Isaiah 22:17-25

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 1cast 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 2depose 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 3Eliakim 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 4father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.
22 "Then I will set 5the key of the 6house of David on his shoulder, When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will 7open.
23 "I will drive him like a 8peg in a firm place, And he will become a 9throne 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 10peg driven in a firm place will give way; it will even 11break off and fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut off, for the 12LORD has spoken."

Isaiah 22:17-25 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 12

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

Footnotes 3

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