Isaiah 22:1

The Lord Will Judge Jerusalem

22:1 Here is a message about the Valley of Vision: ¹ 

What is the reason ² 

that all of you go up to the rooftops?

Isaiah 42:18

The Lord Reasons with His People

42:18 “Listen, you deaf ones!

Take notice, ³  you blind ones!

Isaiah 42:20

42:20 You see ⁴  many things, but don’t comprehend; ⁵ 

their ears are open, but do not hear.”

[22:1]  ¹ sn The following message pertains to Jerusalem. The significance of referring to the city as the Valley of Vision is uncertain. Perhaps the Hinnom Valley is in view, but why it is associated with a prophetic revelatory “vision” is not entirely clear. Maybe the Hinnom Valley is called this because the destruction that will take place there is the focal point of this prophetic message (see v. 5).

[22:1]  ² tn Heb “What to you, then?”

[42:18]  ³ tn Heb “look to see”; NAB, NCV “look and see”; NRSV “look up and see.”

[42:20]  ⁴ tn The consonantal text (Kethib) has a perfect, 2nd person masculine singular; the marginal reading (Qere) has an infinitive absolute, which functions here as a finite verb.

[42:20]  ⁵ tn Heb “but you do not guard [i.e., retain in your memory]”; NIV “but have paid no attention.”