1 The prophet laments the invasion of Jewry
8 He reproves their human wisdom and worldly joy
15 He prophesies Shebna's deprivation
20 And the substitution of Eliakim, prefiguring the kingdom of Christ.

A.M.cir.3292. B.C.cir.712
the valley. Jerusalem being situated in the midst of surrounding hills, and the seat of Divine revelation, is here termed 'the valley of vision'. This prophecy foretells the invasion of Jerusalem by the Assyrians under Sennacherib; and probably also, by the Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar. Ps 125:2

of vision 1Sa 3:1 Ps 147:19,20 Pr 29:18 Mic 3:6 Ro 3:2 9:4,5

what Ge 21:17 Jud 18:23 1Sa 11:5 2Sa 14:5 2Ki 6:28 Ps 114:5

that thou. The eastern houses are built with a court within, into which chiefly the windows open; those that open to the street being so obstructed with lattice work, that no one can see through them. Whenever, therefore, anything is to be seen or heard in the streets, any public spectacle, or any alarm, everyone immediately goes up to the house-top to satisfy his curiosity. Hence all the people running to the top of their houses, gives a lively image of a sudden general alarm. Isa 15:3 De 22:8 Jer 48:38

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

that art Isa 22:12,13 23:7 32:13 Am 6:3-6

thy slain Isa 37:33,36 Jer 14:18 28:3 52:6 La 2:20 4:9,10

3 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.

thy rulers Isa 3:1-8 2Ki 25:4-7,18-21 Jer 39:4-7 52:24-27

by the archers. Heb. of the bow

4 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.

look Ru 1:20,21 Jer 4:19 9:1 13:17 Lu 1:2

weep bitterly. Heb. be bitter in weeping Isa 33:7 Jer 6:26 Mic 1:8 Mt 26:75

labour Ps 77:2 Jer 8:18 31:15 Mt 2:18

5 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.

a day Isa 37:3 2Ki 19:3 Jer 30:7 Am 5:18-20

treading Isa 5:5 10:6 25:10

perplexity Es 3:15 Mic 7:4

breaking 2Ki 25:10 La 1:5 2:2

Crying Ho 10:8 Mt 24:16 Lu 23:30 Re 6:16,17

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

Elam Isa 21:2 Ge 10:22 Jer 49:35-39

Kir Isa 15:1 2Ki 16:9 Am 1:5 9:7

uncovered. Heb. made naked

7 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.

thy choicest valleys. Heb. the choice of thy valleys
full Isa 8:7,8 10:28-32 37:34 Jer 39:1-3

at, or, toward

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

he discovered Isa 36:1-3

the armour 1Ki 7:2 10:17 14:27,28 So 4:4

9 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.

2Ki 20:20 2Ch 32:1-6,30

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

no reference

11 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.

a ditch Ne 3:16

ye have Isa 8:17 17:7 31:1 37:26 2Ch 6:6 16:7-9 Jer 33:2,3 Mic 7:7

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:

call 2Ch 35:25 Ne 8:9-12 9:9 Ec 3:4,11 Joe 1:13 2:17 Jas 4:8-10 5:1

to baldness Isa 15:2 Ezr 9:3 Job 1:20 Am 8:10 Jon 3:6 Mic 1:16

13 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.

behold Isa 5:12 21:4,5 56:12 Am 6:3-7 Lu 17:26-29

let Isa 56:12 1Co 15:32 Jas 5:5

14 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.

it was Isa 5:9 1Sa 9:15 Am 3:7

surely Nu 15:25-31 1Sa 3:14 Eze 24:13 Joh 8:21-24 Heb 10:26,27 Re 22:11,12

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

treasurer 1Ch 27:25 Ac 8:27

Shebna Isa 36:3 37:2 2Ki 18:18,37 19:2

which 1Ki 4:6 2Ki 10:5

16 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?

what hast Isa 52:5 Mic 2:10

hewed. There are some monuments still remaining in Persia, of great antiquity, says Bp. Lowth, called Naksi Rustam, which give a clear idea of Shebna's pompous design for his sepulchre. They consist of several sepulchres, each of them hewn in a high rock near the top. The front of the rock to the valley below is adorned with carved work in relieve, being the outside of the sepulchre. Some of these sepulchres are about thirty feet in the perpendicular from the valley, which is itself raised perhaps about half as much by the accumulation of the earth since they were made. Isa 14:18 2Sa 18:18 2Ch 16:14 Job 3:14 Mt 27:60

as he. or, O he

17 Behold, the LORD will carry thee away with a mighty captivity, and will surely cover thee.

will carry, etc. or, who covered thee with an excellent covering, and clothed thee gorgeously, shall surely violently turn, etc.

is 21:18
a mighty captivity. Heb. the captivity of a man
cover Es 7:8 Job 9:24 Jer 14:3

18 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.

surely Isa 17:13 Am 7:17

a large country. Heb. a land large of spaces

19 And I will drive thee from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down.

Job 40:11,12 Ps 75:6,7 Eze 17:24 Lu 1:52

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

Eliakim Isa 36:3,11,22 37:2 2Ki 18:18,37

21 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.

clothe Ge 41:42,43 1Sa 18:4 Es 8:2,15

a father Isa 9:6,7 Ge 45:8

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.

and the key. As the robe and the baldrie, mentioned in the preceding verse, were the ensigns of power and authority; so likewise was the key the mark of office, either sacred or civil. To comprehend how the key could be borne on the shoulder, it will be sufficient to observe, that the ancient keys were of considerable magnitude, and much bent. Mt 16:18,19 Re 1:18

so he Job 12:14 Mt 18:18,19 Re 3:7

23 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.

I will Ezr 9:8 Ec 12:11 Zec 10:4

a glorious Ge 45:9-13 1Sa 2:8 Es 4:14 10:3 Job 36:7 Lu 22:29,30 Re 3:21

24 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.

hang Ge 41:44,45 47:11-25 Da 6:1-3 Mt 28:18 Joh 5:22-27 20:21-23

vessels of small Eze 15:3 Ro 9:22,23 2Ti 2:20,21

vessels of flagons. or, instruments of viols

25 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.

the nail Isa 22:15,16

the burden Es 9:5-14,24,25 Ps 52:5 146:3 Jer 17:5,6

for the Isa 46:11 48:15 Jer 4:28 Eze 5:13,15,17 Mic 4:4