In Isaiah 7 the prophet had told Ahaz that God would give him a sign that the lad of Judah should be safe from the threatened invasion of the united armies of Syria and Israel. In this chapter Isaiah 8, there is a record of the primary fulfillment of that promise, Isaiah 8:1. From Isaiah 8:5 to Isai... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE THEE A GREAT ROLL - The word which is here translated ‘roll’ more properly signifies tablet. So the Chaldee renders it. Those tablets were made of wood, metal, or stone, for the purpose of writing on; see Isaiah 30:8; Habakkuk 2:2. On these tablets, or smooth plates, writing was performed by cu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I TOOK UNTO ME FAITHFUL WITNESSES - What was the precise object in calling in these witnesses is not known. Some have supposed that it was to bear testimony to the marriage of the prophet at that time. But it may have been for the purpose of a public record of the prophecy; a record so made, tha... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID THE LORD ... - The name thus given was to be emblematic of a particular event - that Assyria would soon take away the spoil of Damascus and Samaria. It is not remarkable that the name Immanuel should also be given to the same child, as signifying the presence and protection of God in defen... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR BEFORE ... - This must have occurred in a short time - probably before the expiration of three years. A child would usually learn to address his parents in that time. In fact, the event here predicted occurred in less than three years from the time when the prophecy was spoken; see the notes at... [ Continue Reading ]
FORASMUCH AS THIS PEOPLE - There has been a considerable difference of opinion among interpreters respecting the ‘people’ to whom the prophet here refers. Some have supposed that it refers to the kingdom of Judah alone; others to a party in that kingdom; and others to the kingdom of Judah in connect... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WATERS OF THE RIVER - By the river, in the Scripture, is commonly meant the river Euphrates, as being, by way of eminence, the largest river with which they were acquainted; and also as being that distinguished by the fact that Abraham had lived beyond it, and crossed it; see the note at Isaiah... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL ... - That is, the Assyrians - though still retaining the idea of an overflowing stream, or a deluge of waters. REACH EVEN TO THE NECK - Chaldee, ‘They shall come even to Jerusalem.’ ‘The prophet compares Jerusalem here,’ says Kimchi, ‘to the head of the human body. As when the waters reach... [ Continue Reading ]
ASSOCIATE YOURSELVES - In the previous verses the prophet had seen the Assyrian coming up on the land like an overwhelming flood. He looked upon the danger, and his mind was turned to the pledge of safety which God had given. The name Immanuel, and the promise connected with the giving of that name... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE COUNSEL TOGETHER - This is an address to the same foreign nations. It refers to the designs which they would form to destroy the Jewish state. SPEAK THE WORD - That is, give the command - to overturn the nation of the Jews. IT SHALL NOT STAND - It shall not be accomplished. FOR GOD IS WITH U... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE LORD SPAKE THUS - Spake that which immediately follows in the next verse. Warned him not to Unite in the alliance with foreign kingdoms which the nation was about forming. WITH A STRONG HAND - Margin, ‘With strength of hand.’ That is, when the hand of God urged me. A strong prophetic impulse... [ Continue Reading ]
SAY YE NOT - Do not join in their purposes of forming a confederacy. Do not unite with the king and the people of Judah in their alarms about the threatened invasion by the kings of Syria and Samaria, and in their purpose to form an alliance with the king of Assyria. The reason why they should not d... [ Continue Reading ]
SANCTIFY ... - Regard Yahweh as holy; that is, worship and honor him with pious fear and reverence. Regard him as the source of safety, and the true defense. Ahaz and his people sought for aid from Assyria against the armies of Syria and Samaria. The direction here is rather to seek aid from God. L... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SHALL BE FOR A SANCTUARY - The word translated sanctuary means, literally, a holy place, a consecrated place, and is usually applied to the tabernacle, or to the temple; Exodus 25:8; Leviticus 12:4; Leviticus 21:12; Jeremiah 51:51. It also means an asylum, or a refuge, to which one might flee... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MANY AMONG THEM - Many by the invasion under the Assyrian. Many were taken captive; many killed. and many were carried to Babylon. The repetition here of so many expressions so nearly synonymous is emphatic, and shows that it would be certainly done.... [ Continue Reading ]
BIND UP - This expression is one that is applicable to a volume, or roll of writing. Thus far the prophet seems to have had the roll opened, which is mentioned in Isaiah 8:1. Now the prophecy is complete, and he directs to bind it up, or close it. Perhaps, also, it is implied that it would be useles... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WILL WAIT UPON THE LORD - This is the commencement of a new subject. The prophet had closed his former message; but had seen that in regard to the great mass of the nation, his exhortation had been in vain. He now says, that having delivered his message, he would patiently look to God alone. H... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I... - By ‘signs and wonders,’ here, it is meant that they, by the names given them, were intended to teach important lessons to the Jewish people. Their names were significant, and were designed to illustrate some important truth; and especially the prophet here intimates that they were to... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY SHALL SAY - When the people, instead of putting confidence in God, shall propose to apply to necromancers. In the time of Ahaz the people were, as they were often, much inclined to idolatry; 2 Kings 16:10. In their troubles and embarrassments, instead of looking to Yahweh, they imitate... [ Continue Reading ]
TO THE LAW ... - To the revelation which God has given. This is a solemn call of the prophet to try everything by the revealed will of God; see Isaiah 8:16. IF THEY SPEAK NOT - If the necromancers - those that pretended to have contact with the dead. ACCORDING TO THIS WORD - According to what God... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL PASS - The people who have been consulting necromancers. This represents the condition of these who have sought for counsel and direction, and who have not found it. They shall be conscious of disappointment, and shall wander perplexed and alarmed through the land. THROUGH IT - Throu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL LOOK UNTO THE EARTH - They would look upward and find no relief, and then in despair cast their eyes to the earth to obtain help there. Yet equally in vain. The whole image is one of intense anguish brought on the nation for leaving the counselor the true God. AND BEHOLD ... - see th... [ Continue Reading ]