_A.M. 3246. B.C. 758._ The prophet foretels that Syria and Israel should be subdued by Assyria, Isaiah 8:1. That Judah also should be afflicted, Isaiah 8:5. Declares God's judgments to be irresistible, and that they ought to be feared, Isaiah 8:9. That the Lord is a sanctuary to the godly, and a st... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moreover, the Lord said unto me_ Here begins “the second section of this discourse, which reaches to the seventh verse of the next chapter, and is nearly of the same argument with the preceding; being prophetical, and containing matter both of comfort and reproof. It may be divided into two parts.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And I took me faithful witnesses_ Persons of unquestionable reputation, who should bear witness that the following name and prophecy were written and published by me, according to God's command. It is likely these witnesses signed a copy of the prophecy with their own hands, and dated it according... [ Continue Reading ]
_Before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father_, &c. To speak and know his parents; which is within the space of two years. And this agrees with the other prophecy, Isaiah 7:16. For it requires a longer time for a child to _know to refuse the evil, and choose the good_, than to distinguish... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Lord spake also_ “After having given the promise concerning the deliverance of the people from the fear of the two adverse kingdoms, God, by a new, or a continued revelation, (for it was not very distant in time from the former,) more distinctly unfolds his purpose concerning the fate, not only... [ Continue Reading ]
_Forasmuch as this people_ The people of Israel, of whom he last spake, and who are the chief subject of this whole prophecy; and who did rejoice, not only in their own king Pekah, but also in the assistance of so powerful an ally as Rezin was; _refuseth_ Or, rather, _despiseth_, as the word מאס mor... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now, therefore_ Because the Israelites and their army, combined with the Syrians, despise the weak state of the Jews, and the kingdom of David, now brought very low, and having no such defence as can be compared to a great river, but only one that resembles a small brook that glides gently along; _... [ Continue Reading ]
_Associate yourselves, O ye people_ O ye Syrians and Israelites; _and ye shall be broken in pieces_ Your attempts against the house of David, and kingdom of Judah, will be fruitless, yea, will issue in your own ruin. _And give ear, all ye of far countries_ Immanuel's name inspires the prophet with n... [ Continue Reading ]
_For the Lord spake thus unto me_ Here the prophet teaches the people by his own example, as one immediately taught by God, with what dispositions they should receive all the attempts of their enemies, to subvert the kingdom of God in their land, even to the time of the Messiah, of whose manifestati... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sanctify the Lord of hosts_ Give him the glory of his power, and goodness, and faithfulness, by trusting in his promises for deliverance; _and let him be your fear_ Let God, and not the kings of Syria and Israel, be the chief object of your fear. _And he shall be for a sanctuary_ A sure refuge to a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Bind up the testimony_ There seems no doubt that the person here introduced speaking, is God the Father. By _the testimony_, and _the law_ or _doctrine_, the prophet understands one and the same thing, as he doth also Isaiah 8:20, namely, the word of God, and especially that which is the main scope... [ Continue Reading ]
_And_ Or _yet_, as the same particle is translated, Jeremiah 2:32; Jeremiah 2:35, and elsewhere; _I will wait on the Lord_ Notwithstanding this dreadful prophecy, concerning the unbelief and rejection of Israel, I will cast my care upon him, and expect the accomplishment of his promise, in sending t... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when_, &c. The prophet, having foretold the coming of the Messiah, and spoken of the disciples he should have, takes this occasion of addressing the Jews, and reminding them of their duty, as he had done, Isaiah 2:6, compared with Isaiah 8:1. He saw the nation much inclined to foreign superstit... [ Continue Reading ]
_To the law and to the testimony_ Let this dispute between you and them be determined by God's word, which is here, and in many other places, called _the law_, to signify their obligation to believe and obey it; and _the testimony_, because it is a witness between God and man, of God's will, and of... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they_ The idolatrous and apostate Israelites; _shall pass through it_ Namely, their own land, into captivity; or, as עבר בה may be rendered, _shall pass to and fro_, or _wander hither and thither, in it_, like distracted men, not knowing whither to go, or what to do; whereas, if they had not fo... [ Continue Reading ]