Isaiah 22
ืืฉืขืืื ืคืจืง ืืดื
Section: ื ืืืืื ยท ื ืืืืื ืืืจืื ืื | Book: Isaiah | Chapter: 22 of 66 | Day: 169 of 742
Date: July 30, 2026
ืงืืืื ืขื ืื ืดื
Chapter 22 is the shock at the center of Yeshayahuโs oracles against the nations. After burdens pronounced upon Bavel, Moav, Damascus, Egypt, and the desert of the sea, the massa suddenly falls on ืืื ืืืืื (Gei Chizayon), the Valley of Vision โ which Rashi, Radak, and Metzudat David all identify as Jerusalem itself, the place where most prophecy was given. The name is a deliberate degradation: Jerusalem sits on a mountain, yet the prophet calls it a valley because, as Radak and Metzudat David explain, its inhabitants dragged it down through their sins, turning a har into a gai. Merely by placing Jerusalem in the catalogue of doomed nations, Yeshayahu delivers the chapterโs thesis before a single accusation is voiced: the covenant city enjoys no automatic immunity. The opening scene โ the whole populace up on the rooftops, slain who are not ืืืื ืืจื, officers who fled together only to be bound โ is read by the classical commentators as a vision of the Babylonian destruction: Rashi identifies the fleeing officers with Tzidkiyahu and his men slipping out of the city by night (II Melachim 25:4), and Rashi and Radak explain the dead who fell โnot by the swordโ as victims of famine inside the besieged walls, a crueler death than battle.
The prophetโs own grief interrupts the vision. โLook away from me, I will weep bitterly; do not press to comfort me for the destruction of the daughter of my peopleโ (v. 4) โ and Rashi makes the startling move of placing ืฉืขื ืื ื in the mouth of the Holy One Himself, addressing the ministering angels, so that Heaven too refuses consolation. What follows is the indictment. The day of ืืืืื ืืืืืกื ืืืืืื โ tumult, trampling, and confusion โ descends on the Valley of Vision, with Elam bearing the quiver and Kir baring the shield, and then comes a remarkably detailed catalogue of Jerusalemโs defensive engineering (vv. 8-11): eyes turned to the weapons of the House of the Forest of Lebanon, breaches in the City of David surveyed, the waters of the lower pool gathered, houses counted and demolished to fortify the wall, a reservoir built between the two walls. None of these measures is condemned in itself; the condemnation is the omission โ ืืื ืืืืชื ืื ืขืืฉืื, โyou did not look to the One who made it.โ Radak states the principle crisply: they made every preparation for war and none for teshuva, placing their trust in the weapons rather than in God. Rashi sharpens the point with a contrast: Chizkiyahu carried out these very same waterworks (II Divrei HaYamim 32), yet of him Scripture testifies that he trusted in Hashem, God of Israel (II Melachim 18:5) โ the deeds were identical, the heart was not. Radak adds, from the midrash, that the One who โfashioned it from afarโ fashioned Jerusalem as the very purpose of creation, making the failure to consult its Maker all the more grotesque.
The moral nadir comes in verses 12-14. God called on that day for weeping, lamenting, baldness, and sackcloth โ Radak and Metzudat David explain that the call went out through the prophets before the punishment, precisely so that repentance could avert it โ and instead there was joy and gladness, slaughtering of cattle and sheep, and the slogan ืืืื ืืฉืชื ืื ืืืจ ื ืืืช, โeat and drink, for tomorrow we die.โ Rashi hears in it a despairing mockery of prophecy itself: since the prophets tell us in Godโs name that we have no share in the World to Come, let us at least enjoy this life. Radak calls the revelry by its halachic name โ chillul Hashem, open scorn for the word of God. The divine response is an oath revealed in the prophetโs ears: โthis iniquity shall not be atoned for you until you dieโ (v. 14). Radak cites the teaching of Chazal built on this verse: where chillul Hashem is involved, teshuva, Yom Kippur, and suffering can only suspend judgment โ death alone completes the atonement. Revelry in the face of a divine summons to mourning is not merely insensitivity; it is the one sin that outlasts every ordinary remedy.
