Isaiah 22:14-24

14 And the voice of the Lord of hosts is showed in mine ears (And the voice of the Lord of hosts was heard in my ears), This wickedness shall not be forgiven to you, till ye die, saith the Lord God of hosts.

15 The Lord God of hosts saith these things, Go thou, and enter to him that dwelleth in the tabernacle, to Shebna, the sovereign of the temple; and thou shalt say to him, (The Lord God of hosts saith these things, Go thou, and go to him who liveth in the palace, to Shebna, the ruler of the king's household; and thou shalt say to him,)

16 What (hast) thou here, either as who (art thou) here? for thou hast hewed [out] to thee a sepulchre here, thou hast hewed a memorial in (an) high place diligently, a tabernacle in a stone to thee. (What hast thou here, and who art thou? for thou hast hewn out for thyself a tomb here, yea, thou hast diligently hewn out a memorial in a high place, a home for thyself in the stone.)

17 Lo! the Lord shall make thee to be borne out, as a capon is borne out, and as a cloth, so he shall raise thee. (Lo! the Lord shall make thee to be taken away, like a capon is taken away, and he shall shake thee out, like a cloak is shaken out.)

18 He crowning shall crown thee with tribulation; he shall send thee as a ball into a large land and wide; there thou shalt die, and there shall be the chariot of thy glory, and the shame of the house of thy Lord. (He crowning shall crown thee with tribulation; he shall throw thee like a ball into a great wide land; and there thou shalt die, and thy glorious chariots shall be there, but now they shall be the shame of thy lord's house.)

19 And I shall cast thee out of thy standing, and I shall put thee down of thy service. (And I shall throw thee out of thy office, and I shall put thee down from thy service.)

20 And it shall be, in that day I shall call my servant Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah; (And it shall be, on that day I shall call for my servant Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah;)

21 and I shall clothe him in thy coat, and I shall comfort him with thy girdle, and I shall give thy power into the hands of him; and he shall be as a father to them that dwell in Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. (and I shall clothe him in thy coat, and I shall strengthen him with thy girdle, and I shall give thy power into his hands; and he shall be like a father to those who live in Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah.)

22 And I shall give the key of the house of David on his shoulder (And I shall put the key of the house of David upon his shoulder); and he shall open, and none shall be that shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall be that shall open.

23 And I shall set him (as) a stake, either a perch, in a faithful place, and he shall be into a seat of glory of the house of his father. (And I shall make him like a stake, or like a peg, in a firm place, and he shall be a seat of honour for all his father's household.)

24 And thou shalt hang on him all the glory of the house of his father, (unto) diverse kinds of vessels, each little vessel, from the vessels of cups, till to each vessel of musics (each little vessel, from the cups, unto the pots).

Isaiah 22:14-24 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.