Chapter 22
22:1 The burden of the valley of vision. What ails you also, that you too are wholly gone up to the housetops?
22:2 Full of clamor, a populous city, a joyous city: your slain are not slain by the sword, nor dead in battle.
22:3 All the princes are fled together, and are bound hard: all that were found, are bound together, they are fled far off.
22:4 Therefore have I said: depart from me, I will weep bitterly: labor not to comfort me, for the devastation of the daughter of my people.
22:5 For it is a day of slaughter and of treading down, and of weeping to the Lord the God of hosts in the valley of vision, searching the wall, and magnificent upon the mountain.
22:6 And Elam took the quiver, the chariot of the horseman, and the shield laid bare the wall.
22:7 And your choice valleys shall be full of chariots, and the horsemen shall place themselves in the gate.
22:8 And the covering of Judah shall be discovered, and you shall see in that day the armory of the house of the forest.
22:9 And you shall see the breaches of the city of David, that they are many: and you have gathered together the waters of the lower pool,
22:10 And have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and broken down houses to fortify the wall.
22:11 And you made a lake between the two walls for the water of the old pool: and you have not looked up to the maker thereof, nor regarded him even at a distance, that wrought it long ago.
22:12 And the Lord, the God of hosts, in that day shall call to weeping, and to beating, to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:
22:13 And behold joy and gladness, killing calves, and slaying rams, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we shall die.
22:14 And the voice of the Lord of hosts was revealed in my ears: surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you till you die, says the Lord God of hosts.
22:15 Thus says the Lord God of hosts: go, get you in to him that dwells in the tabernacle, to Sobna who is over the temple: and you shall say to him:
22:16 What do you here, or as if you were somebody here? For you have hewed you out a sepulcher here, you have hewed out a monument carefully in a high place, a dwelling for yourself in a rock.
22:17 Behold the Lord will cause you to be carried away, as a cock is carried away, and he will lift you up as a garment.
22:18 He will crown you with a crown of tribulation, he will toss you like a ball into a large and spacious country: there shall you die, and there shall the chariot of your glory be, the shame of the house of your Lord.
22:19 And I will drive you out from your station, and depose you from your ministry.
22:20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliacim the son of Helcias,
22:21 And I will clothe him with your robe, and will strengthen him with your girdle, and will give your power into his hand: and he shall be as a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.
22:22 And I will lay the key of the house of David upon his shoulder: and he shall open, and none shall shut: and he shall shut, and none shall open.
22:23 And I will fasten him as a peg in the place of the faithful, and he shall be for a throne of glory to the house of his father.
22:24 And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father’s house, diverse kinds of vessels, every little vessel, from the vessels of cups even to every instrument of music.
22:25 In that day, says the Lord of hosts, shall the peg be removed, that was fastened in the sure place: and it shall be broken and shall fall: and that which hung thereon, shall perish, because the Lord has spoken it.
526 . The burden of the valley . Here he threatens against those who were joined to the people of God by right of authority and yet were plundering their goods.
And first, as to those to whom pertained authority in temporal affairs;
second, against those to whom pertained authority in spiritual affairs: thus says the Lord (Isa 22:15).
527 . Now, authority in temporal affairs pertains to kings, and therefore in the first part he threatens against Jerusalem, which was the seat of the kingdom; and concerning this, he does two things.
First, the inscription is set out: the valley , that is, Jerusalem, not because of the site of the place, which was on a mountain, but because of its baseness, for filth from every direction flowed together to it as to a valley, while they followed the act of the neighboring nations: this is Jerusalem, I have set her in the midst of the nations (Ezek 5:5); or it is called a valley because of the lowest part of the city, which was handed over to Sennacherib by Sobna. Vision , because of the holiness of the temple: for in the temple visions came to the prophets from the Lord; or because of the prominence of the place, for it could be seen from distant places; or because of the name which Abraham gave to the place, as it says in Genesis 22:14: and he called the name of that place, the Lord sees .
528 . Second, the threat itself is set out. And concerning this, he does three things:
first, he denounces the fault;
second, he threatens punishment: your slain (Isa 22:2);
third, he shows the pertinacity of their obstinacy in this punishment: and you have gathered (Isa 22:9).
Concerning the first, he does two things.
First, he denounces a twofold sin:
of idolatry: what ails you also, that you too , who rejoiced in the special act of holy privilege, art gone up to the housetops , to sacrifice to idols: if you play the harlot, O Israel, at least let not Judah offend (Hos 4:15).
And the sin of strife: full of clamor , above: I looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes (Isa 5:2).
Second, to add to the weight of their sin, the twofold benefit of God is set out, namely,
the multitude of men: a populous city : how doth the city sit solitary that was full of people (Lam 1:1);
and the fullness of joys: a joyous city , formerly, in the time of Solomon because of its great prosperity: with the joy of the whole earth is mount Zion founded (Ps 47:3[48:2]).