The second half of the chapter (vv. 15-25) narrows from the city to a single named official, and in doing so establishes that accountability is personal, not only collective. Shevna (ืฉืื ื), the sochen โover the houseโ โ Rashi records views that he was appointed over the Mikdash, whether as Kohen Gadol or as a senior trustee โ has hewn himself a tomb on high among the graves of the house of David. Rashi, following Sanhedrin 26a, supplies the treachery behind the grandeur: Shevna shot a note over the wall on an arrow declaring that he and his faction were ready to make peace with Sancheriv while Chizkiyahu and his faction were not. Radak adds that he was not even a native of Jerusalem, which gives the rebuke ืื ืื ืคื ืืื ืื ืคื its bite โ what claim has this man on the city he is preparing to sell, or on royal burial ground? The sentence matches the crime with savage irony: the man who carved himself permanence in rock will be wound up like a turban and hurled like a ball (ืืืืจ) into a wide-open land, and Rashi and Radak record Chazalโs account of the end โ exposed to the Assyrians as a double-dealer whose promised allies never materialized, he was tied to the tails of their horses and dragged, his imagined chariots of honor becoming the disgrace of his masterโs house. In his place God summons โMy servant Elyakim ben Chilkiyahu,โ clothed in Shevnaโs tunic and sash, a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, bearing the key of the house of David on his shoulder โ โhe shall open and none shall shut.โ Radak notes that II Melachim 18:18 shows the prophecy fulfilled: when Sancherivโs envoys arrived, Elyakim was already over the house and Shevna had been demoted to scribe. Yet the chapter refuses a tidy ending. The very peg โfastened in a sure placeโ shall give way and fall, and the load upon it shall be cut off (v. 25) โ Rashi, Radak, and Metzudat David all refer this to Shevna, whose illusion of fixity collapses together with the whole faction that hung its glory upon him. Office in the house of David is a trust held on condition; the key sits on the shoulder, Radak observes, because authority is carried like a burden, and no peg is more secure than the faithfulness of the one who hangs upon it.
ืคืจืง ืืดื ยท Chapter 22
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 1
Hebrew:
ืึทืฉืึผึธึื ืึผึตึฃืื ืึดืึผึธืึืึนื ืึทื๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝืึผึธึฃืึฐ ืึตืคึืึนื ืึผึดืึพืขึธืึดึฅืืช ืึผึปืึผึธึืึฐ ืึทืึผึทืึผึฝืึนืชื
English:
The โValley of VisionโaValley of Vision Meaning of Heb. uncertain. Pronouncement.bVerses 1โ3 describe a scene of mourning to take place in Jerusalem in the near future. In the ancient Near East, public weeping took place on the low flat roofs as well as in the streets and squares; cf. above, 15.3; Jer. 48.38. What can have happened to youThat you have gone, all of you, up on the roofs,
