Isaiah 22:10
And ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses have ye broken down to fortify the wall.
Original Language Analysis
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
1 of 8
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
הַבָּ֣תִּ֔ים
and the houses
H1004
הַבָּ֣תִּ֔ים
and the houses
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
2 of 8
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
of Jerusalem
H3389
יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם
of Jerusalem
Strong's:
H3389
Word #:
3 of 8
jerushalaim or jerushalem, the capital city of palestine
סְפַרְתֶּ֑ם
And ye have numbered
H5608
סְפַרְתֶּ֑ם
And ye have numbered
Strong's:
H5608
Word #:
4 of 8
properly, to score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e., (by implication) to inscribe, and also to enumerate; intensively, to recount, i.e., celebra
הַבָּ֣תִּ֔ים
and the houses
H1004
הַבָּ֣תִּ֔ים
and the houses
Strong's:
H1004
Word #:
6 of 8
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
Historical Context
Josephus records that during later Roman sieges, Jerusalem's defenders similarly demolished buildings for materials and to create defensive zones. Nehemiah earlier rebuilt Jerusalem's walls (Nehemiah 3-4), showing how important wall integrity was for ancient city defense. Breaking down houses for fortification was an extreme measure, showing how seriously Jerusalem took the Assyrian threat. Yet Isaiah's point stands: all this preparation was futile without repentance and trust in God.
Questions for Reflection
- What modern equivalents exist to 'numbering houses and breaking them down'—desperate measures that show trust in human ingenuity over divine provision?
- How can we distinguish between wise preparation and faithless self-reliance when facing threats or challenges?
- What does it reveal about priorities when people will sacrifice homes for walls but won't humble themselves before God?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem (וְאֶת־בָּתֵּי יְרוּשָׁלִַם סְפַרְתֶּם, ve'et-batei Yerushalaim sefarten)—conducting a census of buildings for strategic purposes. Numbered (סָפַר, safar) means to count, take inventory.
And the houses have ye broken down to fortify the wall (וַתִּתְּצוּ הַבָּתִּים לְבַצֵּר הַחוֹמָה, vattittsu habattim lebatser hachomah)—they demolished houses to obtain building materials for wall repairs, a desperate but pragmatic siege preparation. "Fortify" (בָּצַר, batsar) means to make inaccessible, strengthen defenses.
This shows the extent of their preparations: willing to sacrifice homes for military defense. It was logical—fewer buildings inside meant more materials for walls, and possibly clearer sight lines for defenders. But the repeated emphasis on human efforts (vv.8-11) without mentioning God highlights the fundamental problem: sophisticated strategy divorced from spiritual dependence. They trusted engineering and military science instead of the God who controls nations and battles.