An Oracle Concerning Jerusalem

An Oracle Concerning Jerusalem

These have been more than a catalog of judgments against various nations. They also discuss the responses of various peoples to the Assyrian threat in the days of Isaiah. Jerusalem, “the Valley of Vision,” was also under God’s judgment and needed to respond properly to the Assyrian threat. That Isaiah was speaking of Jerusalem is evident in Isa. 22:9-10.

Judgment against Jerusalem

It is not certain which Assyrian invasion Isaiah was speaking of in these verses. Perhaps it was the invasion of Sennacherib, who surrounded Jerusalem in 701 b.c. (chaps. 36-37). From God’s perspective the purpose of that invasion was to encourage Judah to turn to Him and repent of her sinful ways. Unfortunately the people did not respond positively to the invasion and used it as a time for revelry (Isa. 22:2) and for shoring up the city’s defenses (Isa. 22:8-11).

This oracle (see Isa. 13:1) pertains to the Valley of Vision (cf. Isa. 22:5). Often Jerusalem is referred to as a mountain (e.g., Mount Zion), but here the city is called a valley. This also fits because a valley — the Kidron — runs between two hills directly east of the city. From this city God was revealing Himself to Isaiah; hence it was called the Valley of Vision. Jerusalem was filled with people (in commotion and tumult; cf. Isa. 22:5) from the surrounding towns and villages in Judah. (Sennacherib wrote that he had captured 46 towns of Judah.) The important people (leaders) had escaped but were captured (v. 3) by the Assyrians. People still inside the city of Jerusalem went up on the flat housetops (v. 1) to observe the enemy outside the city walls. Because the Assyrian advance had caused the destruction of many of Isaiah’s people (Isa. 22:4), he lamented (cf. his remorse in Isa. 15:5-7; Isa. 21:3-4).

Burden of the valley of vision ... The 26th prophecy in Isaiah (Isa. 22:1-14, fulfilled). Next, Isa. 22:15.

The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops? Isa. 22:1

Sixteen Predictions—Fulfilled:

1. The inhabitants of Jerusalem will be alarmed at the approach of an invader—the Assyrians—and flee to the housetops (Isa. 22:1-2; Isaiah 36:1-37:38).

2. They will live in revelry in spite of impending destruction (Isa. 22:1-2).

3. The men who are slain will not die in battle, but will flee the city and be caught by the enemy and killed (Isa. 22:2).

4. The rulers and military leaders, as well as those who have fled to the city for protection, and all the common people will be bound by the archers to remain therein (Isa. 22:3).

5. My people will be spoiled until I will weep bitterly for them (Isa. 22:4).

6. It will be a day of trouble, treading down in humiliation, a day of perplexity, of breaking down walls, and of crying to the mountains for help (Isa. 22:5).

7. The Persians (Elam) and the Medes (Kir, a city of Media) shall be with the invaders (both Medes and Persians were under Assyria at that time), whose chariots will fill your valleys and set themselves in array against Jerusalem (Isa. 22:6-7).

8. The invaders will expose Judah to every kind of reproach (Isa. 22:8).

9. In that day you will depend upon the armor in the armory made of the cedar of the forest.

10. You will seek to repair the many breaches in the city of David (Isa. 22:9).

11. You will seek to protect the waters of the city from getting into the hands of the invaders.

12. You will number the houses of Jerusalem, break down those that are not needed, and use the material to fortify the walls of the city (Isa. 22:10).

13. You will also make a ditch between the two walls for the water of the old pool, in order to retain as much water as possible in the city (Isa. 22:11).

14. In all this preparation you will not look to or depend upon Jehovah for help and deliverance.

15. In that day Jehovah will look for weeping, mourning, fasting, and prayer; but instead He will find abandonment of many to destruction and the giving of themselves over to pleasure in view of the short time they expect to live (Isa. 22:13).

16. This iniquity of giving themselves over to pleasure will continue until death (Isa. 22:14).

We should bear in mind that part of this prophecy is worded as if it had already happened when the prophet spoke it; but such wording must be understood in this way—that at the actual time of fulfillment, the past-tense statements (as in Isa. 22:8-14) were true.