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 2
Hebrew:
ืชึผึฐืฉืึปืึฃืึนืชโื ืึฐืึตืึธึื ืขึดึืืจ ืึฝืึนืึดืึผึธึื ืงึดืจึฐืึธึื ืขึทืึผึดืืึธึื ืึฒืึธืึทึืึดืึฐึ ืึนึฃื ืึทืึฐืึตืึพืึถึืจึถื ืึฐืึนึื ืึตืชึตึฅื ืึดืึฐืึธืึธึฝืื
English:
O you who were full of tumult,You clamorous town,You city so exultant?Your slain are not the slain of the swordNor the dead of battle.cYour slain are โฆ battle I.e., executed, instead of dying in battle.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 3
Hebrew:
ืึผืืึพืงึฐืฆึดืื ึทึฅืึดืึฐ ื ึธึฝืึฐืืึผึพืึทึืึทื ืึดืงึผึถึฃืฉืึถืช ืึปืกึผึธึืจืึผ ืึผืืึพื ึดืึฐืฆึธืึทึืึดืึฐึ ืึปืกึผึฐืจึฃืึผ ืึทืึฐืึผึธึื ืึตืจึธืึืึนืง ืึผึธืจึธึฝืืึผื
English:
Your officers have all departed,They fled far away;Your survivors were all taken captive,Taken captive without their bows.dTaken captive without their bows Meaning of Heb. uncertain.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 4
Hebrew:
ืขึทืึพืึผึตึฅื ืึธืึทึืจึฐืชึผึดื ืฉืึฐืขึฅืึผ ืึดื ึผึดึื ืึฒืึธืจึตึฃืจ ืึผึทืึผึถึืึดื ืึทืึพืชึผึธืึดึฃืืฆืึผ ืึฐื ึทึฝืึฒืึตึื ึดื ืขึทืึพืฉืึนึื ืึผึทืชึพืขึทืึผึดึฝืื
English:
That is why I say, โLet me be,I will weep bitterly.Press not to comfort meFor the ruin of my poor people.โemy poor people Lit. โthe young woman, my people.โ
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 5
Hebrew:
ืึผึดึฃื ืืึนืึฉ ืึฐืืึผืึธึจื ืึผืึฐืืึผืกึธึื ืึผืึฐืืึผืึธึื ืึทึฝืืึนื ึธึงื ืึฑืึนืึดึื ืฆึฐืึธืึืึนืช ืึผึฐืึตึฃื ืึดืึผึธืึืึนื ืึฐืงึทืจึฐืงึทึฅืจ ืงึดึืจ ืึฐืฉืึฅืึนืขึท ืึถืึพืึธืึธึฝืจื
English:
For my Sovereign GOD of Hosts had a dayOf tumult and din and confusionโKir raged in the Valley of Vision,And Shoa on the hill;fKir โฆ Shoa on the hill Meaning of Heb. uncertain. On Kir see 2 Kings 16.9; Amos 1.5; 9.7; on Shoa see Ezek. 23.23.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 6
Hebrew:
ืึฐืขึตืืึธืึ ื ึธืฉืึธึฃื ืึทืฉืึฐืคึผึธึื ืึผึฐืจึถึฅืึถื ืึธืึธึื ืคึผึธืจึธืฉืึดึืื ืึฐืงึดึฅืืจ ืขึตืจึธึื ืึธืึตึฝืื
English:
While Elam bore the quiverIn troops of mounted men,And Kir bared the shieldโ
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 7
Hebrew:
ืึทืึฐืึดึฅื ืึดืึฐืึทืจึพืขึฒืึธืงึทึืึดืึฐ ืึธึฃืึฐืืึผ ืจึธึืึถื ืึฐืึทืคึผึธึฃืจึธืฉืึดึืื ืฉืึนึืช ืฉืึธึฅืชืึผ ืึทืฉืึผึธึฝืขึฐืจึธืื
English:
And your choicest lowlandsWere filled with chariots and riders:They stormed at JudahโsgJudahโs Moved up from v. 8a for clarity. gatewayhgateway Judahโs gateway is the upper course of the Valley of Elah.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 8
Hebrew:
ืึทืึฐืึทึื ืึตึืช ืึธืกึทึฃืึฐ ืึฐืืึผืึธึื ืึทืชึผึทืึผึตืึ ืึผึทืึผึฃืึนื ืึทืึืึผื ืึถืึพื ึถึืฉืึถืง ืึผึตึฅืืช ืึทืึผึธึฝืขึทืจื
English:
