Isaiah 22:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In doing so, they offended God, the sovereign of all, making Him angrier by neglecting to place their faith in Him; the Israelites believed they could overcome their adversaries through mere human effort. They stated that, upon surveying the houses and measuring the stored water, they deemed themselves plentiful and drew water from the ancient reservoir into the city via canals, thinking they would have enough, regardless of the siege's duration. Furthermore, he notes that while they destroyed the city’s homes, they reinforced the walls. You are to regard neither the Architect nor the Builder of it. He contends that they should not rely on their strength or chance but instead look to Him who has always stood as a defense for the holy city, as the mountains surround it, and the Lord surrounds His people (Psalms 124:2). This truth was also proclaimed by the prophet, "and I will be to it, saith the Lord, a wall of fire round about, and in glory I will be in the midst of it" (Zechariah 2:5). Yet, he says, you paid no heed to this, disrespecting what you could have received from God, as if you had no need for divine assistance, foolishly placing your trust in stone edifices. Instead, it would have been wiser to seek aid from the Almighty’s invincible hand, striving to attain what comes from His mercy and compassion, calling upon Him as Savior and Redeemer, and shedding tears of repentance with a contrite heart.

To clarify that this was not merely a prophetic word but came to fruition, Jeremiah further recorded: “In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, the city was opened, and all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and encamped in the middle gate” (Jeremiah 39:2). Thus, at that time, a vast army surrounded Jerusalem; the Holy of Holies was made accessible, and the armory, located in the grove, was left unprotected due to the enemy's assault, allowing them to breach the walls and invade the city.

Elam took the bow, and I observed the chariot of horsemen as the shield breached the wall. Your chosen valleys shall be filled with chariots, and the horsemen will encamp around your gates. On that day, the covering of Judah will be lifted, and you shall view the armory in the grove, as well as the multiple breaches in the city of David. The Elamites took quivers, and those on horseback, along with the gathering of warriors, foretell that your selected valleys will be filled with chariots, with horsemen encamped at your gates, reopening the gates of Judah and revealing the chosen houses of the city. They will uncover the hidden structures within the castle of David, finding them to be many. The term Elamites symbolizes their superiority; as translated by the LXX, they depict those who have scorned. They aim to penetrate the darkness surrounding the upright, taking advantage of the vulnerability of Zion, and stripping the strongholds of the church of their defenses. Nevertheless, your valleys and the humble truths will be filled with the chariots which the Lord sank with Pharaoh, while their horsemen and leaders establish quarters at your gates, ensuring protection for the besieged and imprisoned within you. Then, the Almighty God will unveil the mysteries of Judah through the faithful in the Church, illuminating all secrets of those standing firm in their confession. On that day, O valley of Zion, you will perceive the entirety of the arsenal of the apostles, as well as the houses that shelter the multitude of Gentiles, as conveyed in the Psalm: “Behold, I have heard in Ephrath, I have found in the fields of the oak-tree” (Psalm 131:6). When the covering of Judah and its concealed truths are revealed, and you witness the armory of the Church, you will recognize the many divisions within the city of David, which you have extended to draw in deceived nations. According to the LXX, these Elamites do not possess merely a single quiver, but rather many, representing the horsemen of the populace they ride upon. A great multitude is prepared to wage war against the Church, filling all its valleys, as the horsemen deploy their schemes to entice the man of the Church, identified as Judas, to battle. When he presents the scriptural testimonies and exposes all falsehoods, the heretics will then see the houses of the city of David, uncovering all that was previously hidden, understanding that in the castle of David, signifying strength, lies the doctrine of truth. These darkened places are significant not only historically but also allegorically. Therefore, those who disagree with our interpretation must offer their own, and we will consider their explanation, provided it proves sound.