Isaiah 22:7
And it shall come to pass, that thy choicest valleys shall be full of chariots, and the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
This accurately describes Assyrian siege tactics under Sennacherib (701 BC), depicted in Assyrian palace reliefs showing chariot and cavalry deployments around besieged cities. It also foreshadows Babylon's siege (586 BC) when Nebuchadnezzar's armies surrounded Jerusalem, cut off escape routes, and starved the city into submission (2 Kings 25:1-4). Ancient siege warfare involved cutting off supplies, preventing escape, and psychological warfare through visible military might arrayed at the gates.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the image of enemy forces filling 'your choicest valleys' illustrate how sin's consequences often strike at our best, most valued areas?
- What does the systematic positioning of horsemen 'at the gate' teach about how spiritual enemies methodically attack vulnerable entry points in our lives?
- Why do human defensive preparations (fortifications, weapons, alliances) fail when spiritual foundations are compromised?
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Analysis & Commentary
And it shall come to pass, that thy choicest valleys shall be full of chariots—the Hebrew בְּחִירַיִךְ (bechirayikh, "your choice valleys") refers to Jerusalem's best, most fertile valleys around the city. Invading chariots (רֶכֶב, rekhev) fill these valleys, transforming productive agricultural land into military staging areas for siege.
And the horsemen shall set themselves in array at the gate (וְהַפָּרָשִׁים שֹׁת יָשֹׁתוּ הַשָּׁעְרָה, vehaparashim shot yashotu hasha'arah)—cavalry position themselves strategically at the gates, the city's vulnerable entry points. "Set in array" (שׁוּת, shut) means to set, place deliberately—a calculated military positioning for siege or assault.
This verse describes the final stage before siege: enemy forces have surrounded the city, filled the valleys with chariots, and positioned horsemen at every gate. Jerusalem is completely encircled, trapped. All their defensive preparations (vv.8-11) are about to be tested—and will prove insufficient without divine help.