And pressed beyond its screen.iscreen I.e., the fortress Azekah, at the mouth of the gateway, which was captured by the Assyrians. You gave thought on that dayTo the arms in the Forest House,jForest House See 1 Kings 7.2โ5; 10.16โ17.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 9
Hebrew:
ืึฐืึตึจืช ืึผึฐืงึดืืขึตึงื ืขึดืืจึพืึผึธืึดึื ืจึฐืึดืืชึถึื ืึผึดืึพืจึธึืึผืึผ ืึทึฝืชึผึฐืงึทืึผึฐืฆึืึผ ืึถืชึพืึตึฅื ืึทืึผึฐืจึตืึธึื ืึทืชึผึทืึฐืชึผืึนื ึธึฝืื
English:
And you took note of the many breachesIn the City of David.And you collected the water of the Lower Pool;kAnd you collected the water of the Lower Pool This clause would read well after the prose part of v. 11a.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 10
Hebrew:
ืึฐืึถืชึพืึผึธืชึผึตึฅื ืึฐืจืึผืฉืึธืึทึอึดื ืกึฐืคึทืจึฐืชึผึถึื ืึทืชึผึดืชึฐืฆืึผึ ืึทืึผึธึฃืชึผึดึืื ืึฐืึทืฆึผึตึืจ ืึทืืึนืึธึฝืื
English:
and you counted the houses of Jerusalem and pulled houses down to fortify the wall;
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 11
Hebrew:
ืึผืึดืงึฐืึธึฃืโื ืขึฒืฉืึดืืชึถึื ืึผึตึืื ืึทืึนึฃืึนืชึทึืึดื ืึฐืึตึื ืึทืึผึฐืจึตืึธึฃื ืึทืึฐืฉืึธื ึธึื ืึฐืึนึคื ืึดืึผึทืึฐืชึผึถืึ ืึถืึพืขึนืฉืึถึืืึธ ืึฐืึนืฆึฐืจึธึฅืึผ ืึตืจึธืึืึนืง ืึนึฅื ืจึฐืึดืืชึถึฝืื
English:
and you constructed a basin between the two walls for the water of the old pool.But you gave no thought to the One who planned it,You took no note of the One who designed it long before.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 12
Hebrew:
ืึทืึผึดืงึฐืจึธึื ืึฒืึนื ึธึงื ืึฑืึนืึดึื ืฆึฐืึธืึืึนืช ืึผึทืึผึฃืึนื ืึทืึืึผื ืึดืึฐืึดืึ ืึผืึฐืึดืกึฐืคึผึตึื ืึผืึฐืงืืจึฐืึธึื ืึฐืึทืึฒืึนึฅืจ ืฉืึธึฝืงื
English:
My Sovereign GOD of Hosts summoned on that dayTo weeping and lamenting,To tonsuring and girding with sackcloth.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 13
Hebrew:
ืึฐืึดื ึผึตึฃืโื ืฉืึธืฉืึฃืึนื ืึฐืฉืึดืึฐืึธึื ืึธืจึนึคืโืโืึผึธืงึธืจึ ืึฐืฉืึธืึนึฃื ืฆึนึืื ืึธืึนึฅื ืึผึธืฉืึธึืจ ืึฐืฉืึธืชึฃืึนืช ืึธึืึดื ืึธืึฃืึนื ืึฐืฉืึธืชึืึน ืึผึดึฅื ืึธืึธึืจ ื ึธ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝึฝืึผืชื
English:
Instead, there was rejoicing and merriment,Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep,Eating of meat and drinking of wine:โEat and drink, for tomorrow we die!โ
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 14
Hebrew:
ืึฐื ึดืึฐืึธึฅื ืึฐืืืึฐื ึธึื ืึฐืึนืึธึฃื ืฆึฐืึธืึืึนืช ืึดืึพืึฐึ ืึปืคึผึทึ ืจ ืึถืขึธืึบึจื ืึทืึผึถึคื ืึธืึถืึ ืขึทืึพืชึผึฐืึปืชึืึผื ืึธืึทึืจ ืึฒืึนื ึธึฅื ืึฑืึนืึดึื ืฆึฐืึธืึฝืึนืชืย {ืค}
English:
Then GOD of Hosts was revealed to my ears:โThis iniquity shall never be forgiven youUntil you die,โ said my Sovereign GOD of Hosts.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 15
Hebrew:
ืึผึนึฅื ืึธืึทึืจ ืึฒืึนื ึธึฅื ืึฑืึนืึดึื ืฆึฐืึธืึืึนืช ืึถืึฐึพืึผึนืึ ืึถืึพืึทืกึผึนืึตึฃื ืึทืึผึถึื ืขึทืึพืฉืึถืึฐื ึธึื ืึฒืฉืึถึฅืจ ืขึทืึพืึทืึผึธึฝืึดืชื
