Isaiah 22:15-24

15 Thus says the Lord God of hosts, “Come, go to this steward, to ¹Shebna, who is over the household, and say to him:

16 What have you to do here, and whom have you here, ²that you have cut out here a tomb for yourself, you ³who cut out a tomb on the height and carve a dwelling for yourself in the rock?

17 Behold, the Lord will hurl you away violently, O you strong man. ⁴He will seize firm hold on you

18 and whirl you around and around, and throw you like a ball into a wide land. There you shall die, and there shall be ⁵your glorious chariots, you shame of your master’s house.

19 ⁶I will thrust you from your office, and you will be pulled down from your station.

20 In that day I will call my servant ⁷Eliakim the son of Hilkiah,

21 and ⁸I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand. And he shall be ⁹a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.

22 And I will place ¹⁰on his shoulder ¹¹the key of the house of David. ¹²He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.

23 And I will fasten him ¹³like a peg in a secure place, and he will become ¹⁴a throne of honor to his father’s house.

24 And they will hang on him the whole honor of his father’s house, the offspring and issue, every small vessel, from the cups to all the flagons.

Isaiah 22:15-24 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.

Cross References

• 1. 22:15 ch. 36:3, 11, 22; 37:2; 2 Kgs. 18:18, 26, 37; 19:2
• 2. 22:16 2 Chr. 16:14
• 3. 22:16 Matt. 27:60
• 4. 22:17 [Dan. 3:21]
• 5. 22:18 [ch. 36:9]
• 6. 22:19 [ver. 25]
• 7. 22:20 ch. 36:3; 37:2; 2 Kgs. 18:18, 26, 37; 19:2
• 8. 22:21 [See ver. 20 above]
• 9. 22:21 Gen. 45:8
• 10. 22:22 ch. 9:6
• 11. 22:22 Rev. 3:7
• 12. 22:22 [Job 12:14]
• 13. 22:23 [ch. 33:20; 54:2; Eccles. 12:11]
• 14. 22:23 [Rev. 3:21]