on both sides; between these two walls he made a new pool, into which he directed the waters of the former, thus cutting off the foe from his supply of water also. The opening from which the upper pool received its water was nearer Zion than the other from which the lower pool took its rise, so that the water which flowed from the former could easily be shut in by a wall, whereas that which flowed from the latter could only be brought in by subterranean conduits (compare see on Isa 22:9; Isa 7:3; 2Ki 20:20; 2Ch 32:3-5, 30; Ecclesiasticus 48:17). Both were southwest of Jerusalem.
have not looked … neither had respect—answering by contrast to "Thou didst look to the armor, ye have seen ('had respect', or 'regard to') the breaches" (Isa 22:8, 9).
maker thereof—God, by whose command and aid these defenses were made, and who gave this fountain "long ago." G. V. Smith translates, "Him who doeth it," that is, has brought this danger on you—"Him who hath prepared it from afar," that is, planned it even from a distant time.
12. did the Lord God call—Usually the priests gave the summons to national mourning (Joe 1:14); now Jehovah Himself shall give it; the "call" shall consist in the presence of a terrible foe. Translate, "shall call."
baldness—emblem of grief (Job 1:20; Mic 1:16).
13. Notwithstanding Jehovah's "call to mourning" (Isa 22:12), many shall make the desperate state of affairs a reason for reckless revelry (Isa 5:11, 12, 14; Jer 18:12; 1Co 15:32).
Isa 22:15-25. Prophecy That Shebna Should Be Deposed from Being Prefect of the Palace, and Eliakim Promoted to the Office.
In Isa 36:3, 22; 37:2, we find Shebna "a scribe," and no longer prefect of the palace ("over the household"), and Eliakim in that office, as is here foretold. Shebna is singled out as the subject of prophecy (the only instance of an individual being so in Isaiah), as being one of the irreligious faction that set at naught the prophet's warnings (Isa 28:1-33:24); perhaps it was he who advised the temporary ignominious submission of Hezekiah to Sennacherib.
15. Go, get thee unto—rather, "Go in to" (that is, into the house to).
treasurer—"him who dwells in the tabernacle" [Jerome]; namely, in a room of the temple set apart for the treasurer. Rather, "the king's friend," or "principal officer of the court" (1Ki 4:5; 18:3; 1Ch 27:33, "the king's counsellor") [Maurer]. "This" is prefixed contemptuously (Ex 32:1).
unto Shebna—The Hebrew for "unto" indicates an accosting of Shebna with an unwelcome message.
16. What … whom—The prophet accosts Shebna at the very place where he was building a grand sepulcher for himself and his family (compare Isa 14:18; Ge 23:1-20; 49:29; 50:13). "What (business) hast thou here, and whom hast thou (of thy family, who is likely to be buried) here, that thou buildest," &c., seeing that thou art soon to be deposed from office and carried into captivity? [Maurer].
on high—Sepulchres were made in the highest rocks (2Ch 32:33, Margin).
habitation for himself—compare "his own house" (Isa 14:18).
17. carry … away with … captivity—rather, "will cast thee away with a mighty throw" [Maurer]. "Mighty," literally, "of a man" (so Job 38:3).
surely cover—namely, with shame, where thou art rearing a monument to perpetuate thy fame [Vitringa]. "Rolling will roll thee," that is, will continually roll thee on, as a ball to be tossed away [Maurer]. Compare Isa 22:18.
18. violently turn and toss—literally, "whirling He will whirl thee," that is, He will, without intermission, whirl thee [Maurer]. "He will whirl thee round and round, and (then) cast thee away," as a stone in a sling is first whirled round repeatedly, before the string is let go [Lowth].
large country—perhaps Assyria.
chariots … shall be the shame of thy lord's house—rather, "thy splendid chariots shall be there, O thou disgrace of thy lord's house" [Noyes]; "chariots of thy glory" mean "thy magnificent chariots." It is not meant that he would have these in a distant land, as he had in Jerusalem, but that he would be borne thither in ignominy instead of in his magnificent chariots. The Jews say that he was tied to the tails of horses by the enemy, to whom he had designed to betray Jerusalem, as they thought he was mocking them; and so he died.
19. state—office.
he—God. A similar change of persons occurs in Isa 34:16.
20. son of Hilkiah—supposed by Kimchi to be the same as Azariah, son of Hilkiah, who perhaps had two names, and who was "over the household" in Hezekiah's time (1Ch 6:13).
21. thy robe—of office.
girdle—in which the purse was carried, and to it was attached the sword; often adorned with gold and jewels.
father—that is, a counsellor and friend.
22. key—emblem of his office over the house; to "open" or "shut"; access rested with him.
upon … shoulder—So keys are carried sometimes in the East, hanging from the kerchief on the shoulder. But the phrase is rather figurative for sustaining the government on one's shoulders. Eliakim, as his name implies, is here plainly a type of the God-man Christ, the son of "David," of whom Isaiah (Isa 9:6) uses the same language as the former clause of this verse. In Re 3:7, the same language as the latter clause is found (compare Job 12:14).
23. nail … sure place—Large nails or pegs stood in ancient houses on which were suspended the ornaments of the family. The sense is: all that is valuable to the nation shall rest securely on him. In Ezr 9:8 "nail" is used of the large spike driven into the ground to fasten the cords of the tent to.
throne—resting-place to his family, as applied to Eliakim; but "throne," in the strict sense, as applied to Messiah, the antitype (Lu 1:32, 33).
24. Same image as in Isa 22:23. It was customary to "hang" the valuables of a house on nails (1Ki 10:16, 17, 21; So 4:4).
offspring and the issue—rather, "the offshoots of the family, high and low" [Vitringa]. Eliakim would reflect honor even on the latter.
vessels of cups—of small capacity: answering to the low and humble offshoots.
vessels of flagons—larger vessels: answering to the high offshoots.
25. nail … fastened—Shebna, who was supposed to be firmly fixed in his post.
burden … upon it—All that were dependent on Shebna, all his emoluments and rank will fail, as when a peg is suddenly "cut down," the ornaments on it fall with it. Sin reaches in its effects even to the family of the guilty (Ex 20:5).