Four Main Parts to the Prophecy:

1. Consternation in Jerusalem in view of invasion by the Assyrians (Isa. 22:1-3)

2. Grief at the true state of things in the city itself (Isa. 22:4-8)

3. Preparations for the defense of the city (Isa. 22:9-11)

4. Moral state of the inhabitants of the city in view of the vision

valley of vision... Jerusalem was the valley of vision, so-called because this prophecy and many others came by visions seen in the valley near and inside the city. There is no doubt from Isa. 22:9-10 but what Jerusalem is meant.

aileth thee now... The people were so alarmed about the invading armies outside the city that they fled to the housetops—a true picture of an Eastern city in confusion. The flat roofs were often used as living quarters, and especially as gathering places during any excitement. From the roofs people could clearly see what was happening down the roads or in the streets. Isaiah pictured the entire city as being on the housetops during this commotion (Isa. 22:1-2).

Thou that art full of stirs, a tumultuous city, a joyous city: thy slain men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle. Isa. 22:2

joyous city... This indicates revelry in the city in spite of impending danger and death (Isa. 22:12-14).

thy slain... The ones slain were those who fled the city and were captured and killed, for those who remained in the city were saved by God destroying the Assyrian army (Isa. 37:33-38).

All thy rulers are fled together, they are bound by the archers: all that are found in thee are bound together, which have fled from far. Isa. 22:3

All thy rulers... This verse expresses the idea that the people in Jerusalem were debilitated by fear, being helpless against the great armies on the outside who demanded surrender (Isa. 36:1-22).

Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people. Isa. 22:4

said I,... These last two verses express the overwhelming grief over the trouble that was to come to Judah (Isaiah 36-37). Because the Assyrian advance had caused the destruction of many of Isaiah’s people (Isa. 22:4), he lamented (cf. his remorse in Isa. 15:5-7; 21:3-4).

For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord GOD of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains. Isa. 22:5

a day of... Jerusalem was being besieged and the people inside the walls could do nothing about it. The people realized that the enemy’s advancing to the very walls of Jerusalem was a day of judgment brought on by the Lord, the Lord Almighty (cf. Isa. 22:12, 22:14-15, 22:25). The attack was not happenstance; it had come because of the people’s disobedience (cf. Isa. 22:12-14). In the city people were in tumult and terror as they saw the enemy camped outside waiting for an opportunity to get inside to sack and burn the city (Isa. 22:5).

the valley of vision... The second time Jerusalem is called the valley of vision (Isa. 22:1, 22:5, 22:9-10).

And Elam bare the quiver with chariots of men and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield. Isa. 22:6

And Elam... This is Persia, and Kir of this verse is Media, indicating that the armies of the Medes and Persians were with Assyria in these invasions of Palestine and surrounding countries. It was not until nearly 200 years later that the Medes and Persians became independent of Assyria and Babylon, and so, at this time they were serving the Assyrians (Isa. 22:6-7).

Kir... Was a city in Media (2Ki. 16:9; Amos 1:5; 9:7). This was not Kir of Moab (Isa. 15:1).

Soldiers from Elam, east of Assyria with its capital at Susa, and Kir, perhaps an Assyrian province joined the Assyrian warriors. Perhaps Isaiah mentioned these two areas of the Assyrian Empire to point out (by a figure of speech known as a merism) that troops from all over the empire were now gathered at Jerusalem’s very door.

And it shall come to pass, that thy choicest valleys shall be full of chariots, and the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate. Isa. 22:7

choicest valleys... Enemy chariots were in the valleys around Jerusalem, and at the city gates enemy horsemen were ready to attack (Isa. 22:7). Since Judah was defenseless, this was certainly a frightening time!

full of chariots,... This indicates the greatness of the armies that were with the Assyrians and shows why Judah’s case seemed utterly hopeless—and such it was, without God (Isa. 37:36-38).

And he discovered the covering of Judah, and thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the forest.. Isa. 22:8

he discovered... He (the invader) discovered the covering of Judah; that is, he subjected Judah to all kinds of insults and reproach (Isa. 36:4-22).

thou didst look... Thou—Hezekiah, the king of Judah, who looked to the armor in the house of the forest as the only means of defense. He also tried to conserve the city’s water supply and tore down houses to fortify the breaches in the walls. He made many preparations for defense, but had not yet looked to God and trusted in Him for deliverance from the Assyrians (Isa. 22:8-11). It wasn’t until after the threats of Rabshakeh and the personal message from Isaiah that Hezekiah sought God and trusted in Him for help (Isaiah 36:4-37:38).

