Isaiah 22:15-25

15 Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts, "Come, go to this steward, To 1Shebna, who is in charge of the royal household,
16 'What right do you have here, And whom do you have here, That you have 2hewn a tomb for yourself here, You who hew a tomb on the height, You who carve a resting place for yourself in the rock?
17 'Behold, the LORD is about to hurl you headlong, O man. And He is about to grasp you firmly
18 And roll you tightly like a ball, To be 3cast into a vast country; There you will die And there your splendid chariots will be, You shame of your master's house.'
19 "I will 4depose you from your office, And I will pull you down from your station.
20 "Then it will come about in that day, That I will summon My servant 5Eliakim the son of Hilkiah,
21 And I will clothe him with your tunic And tie your sash securely about him. I will entrust * him with your authority, And he will become a 6father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.
22 "Then I will set 7the key of the 8house of David on his shoulder, When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will 9open.
23 "I will drive him like a 10peg in a firm place, And he will become a 11throne of glory to his father's house.
24 "So they will hang on him all the glory of his father's house, offspring and issue, all the least of vessels, from bowls * to all the jars.
25 "In that day," declares the LORD of hosts, "the 12peg driven in a firm place will give way; it will even 13break off and fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut off, for the 14LORD has spoken."

Isaiah 22:15-25 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 22

This chapter contains two prophecies, one concerning the invasion of Judah and Jerusalem, not by the Medes and Persians, but by the Assyrian army, under which they served; and the other of the removal of Shebna, an officer in Hezekiah's court, and of the placing of Eliakim in his stead. After the title of the former of these prophecies, the distress of the people, through the invasion, is described, by their getting up to the housetops, Isa 22:1 by the stillness of the city, having left both trade and mirth; by the slain in it, not by the sword, but through fear or famine, Isa 22:2 by the flight of the rulers, and by the lamentation of the prophet, Isa 22:3-5 the instruments of which distress were the Persians and Medes serving under Sennacherib, who are described by their quivers and shields, their chariots and horsemen, Isa 22:6,7 the methods the Jews took to defend themselves, and their vain confidence, are exposed; for which, with their disrespect to the Lord, and his admonitions, their carnal security and luxury, they are threatened with death, Isa 22:8-14 then follows the prophecy of the deposition of Shebna, who is described by his name and office, Isa 22:15 whose pride is exposed as the cause of his fall, Isa 22:16 and he is threatened not only to be driven from his station, but to be carried captive into another country, suddenly and violently, and with great shame and disgrace, Isa 22:17-19 and another put in his place, who is mentioned by name, Isa 22:20 and who should be invested with his office and power, and have all the ensigns of it, Isa 22:21,22 and should continue long in it, to great honour and usefulness to his family, Isa 22:23,24 yet not always, Isa 22:25.

Cross References 14

  • 1. 2 Kin 18:18, 26, 37; Is 36:3, 11, 22; Isaiah 37:2
  • 2. 2 Samuel 18:18; 2 Chronicles 16:14; Matthew 27:60
  • 3. Job 18:18; Isaiah 17:13
  • 4. Job 40:11, 12; Ezekiel 17:24
  • 5. 2 Kings 18:18; Isaiah 36:3, 22; Isaiah 37:2
  • 6. Genesis 45:8; Job 29:16
  • 7. Revelation 3:7
  • 8. Isaiah 7:2, 13
  • 9. Job 12:14
  • 10. Ezra 9:8; Zechariah 10:4
  • 11. 1 Samuel 2:8; Job 36:7
  • 12. Isaiah 22:23
  • 13. Esther 9:24, 25
  • 14. Isaiah 46:11; Micah 4:4

Footnotes 5

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