Isaiah 22:15-25

15 This is what the Lord, the LORD Almighty, says: “Go, say to this steward, to Shebna the palace administrator:
16 What are you doing here and who gave you permission to cut out a grave for yourself here, hewing your grave on the height and chiseling your resting place in the rock?
17 “Beware, the LORD is about to take firm hold of you and hurl you away, you mighty man.
18 He will roll you up tightly like a ball and throw you into a large country. There you will die and there the chariots you were so proud of will become a disgrace to your master’s house.
19 I will depose you from your office, and you will be ousted from your position.
20 “In that day I will summon my servant, Eliakim son of Hilkiah.
21 I will clothe him with your robe and fasten your sash around him and hand your authority over to him. He will be a father to those who live in Jerusalem and to the people of Judah.
22 I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
23 I will drive him like a peg into a firm place; he will become a seat[a] of honor for the house of his father.
24 All the glory of his family will hang on him: its offspring and offshoots—all its lesser vessels, from the bowls to all the jars.
25 “In that day,” declares the LORD Almighty, “the peg driven into the firm place will give way; it will be sheared off and will fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut down.” The LORD has spoken.

Isaiah 22:15-25 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 25

  • 1. S 2 Kings 6:30; S 2 Kings 18:18; Isaiah 36:3
  • 2. ver 21
  • 3. S Genesis 41:40
  • 4. Matthew 27:60
  • 5. S Genesis 50:5; S Numbers 32:42
  • 6. Jeremiah 10:18; Jeremiah 13:18; Jeremiah 22:26
  • 7. S Job 18:11; Isaiah 14:19; Isaiah 17:13
  • 8. S Genesis 41:43
  • 9. S 1 Samuel 2:7; S Psalms 52:5
  • 10. Luke 16:3
  • 11. ver 25
  • 12. S Isaiah 20:3
  • 13. S 2 Kings 18:18; S Isaiah 36:3
  • 14. S Isaiah 5:27
  • 15. ver 15
  • 16. Isaiah 9:6
  • 17. 1 Chronicles 9:27; Matthew 16:19; Revelation 3:7
  • 18. S Isaiah 7:2
  • 19. S Job 12:14
  • 20. ver 25; Ezekiel 15:3; Zechariah 10:4
  • 21. S Ezra 9:8; S Job 6:25
  • 22. S 1 Samuel 2:7-8; S Job 36:7
  • 23. ver 20
  • 24. S ver 23
  • 25. Isaiah 46:11; Micah 4:4

Footnotes 1

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