Ye have seen also the breaches of the city of David, that they are many: and ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool. Isa. 22:9

Ye have seen... At the time of Sennacherib’s threat Hezekiah took several defense measures: (a) he repaired broken parts of the wall (cf. 2Ch. 32:5) of the City of David (cf. 2Sa. 5:7, 5:9); (b) he collected water in the Lower Pool (cf. 2Ch. 32:4);

And ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses have ye broken down to fortify the wall. Isa. 22:10

And ye have... At the time of Sennacherib’s threat Hezekiah took several defense measures: (a) he repaired broken parts of the wall (cf. 2Ch. 32:5) of the City of David (cf. 2Sa. 5:7, 5:9); he demolished some houses to use their material for repairing the wall;

Ye made also a ditch between the two walls for the water of the old pool: but ye have not looked unto the maker thereof, neither had respect unto him that fashioned it long ago. Isa. 22:11

Ye made also... At the time of Sennacherib’s threat Hezekiah took several defense measures: he repaired broken parts of the wall (cf. 2Ch. 32:5) of the City of David (cf. 2Sa. 5:7, 5:9);

two walls for... And he preserved the city’s water supply in a reservoir between the two walls. The exact location of this reservoir and the meaning of the two walls and of the Old Pool are not known. Perhaps the reservoir refers to the Pool of Siloam which Hezekiah connected to the Gihon Spring (2Ch. 32:30) by his now-famous underground water tunnel, which extends 1,777 feet and was carved out of solid rock. This marvelous feat of engineering was successful.

not looked unto... But it could not be a means of the nation’s deliverance, for the people refused to look for help to God who had given them the water long ago.

And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: Isa. 22:12

And in that day... Did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth] In that day—not the Millennium in this instance, but the time the Assyrians laid siege to Jerusalem (Isaiah 36-38). God called for repentance, fasting and prayer, but instead the people went into revelry and pleasure even in view of the short time they thought they would have on earth (Isa. 22:12-14). God assured them that they would continue this way until death (Isa. 22:14). When the people saw the enemy they should have repented, realizing they were helpless before the Assyrians. Pulling out their hair (cf. Ezr. 9:3; Neh. 13:25) and wearing sackcloth (cf. Isa. 3:24) were signs of mourning.

And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die. Isa. 22:13

let us eat and... Paul quoted this in 1Co. 15:32 in connection with the resurrection. These people reasoned that since they would die soon at the hands of the besieging Assyrians, they might as well enjoy life while it lasted. This is the attitude of the ungodly who have no hope of a life to come. Among the Egyptians life’s brevity was emphasized by putting the image of Osiris in a coffin. This reminded them that they would die one day, and warned them to avoid evils that would shorten life. Here the idea of a short life only made men want to live in sinful pleasure as long as possible (Isa. 22:12-14). They did not believe God was powerful enough to save them and to follow through on His promises.

And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts. Isa. 22:14

Therefore a pronouncement of woe came to the people through Isaiah: this sin of lack of trust in the Lord would not be atoned for. Eventually the curses of the Mosaic Covenant (Lev. 26:14-39; Deut. 27:15-26; 28:15-68) would come on the nation of Judah.

Thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, and say, Isa. 22:15

Thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts... The 27th prophecy in Isaiah (Isa. 22:15-25, fulfilled). Next, Isa. 23:1.

Ten Predictions—Fulfilled:

1. Say to Shebna, the treasurer of the kingdom of Judah, The Lord will carry you away into captivity, and will cover you (make you ashamed, Isa. 22:15-17).

2. He will violently turn and toss you like a ball into a large country where you will die (Isa. 22:18).

3. You will be brought down in disgrace.

4. I will take your office from you and bring you down in shame (Isa. 22:19).

5. Eliakim shall take your place as treasurer and he will be faithful to Me over the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Isa. 22:20-21).

6. The authority of the house of David will I lay upon him and it will be recognized (Isa. 22:22).

7. I will make him secure in his office and will bring honor to his father’s house (Isa. 22:23).

8. They shall give him all the glory of his father’s house and entrust him with all treasures of Judah (Isa. 22:24).

9. Shebna, who now seems secure as a nail fastened in a sure place, will be removed from office (Isa. 22:23).

10. The responsibility that he has will be removed and given to Eliakim (Isa. 22:24).

Shebna... Shebna means youthfulness. Two Shebna’s in Scripture:

