Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 22:4

"Therefore said I, Look away from me, I will weep bitterly; labor not to comfort me for the destruction of the daughter of my people." — Isaiah 22:4 (ASV)

Look away from me - Do not look upon me - an indication of deep grief, for sorrow seeks to be alone, and grief avoids publicity and exposure.

I will weep bitterly - Hebrew, ‘I will be bitter in weeping.’ Thus we speak of “bitter” sorrow, indicating excessive grief (see the note at Isaiah 15:5; Jeremiah 14:17; Lamentations 1:16; Lamentations 2:11; Micah 1:8–9).

Labour not - The sense is, ‘My grief is so great that I cannot be comforted. There are no topics of consolation that can be presented. I must be alone, and allowed to indulge in deep and overwhelming sorrow at the calamities that are coming upon my nation and people.’

Because of the spoiling - The desolation; the ruin that is coming upon them.

The daughter of my people - Jerusalem (see the note at Isaiah 1:8; Jeremiah 6:14; Jeremiah 8:19, 8:21-22; Lamentations 2:11; Lamentations 4:3, 4:6, 4:10).