Isa 22.1-25 is a prophecy about the invasion by Assyria and coming to Jerusalem. Eschatologically, Assyria is a picture of Gog and Magog/Russia during the birth-pains (Ezek 38.17).
v 1…The oracle (prophecy, word) concerning the valley of vision (of the prophets; Jerusalem; Hinnom Valley-Neh 2.13). What is the matter with you now, that you have all gone to the housetops (the commotion by the inhabitants of Jerusalem as they saw the Assyrians coming to set up a siege from their rooftops, a place to observe)?
v 2…You who were full of noise (excitement, joy). You boisterous town, you exultant city (full of jubilant people); your slain were not slain with the sword, nor did they die in battle (with honor, but in famine and disease during the siege. That is what Isaiah sees. When Gog and Magog/Russia attacks it will be the same).
v 3…All your rulers have fled together (Jewish army in fear), and they have been captured without the bow (easily taken captive, never fired a shot); all of you were who were found were taken captive together, though they had fled far away (to come to Jerusalem for safety but taken anyway).
v 4…Therefore I say (Isaiah), turn your eyes away from me, let me weep bitterly, do not try to comfort me concerning the destruction of the daughter of my people (since Jerusalem is so humiliated by her enemy. In this Isaiah is a picture of Yeshua weeping over Jerusalem, seeing what Rome was going to do-Luke 19.41).
v 5…For the Lord God of hosts has a day of panic, subjugation, and confusion in the valley of vision (not only will this apply in the time of Hezekiah, but also in the birth-pains), a breaking down of walls (of the strong cities of Judah) and a crying to the mountains (for shelter around Jerusalem).
v 6…And Elam (a vassal state and auxiliary troops of Assyria) took up the quiver with the chariots, infantry and horsemen (cavalry); and Kir (a vassal state of Assyria with auxiliary troops as they prepared for battle-Isa 29.7; 2 Kings 16.9).
v 7…Then your choicest valleys (Hinnom, Kidron and Tyropoeon) were full of chariots, and the horsemen took up fixed positions at the gate (waiting to enter the city when a gate was opened and force their way in).
v 8…And he removed the defense of Judah (this could refer to Hezekiah who removed the “misak” covering of the House of the Forest of Lebanon which was a brass dome. It was removed to finance Hezekiah’s projects to fortify Jerusalem).
v 9…And you (Hezekiah) saw that the breaches in the wall of the city of David were many (and needed repair before the battle); and you collected the waters of the lower pool (in a siege they will need water-2 Chr 32.1-4).
v 10…Then you counted the houses of Jerusalem (to distribute the work of building defenses evenly), and you tore down houses to fortify the wall (to make Hezekiah’s broad wall, and some of it still stands today).
v 11…And you made a reservoir between the two walls (Hezekiah’s tunnel which is about 1800 feet long) for the water of the old pool, but you did not depend on him (God) who made it, nor did you take into consideration him who planned it long go (in their calculations they did not consider Yehovah at all. He made the city, he protected it and they should have realized that he has been protecting them for a long time. This was part of the downfall of Hezekiah. Don’t put faith in our own defenses. Hezekiah humbles himself and the Assyrians are destroyed, all according to what Yehovah had planned long ago).
v 12…Therefore in that day (also alluding to the Day of the Lord) the Lord (Adonai) God (Yehovah) of hosts (Tzavaot or the armies) called you (through the prophets) to weeping, to wailing, to shaving the head, and to wearing sackcloth (to give evidence of their grief and repentance).
v 13…Instead (of repentance and mourning) there is gaiety and gladness (as if it was a time of rejoicing), killing of cattle and slaughtering sheep (to eat instead of a Korban Chata or sin offerings), eating of meat and drinking wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die (disregarded the prophets).
v 14…But the Lord of hosts (Yehovah Tzavaot of armies) revealed himself to me, surely this iniquity (their hardness of heart) shall not be forgiven you until you die (death being the penalty of their error),” says the Lord of hosts (the contempt they showed against God, but this was never actually fulfilled with Assyria. Assyrian army was destroyed, and later Sennacherib. This has a double meaning. God showed mercy because Hezekiah repented because of what Isaiah said. They put it in God’s hands. This prophecy will play out with Babylon and later Rome, so it is “deferred”).
