Major Prophets · Chapter 22 of 66

Isaiah 22

Isaiah delivers the burden of the valley of vision, Jerusalem itself. The city revels on the housetops even as its rulers flee and enemies breach its walls. Instead of weeping and turning to God, the people feast, saying let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die. Then proud Shebna is condemned, and Eliakim is raised in his place, given the key of the house of David.

What happens in Isaiah 22

The oracle turns inward to Jerusalem, the valley of vision, strangely celebrating on the rooftops while disaster looms. Isaiah weeps bitterly over the spoiling of his people. Enemy nations fill the choice valleys with chariots and array themselves at the gate. The people scramble to fortify the wall, but never look to the Maker who shaped the crisis long ago. When God called for weeping and sackcloth, they instead slaughtered oxen and drank wine, saying let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.

So this sin will not be purged until they die. Then the oracle names Shebna, the treasurer, who carved himself a grand tomb; God will hurl him away like a ball. In his place God calls Eliakim son of Hilkiah, laying the key of the house of David on his shoulder to open and shut, and fastening him as a nail in a sure place, though even that nail will finally be cut down.

Isaiah 22 in context

This oracle addresses Jerusalem, likely during an Assyrian threat when the city fortified itself yet trusted its own works rather than God. Shebna and Eliakim were real officials in Hezekiah's administration, named again in Isaiah 36 and 37.

Shebna's ostentatious rock-cut tomb symbolized his pride. The key of the house of David marked the chief steward's authority over the royal household, a position of great trust within the Davidic kingdom.

Main themes of Isaiah 22

Isaiah 22 (KJV)

1The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops? 2Thou that art full of stirs, a tumultuous city, a joyous city: thy slain men are not slain with the sword, nor dead in battle. 3All 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. 4Therefore 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. 5For 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. 6And Elam bare the quiver with chariots of men and horsemen, and Kir uncovered the shield. 7And 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. 8And he discovered the covering of Judah, and thou didst look in that day to the armour of the house of the forest. 9Ye have seen also the breaches of the city of David, that they are many: and ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool. 10And ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses have ye broken down to fortify the wall. 11Ye 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. 12And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: 13And 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. 14And 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. 15Thus saith the Lord GOD of hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna, which is over the house, and say, 16What 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? 17Behold, the LORD will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee. 18He 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. 19And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down. 20And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah: 21And 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. 22And 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. 23And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house. 24And 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. 25In 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.

Verses to carry from Isaiah 22

“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.”Isaiah 22:13

“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.”Isaiah 22:22

“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.”Isaiah 22:23

Reflection

Notice how easy it is to fortify your life, planning and laboring, while never looking to the Maker who holds it. And beware the whisper, eat and drink for tomorrow we die, that turns dread into numbness rather than repentance. Entrust your securities to the One who holds the sure key.

A prayer from Isaiah 22