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Selected Verse: Isaiah 22:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Isa 22:1	Strong Concordance	The burden [04853] of the valley [01516] of vision [02384]. What aileth thee now [0645], that thou art wholly gone up [05927] to the housetops [01406]?
	King James	The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops?

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
PROPHECY AS TO AN ATTACK ON JERUSALEM. (Isa 22:1-14) of . . . valley of vision--rather, "respecting the valley of visions"; namely, Jerusalem, the seat of divine revelations and visions, "the nursery of prophets" [JEROME], (Isa 2:3; Isa 29:1; Eze 23:4, Margin; Luk 13:33). It lay in a "valley" surrounded by hills higher than Zion and Moriah (Psa 125:2; Jer 21:13). thee--the people of Jerusalem personified. housetops--Panic-struck, they went up on the flat balustraded roofs to look forth and see whether the enemy was near, and partly to defend themselves from the roofs (Jdg 9:51, &c.).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

PROPHECY AS TO AN ATTACK ON JERUSALEM. (Isa 22:1-14)

of . . . valley of vision--rather, "respecting the valley of visions"; namely, Jerusalem, the seat of divine revelations and visions, "the nursery of prophets" [JEROME], (Isa 2:3; Isa 29:1; Eze 23:4, Margin; Luk 13:33). It lay in a "valley" surrounded by hills higher than Zion and Moriah (Psa 125:2; Jer 21:13).

thee--the people of Jerusalem personified.

housetops--Panic-struck, they went up on the flat balustraded roofs to look forth and see whether the enemy was near, and partly to defend themselves from the roofs (Jdg 9:51, &c.).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The burden - (see the note at Isa 13:1). "The valley" גיא gay'. Septuagint, Φάραγγος Pharangos - 'Valley.' Chaldee, 'The burden of the prophecy respecting the city which dwells (that is, is built) in the valley, which the prophets have prophesied concerning it.' There can be no doubt that Jerusalem is intended (see Isa 22:9-10). It is not usual to call it "a valley," but it may be so called, either (1) because there were several valleys "within" the city and adjacent to it, as the vale between mount Zion and Moriah; the vale between mount Moriah and mount Ophel; between these and mount Bezetha; and the valley of Jehoshaphat, without the walls of the city; or (2) more probably it was called "a valley" in reference to its being "encompassed with hills," rising to a considerable elevation above the city. Thus mount Olivet was on the east, and overlooked the city. Jerusalem is also called a "valley," and a "plain," in Jer 21:13 : 'Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the Lord.' Thus it is described in Reland's "Palestine:" - 'The city was in the mountain region of Judea, in an elevated place, yet so that in respect to the mountains by which it was surrounded, it seemed to be situated in a humble place, because mount Olivet, and other mountains surrounding it, were more elevated.' So Phocas says, 'The holy city is placed in the midst of various valleys and hills, and this is wonderful (Θαυμαστόν Thaumaston) in it, that at the same time the city seems to be elevated and depressed, for it is elevated in respect to the region of Judea, and depressed in respect to the hills around it.' (Reland's "Palestine," iii. 802, in Ugolini's "Thesaurus," vi.) It was common with Isaiah and the other prophets to designate Jerusalem and other places, not by their proper names, but by some appellation that would be descriptive (see Isa 21:1; Isa 29:1). Of vision - (see the note at Isa 1:1). The word here means that Jerusalem was eminently the place where God made known his will to the prophets, and manifested himself to his people by "visions." What aileth thee now? - What is the cause of the commotion and tumult that exists in the city? The prophets throws himself at once into the midst of the excitement; sees the agitation and tumult, and the preparations for defense which were made, and asks the "cause" of all this confusion. That thou art wholly gone up to the house-tops - That all classes of the people had fled to the house-tops, so much that it might be said that all the city had gone up. Houses in the East were built in a uniform manner in ancient times, and are so to this day. (See a description of the mode of building in the notes at Mat 9:1 ff.) The roofs were always flat, and were made either of earth that was trodden hard, or with large flat stones. This roof was surrounded with a balustrade Deu 22:8, and furnished a convenient place for walking, or even for eating and sleeping. Whenever, therefore, anything was to be seen in the street, or at a distance; or when there was any cause of alarm, they would naturally resort to the roof of the house. When there was a tower in the city, the inhabitants fled to that, and took refuge on its top (see Jdg 9:50-53). The image here is, therefore, one of consternation and alarm, as if on the sudden approach of an enemy.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