English:
Thus said my Sovereign GOD of Hosts: Go in to see that steward, that Shebna, in charge of the palace:
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 16
Hebrew:
ืึทืึพืึผึฐืึธึฅ ืคึนืึ ืึผืึดึฃื ืึฐืึธึฃ ืคึนึื ืึผึดึฝืึพืึธืฆึทึงืึฐืชึผึธ ืึผึฐืึธึ ืคึผึนึื ืงึธึืึถืจ ืึนืฆึฐืึดึคื ืึธืจืึนืึ ืงึดืึฐืจึืึน ืึนืงึฐืงึดึฅื ืึทืกึผึถึืึทืข ืึดืฉืึฐืึผึธึฅื ืึฝืึนื
English:
What have you here, and whom have you here,That you have hewn out a tomb for yourself here?โO you who have hewn yourlyour Heb. โhis.โ tomb on high;O you who have hollowed out for yourselfmyourself Heb. โhimself.๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝ an abode in the cliff!
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 17
Hebrew:
ืึดื ึผึตึคื ืึฐืึนืึธืึ ืึฐืึทืึฐืึถืึฐืึธึ ืึทืึฐืึตืึธึื ืึผึธึืึถืจ ืึฐืขึนืึฐืึธึ ืขึธืึนึฝืื
English:
GOD is about to shake youSeverely, fellow,nSeverely, fellow Emendation yields โas a garment is shaken out.โ and then wear you like a wrap.owear you like a wrap I.e., walk off with you; cf. Jer. 43.12.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 18
Hebrew:
ืฆึธื ึคืึนืฃ ืึดืฆึฐื ืืคึฐืึธึ ืฆึฐื ึตืคึธึื ืึผึทืึผึืึผืจ ืึถืึพืึถึืจึถืฅ ืจึทืึฒืึทึฃืช ืึธืึธึืึดื ืฉืึธึฃืึผึธื ืชึธืึืึผืช ืึฐืฉืึธึืึผึธืึ ืึทืจึฐืึผึฐืึฃืึนืช ืึผึฐืืึนืึถึืึธ ืงึฐืึืึนื ืึผึตึฅืืช ืึฒืึนื ึถึฝืืึธื
English:
Indeed, [God] will wind you about as a headdress, a turban.pas a headdress, a turban Emendation yields โas a turban is wound about.โ Off to a broad land!There shall you die, and there shall be the chariots bearing your body,qchariots bearing your body Emendation yields โabode [cf. v. 16] of your body [cf. 10.3, 16].โ O shame of your masterโs house!
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 19
Hebrew:
ืึทืึฒืึทืคึฐืชึผึดึืืึธ ืึดืึผึทืฆึผึธืึถึืึธ ืึผืึดืึผึทืขึฒืึธึฝืึฐืึธึ ืึถืึถืจึฐืกึถึฝืึธื
English:
For I will hurl you from your stationAnd you shall be torn down from your stand.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืณ ยท Verse 20
Hebrew:
ืึฐืึธืึธึื ืึผึทืึผึฃืึนื ืึทืึืึผื ืึฐืงึธืจึธึฃืืชึดื ืึฐืขึทืึฐืึผึดึื ืึฐืึถืึฐืึธืงึดึืื ืึผึถืึพืึดืึฐืงึดืึผึธึฝืืึผื
English:
And in that day, I will summon My servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah,
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 21
Hebrew:
ืึฐืึดืึฐืึผึทืฉืึฐืชึผึดึฃืื ืึผึปืชึผืื ึฐืชึผึถึืึธ ืึฐืึทืึฐื ึตึฝืึฐืึธึ ืึฒืึทืึผึฐืงึถึื ึผืึผ ืึผืึถึฝืึฐืฉืึทืึฐืชึผึฐืึธึ ืึถืชึผึตึฃื ืึผึฐืึธืึืึน ืึฐืึธืึธึฅื ืึฐืึธึื ืึฐืืึนืฉืึตึฅื ืึฐืจืึผืฉืึธืึทึอึดื ืึผืึฐืึตึฅืืช ืึฐืืึผืึธึฝืื
English:
and I will invest him with your tunic, gird him with your sash, and deliver your authority into his hand; and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the house of Judah.