1. A treasurer who was succeded by Eliakim (Isa_22:15-25).

2. A scribe who served along with Eliakim (Isa. 36:3, 36:11, 36:22; 37:2; 2Ki. 18:18, 18:26, 18:37; 19:2).

What hast thou here? and whom hast thou here, that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here, as he that heweth him out a sepulchre on high, and that graveth an habitation for himself in a rock? Isa. 22:16

Judgment against Shebna

What hast thou... The reason for this section on judgment (Isa. 22:15-25) is not explicitly stated. Shebna was a high court official, a steward, involved in the negotiations with Sennacherib when he besieged Jerusalem (2Ki. 18:18, 18:26, 18:37; 19:2; Isa. 36:3, 36:11, 36:22; 37:2). Some think that his position as steward (secretary) of the palace gave him a position second only to the king. Why he was to be deposed from this important position is not stated. Perhaps he opposed Isaiah’s message of impending judgment. He apparently shared the attitudes of the Jerusalemites Isaiah had described (Isa. 22:2, 22:11-13).

hewed thee out... Many tombs in the East were hewn out of solid rock, sometimes below ground, but more often in the mountainsides. Some were large chambers with narrow cells on each side for the bodies of the dead, as many as 30 to 60 in some cases. Shebna had hewn a sepulchre for himself on high, that is, high in the mountain; but he was not to be put there. He was to go into captivity and be buried in a strange land (Isa. 22:16-19).

Behold, the LORD will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee. He will surely violently turn and toss thee like a ball into a large country: there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory shall be the shame of thy lord's house. And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down. Isa. 22:17, 18, 19

Behold,... But God, by sending him into captivity, was to cover him, that is, bring him down to a humble and common place in life so that he would be as much ashamed in the end as he had planned to be proud. He was to have his face covered like those who mourn, or as a man’s face is covered for execution (Est. 7:8). There is no record of what happened to him other than the prophecy given here by Isaiah.

And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: Isa. 22:20

Tenfold Exaltation of Eliakim

1. I will call him (Isa. 22:20).

2. I will clothe him (Isa. 22:21).

3. I will strengthen him.

4. I will commit the government to him.

5. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.

6. I will give him the key of David (Isa. 22:22).

7. He shall have authority to open and shut and none shall hinder him.

8. I will make him permanent (Isa. 22:23).

9. He shall be exalted to his father’s house.

10. He shall have all the glory of his father’s house (Isa. 22:24).

will call my... Eliakim, God Establishes.

Four Eliakim’s:

1. Son of Hilkiah (Isa. 22:20; 36:3, 36:11, 36:22; 2Ki. 18:18, 18:26, 18:37; 19:2)

2. A king of Judah (2Ki. 23:34; 2Ch. 36:4)

3. A priest after the exile (Neh. 12:41)

4. A Judahite in the line of Christ (Mat. 1:13; Luke 3:30)

And I will clothe him with thy robe, and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand: and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. Isa. 22:21

and I will... Eliakim, the palace administrator and a godly man, would fill Shebna’s important position (Isa. 22:20-21). Eliakim also was involved in the negotiations with Sennacherib (2Ki. 18:18, 18:26, 18:37; Isa. 36:3, 36:11, 36:22; 37:2).

and he shall... He would be a respected leader (like a father to the Judahites) and a faithful administrator who would make wise decisions (Isa. 22:22).

And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. Isa. 22:22

key of the... Eastern keys were large and Eastern merchants were often seen carrying them on the shoulder. A key was an emblem of authority, evidence of property or trust. See Mat. 16:19; Rev. 1:18; 3:7; 9:1; 20:1.

And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house. Isa. 22:23

as a nail... It was the custom to build pegs into the house to hang things on. Unlike temporary nails in plastered walls, these were very permanent. On such pegs trophies, shields, swords, gold and silver vessels, changes of clothing, and other valuable things were hung, for show (Isa. 22:23-24; cp. Ezr. 9:8). Eliakim was to be like a well-driven peg (Isa. 22:23), a firm foundation for the nation.

And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons. Isa. 22:24

the offspring and the issue... All that belonged to or proceeded from the family. He would be an honorable person (Isa. 22:23), and would cause his family name to be well known to humble people (figuratively called lesser vessels) and to more influential family members (called bowls and jars).

In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall the nail that is fastened in the sure place be removed, and be cut down, and fall; and the burden that was upon it shall be cut off: for the LORD hath spoken it. Isa. 22:25

However, Isaiah warned that eventually even this peg would come to an end (Isa. 22:25), signifying that eventually the kingdom of Judah would be taken away into captivity.