529 . Your slain . Here he sets out the punishment.
And first, he threatens the destruction of men as to the besieged who died by hunger: your slain are not slain by the sword , but by hunger and thirst: it was better with them that were slain by the sword, than with them that died with hunger (Lam 4:9). As to fugitives, namely the princes who were taken and bound , as it says in Jeremiah 52; all the princes : her princes are become like rams that find no pastures (Lam 1:6); as to those taken in the city, who were similarly captured: all that were found, they are fled far off , led into captivity to a far off land: the Lord will bring you to a far off nation (Deut 28:49).
530 . Second, he sets out the inconsolable compassion of the prophet: depart , you who console the prophet, labor not , in the manner of those who console: who will give water to my head, and a fountain of tears to my eyes that I may weep for the slain of my people (Jer 9:1).
531 . Third, he sets out the manner and order of punishment: a day of slaughter , and concerning this, he sets out three things.
First, the indignation of God: a day of slaughter is imminent; searching , making it to be searched by the enemy; magnificent , making the enemy magnificent: for they trusted in mountains and walls: at that time, I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and will visit upon the men that are settled on their lees (Zeph 1:12).
532 . Second, he sets out the conquest by their enemies, and Elam , a Persian city, from which came warriors with Nabuchodonosor, who held the monarchy of the East; the shield , carried against Jerusalem, laid bare the wall , on which it was hung to adorn the house: prepare the shield and buckler (Jer 46:3); or otherwise: the shield , the power of Chaldea, laid bare the wall of the temple of the gold with which it was covered.
533 . Third, he sets out the infliction of damage as to four things.
First, as to the destruction of their properties: your choice valleys shall be full of chariots of Babylon: why glory in the valleys? Your valley has flowed away, O delicate daughter (Jer 49:4).
Second, as to the taking of their cities: the horsemen shall place themselves in the gate , lest anyone escape: all the princes of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate (Jer 39:3).
Third, as to the profanation of holy things: and the covering , that is, the holy things formerly hidden, which no one but the priest was allowed to see, of Judah shall be discovered , that is, laid bare: the gentiles have seen your shame (Lam 1:8).
Fourth, as to the destruction of their armory: you shall see in that day the armory , that is, the house of the forest , in which arms were hidden, overthrown; concerning this building, see 1 Kings 7. The city of David , most strongly, or Jerusalem itself with a strong wall in many places: the tower of David, which is built with bulwarks (Song 4:3).
534 . And you have gathered together the waters . Here he sets out the pertinacity of their obstinacy.
And first, he denounces the sin of obstinacy;
second, he sets out the divine sentence against them: and the voice of the Lord of hosts was revealed (Isa 22:14).
Their pertinacity is denounced as to two things.
First, as to divine help, which they did not invoke, trusting in their own men and clever devices: you have gathered together , in one place within the city, through a hidden channel, the waters of the lower pool , which had waters flowing from the earth that nevertheless could be hindered by enemies. And have numbered the houses of Jerusalem , that water may be dispensed by number and measure; and have broken down houses which were next to the wall, so that they wouldn’t impede the defenders. And you made a lake , of the lower pool, to flow between the two walls , which encircled the city, and the water , namely, you have restored; nor regarded him , namely, God, that wrought it , the water: they have not called upon God (Ps 13:5[14:4]).
535 . Second, as to divine counsel, which they held in contempt: and he shall call . And concerning this, he sets out three things.
First, the counsel itself: to weeping , of the eyes; to beating , of the hands; to baldness , according to the custom of the ancients, who did these things in sadness: be converted to me with all your heart, in fasting, and in weeping, and beating (Joel 2:12).
Second, he sets out their contempt for this counsel: and behold joy , above: the harp, and the lyre are in your feasts (Isa 5:12).
Third, the intention to hold it in contempt: let us eat and drink , 1 Corinthians 15:32, Wisdom 2:5: our time is as the passing of a shadow .
536 . And the voice of the Lord of hosts was revealed . Here the sentence is set out. And it may be read as in the person of the Lord: this blasphemy of yours was revealed in my ears , that is, I heard it; surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven , as if to say: should you not believe, above: therefore forgive them not (Isa 2:9); or it may be read in the person of the prophet: this voice of the Lord was revealed in my ears . And all these things that have been said pertain to the captivity carried out at the command of Nabuchodonosor.
537 . Thus says the Lord God of hosts . Here the threat against those to whom pertained authority in spiritual affairs is set out,
and first, against the priest at that time;
second, against the entire priestly order: in that day, says the Lord of hosts (Isa 22:25).