The burden - (see the note at Isa 13:1). "The valley" גיא gay'. Septuagint, Φάραγγος Pharangos - 'Valley.' Chaldee, 'The burden of the prophecy respecting the city which dwells (that is, is built) in the valley, which the prophets have prophesied concerning it.' There can be no doubt that Jerusalem is intended (see Isa 22:9-10). It is not usual to call it "a valley," but it may be so called, either

(1) because there were several valleys "within" the city and adjacent to it, as the vale between mount Zion and Moriah; the vale between mount Moriah and mount Ophel; between these and mount Bezetha; and the valley of Jehoshaphat, without the walls of the city; or

(2) more probably it was called "a valley" in reference to its being "encompassed with hills," rising to a considerable elevation above the city.

Thus mount Olivet was on the east, and overlooked the city. Jerusalem is also called a "valley," and a "plain," in Jer 21:13 : 'Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the Lord.' Thus it is described in Reland's "Palestine:" - 'The city was in the mountain region of Judea, in an elevated place, yet so that in respect to the mountains by which it was surrounded, it seemed to be situated in a humble place, because mount Olivet, and other mountains surrounding it, were more elevated.' So Phocas says, 'The holy city is placed in the midst of various valleys and hills, and this is wonderful (Θαυμαστόν Thaumaston) in it, that at the same time the city seems to be elevated and depressed, for it is elevated in respect to the region of Judea, and depressed in respect to the hills around it.' (Reland's "Palestine," iii. 802, in Ugolini's "Thesaurus," vi.) It was common with Isaiah and the other prophets to designate Jerusalem and other places, not by their proper names, but by some appellation that would be descriptive (see Isa 21:1; Isa 29:1).

Of vision - (see the note at Isa 1:1). The word here means that Jerusalem was eminently the place where God made known his will to the prophets, and manifested himself to his people by "visions."

What aileth thee now? - What is the cause of the commotion and tumult that exists in the city? The prophets throws himself at once into the midst of the excitement; sees the agitation and tumult, and the preparations for defense which were made, and asks the "cause" of all this confusion.

That thou art wholly gone up to the house-tops - That all classes of the people had fled to the house-tops, so much that it might be said that all the city had gone up. Houses in the East were built in a uniform manner in ancient times, and are so to this day. (See a description of the mode of building in the notes at Mat 9:1 ff.) The roofs were always flat, and were made either of earth that was trodden hard, or with large flat stones. This roof was surrounded with a balustrade Deu 22:8, and furnished a convenient place for walking, or even for eating and sleeping. Whenever, therefore, anything was to be seen in the street, or at a distance; or when there was any cause of alarm, they would naturally resort to the roof of the house. When there was a tower in the city, the inhabitants fled to that, and took refuge on its top (see Jdg 9:50-53). The image here is, therefore, one of consternation and alarm, as if on the sudden approach of an enemy.

The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917]
burden See note 1, (See Scofield) - (Isa 13:1).

Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78]
The prophet exposes the nature and worthlessness of their confidence in Isa 22:1-3 : "What aileth thee, then, that thou art wholly ascended upon the house-tops? O full of tumult, thou noisy city, shouting castle, thy slain men are not slain with the sword, nor slaughtered in battle. All thy rulers departing together are fettered without bow; all thy captured ones are fettered together, fleeing far away." From the flat house-tops they all look out together at the approaching army of the foe, longing for battle, and sure of victory (cullâk is for cullēk, Isa 14:29, Isa 14:31). They have no suspicion of what is threatening them; therefore are they so sure, so contented, and so defiant. מלאה תּשׂאות is inverted, and stands for תּשׁאות מלאת, like מנדּח אפלה in Isa 8:22. עלּיזה is used to denote self-confident rejoicing, as in Zep 2:15. How terribly they deceive themselves! Not even the honour of falling upon the battle-field is allowed them. Their rulers (kâtzin, a judge, and then any person of rank) depart one and all out of the city, and are fettered outside "without bow" (mikkesheth), i.e., without there being any necessity for the bow to be drawn (min, as in Job 21:9; Sa2 1:22; cf., Ewald, 217, b). All, without exception, of those who are attacked in Jerusalem by the advancing foe (nimzâ'aik, thy captured ones, as in Isa 13:15), fall helplessly into captivity, as they are attempting to flee far away (see at Isa 17:13; the perf. de conatu answers to the classical praesens de conatu). Hence (what is here affirmed indirectly) the city is besieged, and in consequence of the long siege hunger and pestilence destroy the inhabitants, and every one who attempts to get away falls into the hands of the enemy, without venturing to defend himself, on account of his emaciation and exhaustion from hunger. Whilst the prophet thus pictures to himself the fate of Jerusalem and Judah, through their infatuation, he is seized with inconsolable anguish.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
The valley - Of Judah; and especially of Jerusalem, called a valley, because great part of it flood in a valley; and the valley of vision, because of the many and clear visions or revelations of God's mind, in that place. House - tops - As they used to do in times of great consternation, that they might look, to and cry to heaven for help.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Art - gone up to the house-tops "Are gone up to the house-tops" - The houses in the east were in ancient times, as they are still, generally, built in one and the same uniform manner. The roof or top of the house is always flat, covered with broad stones, or a strong plaster of terrace, and guarded on every side with a low parapet wall; see Deu 22:8. The terrace is frequented as much as any part of the house. On this, as the season favors, they walk, they eat, they sleep, they transact business, (Sa1 9:25, see also the Septuagint in that place), they perform their devotions Act 10:9. The house is built with a court within, into which chiefly the windows open: those that open to the street are so obstructed with lattice-work that no one either without or within can see through them. Whenever, therefore, any thing is to be seen or heard in the streets, any public spectacle, any alarm of a public nature, every one immediately goes up to the house-top to satisfy his curiosity. In the same manner, when any one has occasion to make any thing public, the readiest and most effectual way of doing it is to proclaim it from the house-tops to the people in the streets. "What ye hear in the ear, that publish ye on the house-top," saith our Savior, Mat 10:27. The people running all to the tops of their houses gives a lively image of a sudden general alarm. Sir John Chardin's MS. note on this place is as follows: "Dans les festes pour voir passer quelque chose, et dans les maladies pour les annoncer aux voisins en allumant des lumieres, le peuple monte sur les terrasses." "In festivals, in order to see what is going forward, and in times of sickness, in order to indicate them to neighbors by lighting of candles, the people go up to the house-tops."

Top

⁵¹ But there was a strong [05797] tower [04026] within [08432] the city [05892], and thither fled [05127] all the men [0582] and women [0802], and all they [01167] of the city [05892], and shut [05462] it to them, and gat them up [05927] to the top [01406] of the tower [04026].

¹³ Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant [03427] of the valley [06010], and rock [06697] of the plain [04334], saith [05002] the LORD [03068]; which say [0559], Who shall come down [05181] against us? or who shall enter [0935] into our habitations [04585]?

² As the mountains [02022] are round about [05439] Jerusalem [03389], so the LORD [03068] is round about [05439] his people [05971] from henceforth even for [05704] ever [05769].

³³ Nevertheless [4133] I [3165] must [1163] walk [4198] to day [4594], and [2532] to morrow [839], and [2532] the day following [2192]: for [3754] it cannot be [3756] [1735] that a prophet [4396] perish [622] out of [1854] Jerusalem [2419].

⁴ And the names [08034] of them were Aholah [0170] the elder [01419], and Aholibah [0172] her sister [0269]: and they were mine, and they bare [03205] sons [01121] and daughters [01323]. Thus were their names [08034]; Samaria [08111] is Aholah [0170], and Jerusalem [03389] Aholibah [0172].

¹ Woe [01945] to Ariel [0740], to Ariel [0740], the city [07151] where David [01732] dwelt [02583] ! add [05595] ye year [08141] to year [08141]; let them kill [05362] sacrifices [02282].