Isa 22.15-25 deals with a judgment against Shebna who was the Prime Minister under Hezekiah. He will be a picture of the False Messiah-Ezek 21.25-27.
v 15…Thus says the Lord God of hosts, “Come, go to this steward, to Shebna (Hebrew “seat of beauty” alluding to the False Messiah) who is in charge of the royal household.
v 16…What right do you have here, and whom do you have here, that you have hewn a tomb for yourself here (Jerusalem), you who hew a tomb on the height (Isa 14.12-14), you who carve a resting place for yourself in the rock (he built a tomb so his name would be remembered perpetually)?
v 17…Behold, Yehovah is about to hurl you headlong, O man (from your office). He is about to grasp you firmly,
v 18…And roll you tightly like a ball, to be cast into a vast country (where there is nothing to stop it; like the Azazel goat on Yom Kippur, another picture of the False Messiah-Rev 16.21, 19.20-21; Ezek 29.1-7, 32.1-8; Nahum 1.15); there you will die, and there your splendid chariots will be (his pomp and ceremony), you shame your master’s house (he was a disgrace).
v 19…And I will depose you from your office (Ezek 21.26), and I (Yehovah) will pull you down from your station.
v 20…Then it will come about in that day (alluding to the day of the Lord when Messiah comes), that I will summon my servant Eliakim (“God will establish” and he is a picture of the Messiah) the son of Hilkiah.
v 21…And I will clothe him with your tunic (Shebna’s official dress; and Messiah will replace the False Messiah) and tie your sash securely about him, I will entrust him with your authority (or rule over Israel-Isa 9.6), and he will become a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah (performing duties that will have the welfare of the people in mind, like a father with his children).
v 22…Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulders (as an emblem of authority in the palace; eschatologically this alludes to his rule as king. Another aspect of “key” is to understand that the “word” or davar is written in Hebrew and Aramaic loan words in places. There are sub-languages written within the Scriptures about agriculture, the Temple, the calendars, the festivals, etc, and we have lost the “keys” to understand all this through Replacement Theology), when he opens no one will shut, when he shuts no one will open (Luke 11.52; Matt 16.19; Matt 23.13; Rev 3.7).
v 23…And I will drive him (Messiah) like a peg (yotaid) in a firm place, and he will become a throne (king) to his father’s glory (there is a lot to unpack here, so let’s develop the concept of the “yotaid.” A yotaid is a peg or nail, represented by the Hebrew letter “Vav” or the Hebrew number “six.” It is linked to the concept of a “cornerstone.” In the Mishkan, the vessels used in the worship were hung on a “yotaid” or tent peg, or nail. This yotaid was the middle post of the five posts that was at the entry way of the tent itself. This alludes to a chiastic structure (Exo 27.19, 35.18; Ezra 9.8). It is a type of the Messiah in that everything “hangs” on him).
v 24…So they will hang on him (Matt 22.40) all the glory of his father’s house (the Temple; household of God), offspring and issue, all the least of vessels (vessels allude to people-Rom 9.22-23; 2 Cor 4.7; 2 Tim 2.20) from bowls to all the jars.
v 25…In that day (alluding to the Day of the Lord when Messiah comes) declares the Lord of hosts, the peg driven in a firm place will give way (this is Shebna in the peshat level, and the False Messiah in the sowd level; he will be deposed just when he thought he was secure), it will break off and fall, and the load hanging on it (those who follow the False Messiah) will be cut off, for Yehovah has spoken (those that depended on the Shebna or the False Messiah will fall with him, like in Est 9.12. This concept is also seen in Isa 36.6 where Judah depended on Pharaoh in Egypt, and was called a “crushed reed” because if you leaned on it it would break and pierce your hand, or not help them. Pharaoh is a picture of the False Messiah in this passage. But Messiah is a “bruised reed” that will not break, but support you-Isa 42.3-4).”
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