Yeshayah 22:12

12 And in that day did Adonoi Hashem Tzva’os call to weeping, and to wailing, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth;

Yeshayah 22:12 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 22:12

And in that day did the Lord God of hosts
When it was a day of trouble, of treading down, and of perplexity; when Jerusalem was besieged by the Assyrian army; and when the people were so much concerned, and so careful for their defence and preservation; then did the Lord call to weeping and to mourning;
to confess and mourn over their sins, the cause of these calamities; to lament their unhappy case; to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, and, by prayer and supplication, with tears to implore his help and assistance, and grant them deliverance; this the Lord called them unto by the voice of his Providence, by the afflictive dispensations of it, and also by his prophets, whom he sent unto them, particularly the Prophet Isaiah; so the Targum,

``and the prophet of the Lord God of hosts called in that day,'' &c.:

and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth;
which were external signs and tokens of inward sorrow and repentance; the former of which was done by shaving the head, or plucking off the hair, and was forbidden on private occasions, yet might be allowed in a public case; see ( Micah 1:16 ) ( Jeremiah 16:6 ) .

Yeshayah 22:12 In-Context

10 And ye have numbered the batim (buildings) of Yerushalayim, and the batim (houses) have ye torn down to fortify the chomah (wall).

11 Ye made also a mikveh (reservoir) between the two walls for the mayim of the Old Pool; but ye have not looked unto the Maker thereof, neither had respect unto her Yotzer from long ago.

12 And in that day did Adonoi Hashem Tzva’os call to weeping, and to wailing, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth;

13 And hinei sasson and simchah, slaughter of bakar and ritual slaughter of tzon, eating basar, and drinking yayin; let us eat and drink; for makhar we shall die.

14 And it was revealed in mine oznayim by Hashem Tzva’os, Till ye die for this avon there will be no kapporah, saith Adonoi Hashem Tzva’os.