³ And many [07227] people [05971] shall go [01980] and say [0559], Come [03212] ye, and let us go up [05927] to the mountain [02022] of the LORD [03068], to the house [01004] of the God [0430] of Jacob [03290]; and he will teach [03384] us of his ways [01870], and we will walk [03212] in his paths [0734]: for out of Zion [06726] shall go forth [03318] the law [08451], and the word [01697] of the LORD [03068] from Jerusalem [03389].

¹ The burden [04853] of the valley [01516] of vision [02384]. What aileth thee now [0645], that thou art wholly gone up [05927] to the housetops [01406]?
² Thou that art full [04392] of stirs [08663], a tumultuous [01993] city [05892], a joyous [05947] city [07151]: thy slain [02491] men are not slain [02491] with the sword [02719], nor dead [04191] in battle [04421].
³ All thy rulers [07101] are fled [05074] together [03162], they are bound [0631] by the archers [07198]: all that are found [04672] in thee are bound [0631] together [03162], which have fled [01272] from far [07350].
⁴ Therefore said [0559] I, Look away [08159] from me; I will weep [01065] bitterly [04843], labour [0213] not to comfort [05162] me, because of the spoiling [07701] of the daughter [01323] of my people [05971].
⁵ For it is a day [03117] of trouble [04103], and of treading down [04001], and of perplexity [03998] by the Lord [0136] GOD [03069] of hosts [06635] in the valley [01516] of vision [02384], breaking [06979] down the walls [07023], and of crying [07771] to the mountains [02022].
⁶ And Elam [05867] bare [05375] the quiver [0827] with chariots [07393] of men [0120] and horsemen [06571], and Kir [07024] uncovered [06168] the shield [04043].
⁷ And it shall come to pass, that thy choicest [04005] valleys [06010] shall be full [04390] of chariots [07393], and the horsemen [06571] shall set [07896] themselves in array [07896] at the gate [08179].
⁸ And he discovered [01540] the covering [04539] of Judah [03063], and thou didst look [05027] in that day [03117] to the armour [05402] of the house [01004] of the forest [03293].
⁹ Ye have seen [07200] also the breaches [01233] of the city [05892] of David [01732], that they are many [07231]: and ye gathered together [06908] the waters [04325] of the lower [08481] pool [01295].
¹⁰ And ye have numbered [05608] the houses [01004] of Jerusalem [03389], and the houses [01004] have ye broken down [05422] to fortify [01219] the wall [02346].
¹¹ Ye made [06213] also a ditch [04724] between the two walls [02346] for the water [04325] of the old [03465] pool [01295]: but ye have not looked [05027] unto the maker [06213] thereof, neither had respect [07200] unto him that fashioned [03335] it long ago [07350].
¹² And in that day [03117] did the Lord [0136] GOD [03069] of hosts [06635] call [07121] to weeping [01065], and to mourning [04553], and to baldness [07144], and to girding [02296] with sackcloth [08242]:
¹³ And behold joy [08342] and gladness [08057], slaying [02026] oxen [01241], and killing [07819] sheep [06629], eating [0398] flesh [01320], and drinking [08354] wine [03196]: let us eat [0398] and drink [08354]; for to morrow [04279] we shall die [04191].
¹⁴ And it was revealed [01540] in mine ears [0241] by the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], Surely this iniquity [05771] shall not be purged [03722] from you till ye die [04191], saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069] of hosts [06635].

⁵⁰ Then went [03212] Abimelech [040] to Thebez [08405], and encamped [02583] against Thebez [08405], and took [03920] it.
⁵¹ But there was a strong [05797] tower [04026] within [08432] the city [05892], and thither fled [05127] all the men [0582] and women [0802], and all they [01167] of the city [05892], and shut [05462] it to them, and gat them up [05927] to the top [01406] of the tower [04026].
⁵² And Abimelech [040] came [0935] unto the tower [04026], and fought [03898] against it, and went hard [05066] unto the door [06607] of the tower [04026] to burn [08313] it with fire [0784].
⁵³ And a certain [0259] woman [0802] cast [07993] a piece [06400] of a millstone [07393] upon Abimelech's [040] head [07218], and all to brake [07533] his skull [01538].

