Isaiah 22 — Dead Sea Scrolls
25 verses • 8 variants • Columns XVII–XVIII of 1QIsaiah-a
Scroll Overview
Summary
Chapter 22 contains the oracle of the Valley of Vision (Jerusalem under siege, vv. 1-14) and the oracle against Shebna/for Eliakim (vv. 15-25). The 25 verses show typical orthographic patterns with a few moderate variants.
Notable Variants
Verse 13 has the famous carpe diem quotation 'Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die' — preserved identically. Verse 22 has the 'key of David' passage referenced in Revelation 3:7. Verse 25 has a variant in the final word.
Scroll Condition
Well preserved; fully legible.
The burden of the Valley of Vision: What is the matter with you that you have all gone up to the rooftops?
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVII, line 13
O city full of noise, tumultuous town, jubilant city — your slain are not slain by the sword, nor dead in battle.
Masoretic (WLC)
תְּשׁוּאוֹת
tumult
Dead Sea Scroll
תשואות
tumult
Identical consonantal text. The city full of noise and tumult is described identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVII, line 14
All your leaders have fled together; without a bow-shot they were captured. All who were found in you were bound together, though they had fled far away.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVII, line 15
Therefore I said: "Look away from me — let me weep bitterly. Do not press to comfort me over the destruction of the daughter of my people."
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVII, line 16
For the Lord GOD of Hosts has a day of tumult and trampling and confusion in the Valley of Vision — battering down walls and crying out toward the mountain.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVII, line 17
Elam takes up the quiver, with chariots of men and horsemen, and Kir uncovers the shield.
Masoretic (WLC)
פָּרָשִׁים
horsemen
Dead Sea Scroll
פרשים
horsemen
Identical consonantal text. The Elamite and Kir warriors with horsemen are named identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVII, line 18
Your choicest valleys are filled with chariots, and the horsemen have taken position at the gate.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVII, line 19
He has stripped away the covering of Judah. On that day you looked to the weapons in the House of the Forest.
Masoretic (WLC)
הַמָּסָךְ
the covering
Dead Sea Scroll
המסך
the covering
Identical consonantal text. The removal of Judah's covering/screen — exposing its vulnerability — is described identically. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVII, line 20
You saw the many breaches in the wall of the City of David, and you collected the waters of the lower pool.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVII, line 21
You counted the houses of Jerusalem and tore down houses to fortify the wall.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVII, line 22
You built a reservoir between the two walls for the waters of the old pool — but you did not look to the One who made it, nor did you regard the One who planned it long ago.
Masoretic (WLC)
בָּתִּים
houses
Dead Sea Scroll
בתים
houses
1QIsaiah-a writes בתים without the dagesh of the MT. Both texts describe counting Jerusalem's houses — presumably to demolish them for fortification materials. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVII, line 23
On that day the Lord GOD of Hosts called for weeping and mourning, for shaving the head and wearing sackcloth.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVII, line 24
But look — joy and gladness, slaughtering cattle and butchering sheep, eating meat and drinking wine: "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVII, line 25
Then the LORD of Hosts revealed this in my hearing: "This iniquity will not be atoned for until you die" — declares the Lord GOD of Hosts.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVIII, line 1
This is what the Lord GOD of Hosts says: "Go to this steward, to Shebna, who is over the house —
Masoretic (WLC)
סֹכֵן
steward
Dead Sea Scroll
סוכן
steward
1QIsaiah-a writes סוכן with plene spelling for the title of Shebna — a high court official. The plene vav is typical Qumran orthography. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVIII, line 2
What right do you have here, and who do you have here, that you have carved out a tomb for yourself here — hewing your grave on the height, chiseling a dwelling for yourself in the rock?"
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVIII, line 3
Look — the LORD is about to hurl you away, you mighty man, and wrap you up tightly.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVIII, line 4
He will wind you up tightly and hurl you like a ball into a wide, open land. There you will die, and there your glorious chariots will be — a disgrace to your master's house.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVIII, line 5
I will thrust you from your office, and from your post you will be torn down.
Masoretic (WLC)
מְעָטֶה
wrapping
Dead Sea Scroll
מעטה
wrapping
Identical consonantal text. God will wrap Shebna tightly like a ball and hurl him away. No impact on meaning.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVIII, line 6
On that day I will call my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVIII, line 7
I will clothe him with your robe and bind your sash on him; I will place your authority in his hand. He will be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVIII, line 8
I will place the key of the house of David on his shoulder; he will open, and no one will shut; he will shut, and no one will open.
Masoretic (WLC)
מַפְתֵּחַ
key
Dead Sea Scroll
מפתח
key
Both texts read מפתח ('key'). The 'key of the house of David' is placed on Eliakim's shoulder — 'he shall open and none shall shut, he shall shut and none shall open.' 1QIsaiah-a confirms the MT reading exactly. This passage is quoted in Revelation 3:7 where it is applied to Christ. The scroll's agreement with the MT for this theologically significant passage strengthens confidence in the textual tradition.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVIII, line 9
I will drive him like a peg into a firm place, and he will become a throne of glory for his father's house.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVIII, line 10
They will hang on him all the weight of his father's house — the offspring and the offshoots, every small vessel, from bowls to every jug.
No significant variant. The scroll reads identically to the MT here.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVIII, line 11
On that day — declares the LORD of Hosts — the peg driven into the firm place will give way; it will be cut down and fall, and the load that was on it will be cut off, for the LORD has spoken.
Masoretic (WLC)
הַמָּשָׂא
the burden/load
Dead Sea Scroll
המשא
the burden/load
1QIsaiah-a reads המשא identically. The oracle's conclusion — that the peg driven in a sure place will give way and the burden hanging on it will be cut off — is preserved in both traditions. This reversal applies to Eliakim's dynasty, not just Shebna.
1QIsaᵃ col. XVIII, line 12