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 22
Hebrew:
ืึฐื ึธืชึทืชึผึดึื ืึทืคึฐืชึผึตึฅืึท ืึผึตืืชึพืึผึธืึดึื ืขึทืึพืฉืึดืึฐืึืึน ืึผืคึธืชึทืึ ืึฐืึตึฃืื ืกึนืึตึืจ ืึฐืกึธืึทึืจ ืึฐืึตึฅืื ืคึผึนืชึตึฝืึทื
English:
I will place the keys of Davidโs palace on his shoulders; and what he unlocks none may shut, and what he locks none may open.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 23
Hebrew:
ืึผืชึฐืงึทืขึฐืชึผึดึฅืื ืึธืชึตึื ืึผึฐืึธืงึฃืึนื ื ึถืึฑืึธึื ืึฐืึธืึธึื ืึฐืึดืกึผึตึฅื ืึธืึืึนื ืึฐืึตึฅืืช ืึธืึดึฝืืื
English:
He shall be a seat of honor to his fatherโsrfatherโs Emendation yields โmasterโsโ; cf. v. 18 end. household. I will fix him as a peg in a firm place,
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 24
Hebrew:
ืึฐืชึธืึจืึผ ืขึธืึธึืื ืึผึนึฃืโื ืึผึฐืึฃืึนื ืึผึตืืชึพืึธืึดึืื ืึทืฆึผึถึฝืึฑืฆึธืึดืืึ ืึฐืึทืฆึผึฐืคึดืขึืึนืช ืึผึนึื ืึผึฐืึตึฃื ืึทืงึผึธืึธึื ืึดืึผึฐืึตืึ ืึธืึทืึผึธื ึืึนืช ืึฐืขึทึื ืึผืืึพืึผึฐืึตึฅื ืึทื ึผึฐืึธืึดึฝืืื
English:
on which all the substance of his fatherโssfatherโs See note at verse 23 end. household shall be hung: the sprouts and the leavestthe sprouts and the leaves Meaning of Heb. uncertain.โall the small vessels, from bowls to all sorts of jars.
โถCommentaries (1)
ืคืกืืง ืืดื ยท Verse 25
Hebrew:
ืึผึทืึผึฃืึนื ืึทืึืึผื ื ึฐืึปืึ ืึฐืึนืึธึฃื ืฆึฐืึธืึืึนืช ืชึผึธืืึผืฉืึ ืึทืึผึธืชึตึื ืึทืชึผึฐืงืึผืขึธึื ืึผึฐืึธืงึฃืึนื ื ึถืึฑืึธึื ืึฐื ึดืึฐืึผึฐืขึธึฃื ืึฐื ึธืคึฐืึธึื ืึฐื ึดืึฐืจึท๏ฟฝ๏ฟฝึ ืึทืึผึทืฉืึผึธึฃื ืึฒืฉืึถืจึพืขึธืึถึืืึธ ืึผึดึฅื ืึฐืึนืึธึื ืึผึดืึผึตึฝืจืย {ืค}
English:
uApparently continues v. 19. In that dayโdeclares GOD of Hostsโthe peg fixed in a firm place shall give way: it shall be cut down and shall fall, and the weight it supports shall be destroyed. For it is GOD who has spoken.
โถCommentaries (1)