Isaiah 21
DOYLYIsaiah 21:2
- Thou that art full of stirs, &c.] Thou, O Jerusalem, that art so full of people, and full of noise, a populous and jolly city, how is it that thy citizens are so base that they do not stand it out in fight; neither are they dead by the sword, but with fear rather? Bp. Hall.
Isaiah 21:6
- — Elam bare the quiver &c.] See note on chap. xiii. 18. The Kir mentioned here was a city of the Medes. W. Lowth. Both Medes and Elamites were allies or tributaries to The Persian invaders reproved. The downfall of Shebna, Before CHRIST about 712. Or, I wards.
chariots, and the horsemen shall set themselves in array || at the gate.
Isaiah 21:8
- And he discovered the covering of Judah, &c.] The meaning is, When the enemy hath dismantled the fortified cities of Judah, then you will bethink yourselves of providing arms for your defence. “The house of the forest” was an armoury within the city of Jerusalem; see 1 Kings x. 17. It was built by Solomon; and thus called, probably, from the great quantity of cedar from Lebanon employed in the building, 1 Kings vii. 2, 3. W. Lowth, Bp. Lowth.
Isaiah 21:11
- Ye made also a ditch between the two walls &c.] This agrees with the circumstance of Hezekiah’s stopping up all the waters of the fountains without the city, and bringing them into the city by a subterraneous passage cut through the rock: those of the old pool to a place where he made a double wall, so that the pool was between the two walls. This great work is particularly mentioned by the sacred historians, 2 Kings xx. 20; 2 Chron. xxvii. 2, 3, 5, 30; and celebrated by the son of Sirach, Ecclus. xlviii. 17. Bp. Lowth.
— neither had respect unto him that fashioned it long ago.] That is, to God; who enabled David at first, and his successors, to increase and fortify this city, chose it to be the place of his temple, and promised to continue his special protection over it. Dr. Wells, W. Lowth.
Isaiah 21:15
- — Get thee unto this treasurer, even unto Shebna.] The relation which the following prophecy concerning Shebna has to the foregoing seems to be, that it might have been delivered about the same time, and Shebna might be a principal person among those whose luxury and profaneness is severely reprehended by the Prophet, ver. 11—14. Shebna the scribe, mentioned in the history of Hezekiah, chap. xxxvi, seems to have been a different person from this Shebna, the treasurer, or steward of the household. The Eliakim here mentioned was probably the person who, at the time of Sennacherib’s invasion, was actually treasurer, the son of Hilkiah. Bp. Lowth. Concerning this Shebna, (for we can hardly conceive him to be the same, though some interpreters have, with Shebna the scribe,) history affords no information; we may suppose him, from what is said, ver. 18, after the deprivation of his office, removed into a foreign country, and dying there in disgrace and ignominy. Vitringa.
Isaiah 21:16
- — that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre—on high.] See note on chap. xiv. 9.
Isaiah 21:17
- — will surely cover thee.] Persons under disgrace or condemnation had their heads covered; see Esther vii. 8; Jer. xiv. 3. W. Lowth. See also note on Job ix. 24.
Isaiah 21:21
- — strengthen him with thy girdle.] See chap. v. 27; and Job xii. 21; and the notes there.
Isaiah 21:22
- And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder:] A key is an emblem of trust; and the