Isaiah 22:3 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Thy rulers; Zedekiah and his chief commanders, whose flight he foretells. They are bound by the archers, Heb. from the bow, i.e. so as they were disenabled from using the bow; which is a usual Hebraism; as from a king is put for from being a king, 1 Samuel 15:23; and from seeing, Psalms 69:23, is rendered that they cannot see, Romans 11:10. But this word is by some, and may very well be, joined to the foregoing clause; for the words in the Hebrew lie thus, All thy rulers are fled together from the bow, (or, bow-men, as this word is rendered, Isaiah 21:17) they are bound; which seems most plain and unforced, and suits best with the following words, as also with the prophet's use of the same phrase, Isaiah 21:15, they fled from the bent bow, &c. All that are found in thee; that remained there with Zedekiah in the siege; for those who had fled to the Chaldeans saved their lives and liberties. Are bound together in fetters, Jeremiah 52:11. Which have fled from far; which fled to Jerusalem from the remotest parts of the land. But he rather speaks of those who fled from Jerusalem, and from their enemies, whereof some had fled away, but were pursued and overtaken by their enemies, and bound, as others had been. And the words seem to be well rendered, they fled far away, as this very word is used, Isaiah 23:7; which may be understood either of the same persons who fled, but were taken in their flight, as was now said; or of others, who fled away, when others abode, there and were bound.