Isaiah 22:9 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and you saw that the breaches of the city of David were many. You collected the waters of the lower pool,

NIV: You saw that the walls of the City of David were broken through in many places; you stored up water in the Lower Pool.

NASB: And you saw that the breaches In the wall of the city of David were many; And you collected the waters of the lower pool.

CSB: You saw that there were many breaches in the walls of the city of David. You collected water from the lower pool.

NLT: You inspect the breaks in the walls of Jerusalem. You store up water in the lower pool.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: You also saw the damage to the city of David, That it was great; And you gathered together the waters of the lower pool.

The prophet is probably laying out what the king and the people of Jerusalem did to prepare for the siege by the Assyrian army. Another possibility is that this refers to the siege by the Babylonian army at a much later date—well after Isaiah's life. He has already said that they checked on, and likely distributed, the weapons from the armory (Isaiah 22:8).

Next, he describes an assessment of Jerusalem's walls. Many spots in the wall were discovered to need repair. The people figured out how to redirect water from outside the gates into Jerusalem. This was essential so that the siege would not deprive them of drinking water. This tactic would also limit the water supply available to the invaders.

King Hezekiah had famously dug a long tunnel all the way from the spring of Gihon in the Kidron Valley into the city itself (2 Kings 32:30). This king specifically dug this tunnel to provide water to the city during any future siege.

Chapter 22:1–14 describes how the people of Jerusalem partied and feasted in the face of certain destruction during a siege. Isaiah condemns them, especially for failing to mourn and cry out to the Lord for help when all seemed lost. He weeps for those who have died. The prophet calls the people to soberly understand what has happened to them instead of partying on their rooftops. The Lord says that the sins of the people in this moment will not be atoned for until they die.

Isaiah presents a prophecy against the city of Jerusalem: "the valley of vision." The prophet condemns the people for partying, perhaps following an astonishing deliverance from the Lord. Instead, they should remember all who died. They should be sobered to realize how helpless they had been. When destruction seemed certain, they should have mourned and cried out to the Lord to save them. Instead, they reveled like nothing mattered. The Lord condemns the steward of the king's house for carving out his tomb instead of trusting God. He puts a man named Eliakim in that position. Eliakim serves with great integrity, faithfulness, and excellence. Yet, he, too, falls away.

Isaiah has recorded several prophecies in preceding chapters. These spoke of nations such as Egypt as well as various tribes. Chapter 22 is an oracle against the city of Jerusalem. Isaiah condemns the people for celebrating instead of mourning and seeking the Lord's help. This could be either before or after a great siege of the city. The prophet weeps for the lost and calls the people to repent. The Lord condemns the king's steward for faithlessness. His replacement, Eliakim, serves with strength and integrity. The next oracles concern Tyre and Sydon, before addressing the entire world.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).

Accessed 5/5/2024 1:27:30 AM