⁸ When thou buildest [01129] a new [02319] house [01004], then thou shalt make [06213] a battlement [04624] for thy roof [01406], that thou bring [07760] not blood [01818] upon thine house [01004], if any man [05307] fall [05307] from thence.

¹ And [2532] he entered [1684] into [1519] a ship [4143], and passed over [1276], and [2532] came [2064] into [1519] his own [2398] city [4172].

¹ The vision [02377] of Isaiah [03470] the son [01121] of Amoz [0531], which he saw [02372] concerning Judah [03063] and Jerusalem [03389] in the days [03117] of Uzziah [05818], Jotham [03147], Ahaz [0271], and Hezekiah [03169], kings [04428] of Judah [03063].

¹ Woe [01945] to Ariel [0740], to Ariel [0740], the city [07151] where David [01732] dwelt [02583] ! add [05595] ye year [08141] to year [08141]; let them kill [05362] sacrifices [02282].

¹ The burden [04853] of the desert [04057] of the sea [03220]. As whirlwinds [05492] in the south [05045] pass [02498] through; so it cometh [0935] from the desert [04057], from a terrible [03372] land [0776].

⁹ Ye have seen [07200] also the breaches [01233] of the city [05892] of David [01732], that they are many [07231]: and ye gathered together [06908] the waters [04325] of the lower [08481] pool [01295].
¹⁰ And ye have numbered [05608] the houses [01004] of Jerusalem [03389], and the houses [01004] have ye broken down [05422] to fortify [01219] the wall [02346].

¹ The burden [04853] of Babylon [0894], which Isaiah [03470] the son [01121] of Amoz [0531] did see [02372].

¹³ The nations [03816] shall rush [07582] like the rushing [07588] of many [07227] waters [04325]: but God shall rebuke [01605] them, and they shall flee [05127] far off [04801], and shall be chased [07291] as the chaff [04671] of the mountains [02022] before [06440] the wind [07307], and like a rolling thing [01534] before [06440] the whirlwind [05492].

¹⁵ Every one that is found [04672] shall be thrust through [01856]; and every one that is joined [05595] unto them shall fall [05307] by the sword [02719].

²² From the blood [01818] of the slain [02491], from the fat [02459] of the mighty [01368], the bow [07198] of Jonathan [03083] turned [07734] not back [0268], and the sword [02719] of Saul [07586] returned [07725] not empty [07387].

⁹ Their houses [01004] are safe [07965] from fear [06343], neither is the rod [07626] of God [0433] upon them.

¹⁵ This is the rejoicing [05947] city [05892] that dwelt [03427] carelessly [0983], that said [0559] in her heart [03824], I am, and there is none beside [0657] me: how is she become a desolation [08047], a place for beasts [02416] to lie down in [04769]! every one that passeth by [05674] her shall hiss [08319], and wag [05128] his hand [03027].

²² And they shall look [05027] unto the earth [0776]; and behold trouble [06869] and darkness [02825], dimness [04588] of anguish [06695]; and they shall be driven [05080] to darkness [0653].

³¹ Howl [03213], O gate [08179]; cry [02199], O city [05892]; thou, whole Palestina [06429], art dissolved [04127]: for there shall come [0935] from the north [06828] a smoke [06227], and none shall be alone [0909] in his appointed times [04151].

²⁹ Rejoice [08055] not thou, whole Palestina [06429], because the rod [07626] of him that smote [05221] thee is broken [07665]: for out of the serpent's [05175] root [08328] shall come forth [03318] a cockatrice [06848], and his fruit [06529] shall be a fiery [08314] flying [05774] serpent [08314].

²⁷ What [3739] I tell [3004] you [5213] in [1722] darkness [4653], that speak ye [2036] in [1722] light [5457]: and [2532] what [3739] ye hear [191] in [1519] the ear [3775], that preach ye [2784] upon [1909] the housetops [1430].

⁹ [1161] On the morrow [1887], as they [1565] went on their journey [3596], and [2532] drew nigh [1448] unto the city [4172], Peter [4074] went up [305] upon [1909] the housetop [1430] to pray [4336] about [4012] the sixth [1623] hour [5610]:

²⁵ And when they were come down [03381] from the high place [01116] into the city [05892], Samuel communed [01696] with Saul [07586] upon the top of the house [01406].