Concerning the first, he does two things:
first, he foretells the deposition of him who, shaken by fear, handed the city over to Sennacherib, that is, the lower part of the city;
second, the substitution of another: and it shall come to pass in that day (Isa 22:20).
538 . Concerning the first, he does three things.
First, he describes the person from his office: him that dwells in the tabernacle ; for it belonged to the priests to keep watch in the tabernacle, as it says in Numbers 1:53; who is over , the highest over ten.
539 . Second, he denounces a threefold sin: of unworthy dwelling: what dost you here , in my house, unworthy of such a dwelling: what is the meaning that my beloved has wrought much wickedness in my house? (Jer 11:15); of proud presumption concerning himself: or as if you wert somebody here , you think of yourself as if you were of some value, when you are nothing: O shepherd, and idol (Zech 11:17); of building an elaborate tomb: you have hewed out , here in Jerusalem next to the temple, a monument , that is, an epitaph, in a high place , that is, in the highest place of the tomb; or literally, he had set up his tomb in a high place as his monument, as in 1 Maccabees 13:25–30.
540 . Third, he threatens a threefold punishment: behold the Lord .
First, of subjugation: as a cock , which raises chicks like a hen, being castrated, called a capon, is carried away , bound, and without struggle; and he will lift you up and as a garment , easily lifted over the shoulder: you Phassur, and all that dwell in your house, shall go into captivity, and you shall go to Babylon, and there you shall die, and there you shall be buried, you and all your friends (Jer 20:6).
Second, of confusion: he will crown you with a crown of tribulation , that is, in place of the crown which you used in pontifical worship, you will have tribulation; like a ball , which finds no high station; the chariot of your glory , which bore you gloriously, is turned into your confusion; the shame of the house of your Lord , that is, the glory which you had in the house of the Lord, is turned for you into ignominy: I will change their glory into shame (Hos 4:7).
Third, the punishment of deposition, and I will drive you out from your station : so Solomon cast out Abiathar from being the priest of the Lord (1 Kgs 2:27).
541 . And it shall come to pass in that day . Here he sets out the substitution of another, and concerning this he sets out three things.
His election: I will call , one of the twenty-four mentioned in 1 Chronicles 25; I will raise me up a faithful priest, who shall do according to my heart (1 Sam 2:35).
Second, his consecration: and I will clothe him , for they were consecrated with pontifical garments, as is evident from Leviticus 18, concerning these garments, and Exodus 28.
Third, he confers jurisdiction on him: and I will give your power into his hand .
542 . And first, as to the power which he had among the people, he sets out power: and your power , namely, I will give : may his days be few: and his bishopric let another take (Ps 108[109]:8); and he shall be as a father : I will give you pastors according to my own heart, and they shall feed you with knowledge and doctrine (Jer 3:15).
543 . Second, as to the power which he had regarding the temple: and I will lay the key , which was of gold, of the house of David , that is, of the temple, for the building of which David prepared the materials, as is evident from 1 Chronicles 29, upon his shoulder , that is, his government, or because the key was used as a kind of adornment; he shall open , for it was allowed to him to enter into the holy of holies once per year, as it says in Hebrews 9:7.
544 . Third, as to the power which he had over the whole order of ministers: and I will fasten him as a peg , the diminutive form of palum (stake): for as various vessels are hung on a certain stake, so various offices, which had use of various vessels in the ministries of the house of the Lord, pertained to his care; in the place of the faithful , namely, the temple. Concerning this power, see Numbers 2 and 24.
545 . In that day . Here he sets out the threat against the whole priesthood, which was destroyed in the time of Sedecias, when Nabuchodonosor took them captive; for what was said above of Sobna pertains to the time of Sennacherib. And here the priesthood itself, which ceased in the time of captivity, is called a peg: the children of Israel shall sit many days without king, and without prince, and without sacrifice, and without altar, and without ephod, and without theraphim (Hos 3:4).
546 . Note on the words, him that dwells in the tabernacle (Isa 22:15), that the tabernacle is manifold:
first, of carnal concupiscence, which belongs to swine: we have an altar whereof they have no power to eat who serve the tabernacle (Heb 13:10);
second, of temporal and natural life, which belongs to men: for I am assured that the laying away of this my tabernacle is at hand (2 Pet 1:14);
third, of the Church militant, which belongs to warriors, above: there shall be a tabernacle for a shade in the daytime from the heat (Isa 4:6);
fourth, of contemplative wisdom, which belongs to those who rest: we will go into his tabernacle: we will adore in the place where his feet stood (Ps 131[132]:7);
fifth, of eternal vision or our heavenly homeland, which belongs to all the blessed, below: your eyes shall see Jerusalem, a rich habitation, a tabernacle that cannot be removed (Isa 33:20).