Isaiah 8:1

Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Maher-shalal-hashbaz. Isaiah 8:1 and Isaiah 9:7. The first seven verses of Isaiah 9:1 belong to this section. Isaiah 8:1 continues the subject of Isaiah 7:1, but a later period (cf. Isaiah 8:4 with Isaiah 7:16), implying that the interval until the accomplishment is shorter now...

1._And Jehovah said to me. _(117) This prophecy contains nothing new, but is a confirmation of the preceding one, in which Isaiah predicted the approaching desolation of the kingdom of Israel and Syria. He had foretold that both countries would be deprived of their kings, before the children who should soon afterwards be born could distinguish between good and evil, that is, before they were grown up. (Isaiah 7:16.) But because the wicked are not terrified by any threatenings, it was therefore necessary that this prediction should be repeated and demonstrated by some outward sign. First, in order more effectually to arouse the nation, God commands that this prophecy be made publicly known by writing, that it may be understood by all. We have formerly said, (118) that it was the custom of the Prophets, after h

1-8 The prophet is to write on a large roll, or on a metal tablet, words which meant, "Make speed to spoil, hasten to the prey:" pointing out that the Assyrian army should come with speed, and make great spoil. Very soon the riches of Damascus and of Samaria, cities then secure and formidable, shall be taken away by the king of Assyria. The prophet pleads with the promised Messiah, who should appear in that land in the fulness of time, and, therefore, as God, would preserve it in the mean time. As a gentle brook is an apt emblem of a mild government, so an overflowing torrent represents a conqueror and tyrant. The invader's success was also described by a bird of prey, stretching its wings over the whole land. Those who reject Christ, will find that what they call liberty is the basest slavery. But no enemy shall pluck the believer out of Emmanuel's hand, or deprive him of his heavenly i...

CHAPTER VIII _Prediction respecting the conquest of Syria and Israel by the_ _Assyrians_, 1-4. _Israel, for rejecting the_ gentle stream _of Shiloah, near_ _Jerusalem, is threatened to be overflowed by the_ great river _of_ _Assyria, manifestly alluding by this strong figure to the_ _conquests of Tiglath-pileser and Shalmaneser over that kingdom_, 5-7. _The invasion of the kingdom of Judah by the Assyrians under_ _Sennacherib foretold_, 8. _The prophet assures the Israelites and Syrians that their_...

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 cutting the letters with an iron stylus, or small chisel. The process was slow, but the writing was permanent. They sometimes used the skins of animals, or the bark of trees, and subsequently the papyrus of Egypt (compare the note at Isaiah 19:7); and it is possible that Isaiah may have used such a roll or volume on this occasion; compare...

EXPOSITION ISAIAH 8:1 THE SIGN OF MAHER-SHALAL-HASH-BAZ. The sign of Immanuel was recondite. In its more spiritual sense it appealed to faith in an event far distant. Even in its literal import, it was not calculated to cheer and encourage more than a few, since neither the maiden nor the child was pointed out with any distinctness. A fresh sign was therefore given by God's goodness to reassure the mass of the people—a sign about which there was nothing obscure or difficult. Isaiah himself should have a son born to him almost immediately, to whom he should give a name indicating the rapid approach of the spoiler, and before this child should be able to utter the first words which childhood ordinarily pronounces, "Father," "Mother," Damascu

MOREOVER THE LORD SAID UNTO ME,.... This is another prophecy, confirming the same thing that was promised in the preceding chapter Isaiah 7:1; namely, safety to the Jews from the two kings of Syria and Israel, which combined against them: TAKE THEE A GREAT ROLL; or volume, a writing book, a roll of parchment, in which form the ancients used to write, Psalms 40:7. The Targum renders it, a "table"; a writing table, such an one as Zacharias called for, Luke 1:63 and this was to be a "great" or large one, because much was to be written in it; or what was to be written was to be written in large letters: AND WRITE IN IT WITH A MAN'S PEN; such as men usually write with; and in such a style and language as

CHAPTER 8 Jehovah's Word Through Isaiah and the Assyrian Announced 1. _The divine instruction and Maher-shalal-hash-baz (Isaiah 8:1)_ 2. _The Assyrian to come (Isaiah 8:5)_ 3. _The answer of faith (Isaiah 8:9)_ 4. _A word to the faithful remnant (Isaiah 8:11)_ 5. _The coming great distress (Isaiah 8:21)_ The names are significant. Isaiah heard the word “Maher-shalal-hash-baz,” and then is told to call his newborn son by this name. The name means “swift for spoil, hasty for prey.” Isaiah's other son was named “Shear-Jashub,” whic

THE SIGN OF MAHER-SHALAL-HASH-BAZ. The date of the incidents is some time before the fall of Damascus in 732 B.C. The writing of the tablet may be as early as 735 B.C., the birth of the child as 734. The prophet is bidden take a large tablet, since it is to be used as a public placard, and write on it in common characters that all may read, For Maher-shalal-hash-baz. He is to take responsible witnesses, that when the prediction is fulfilled they may be able to assure the people that by this enigmatic inscription Isaiah foretold the speedy downfall of Syria and Ephraim. He is bidden call his son, born some time later, by the name on the placard, for before he utters a child's first words, Damascus and Samaria will be despoiled by the Assyrians. ISAIAH 8:1. PEN OF A MAN: _mg.,_ in common characters, is perhaps correct. The name means Swift is the spoil, speedy the prey, i.e. th

MOREOVER. There is no break in the prophecy. ROLL. tablet. Elsewhere only in Isaiah 3:23. IN IT. on it. A MAN'S PEN. the carving tool of the people. The writing was to be legible, in the language of the common people (not in the language of the priests or educated classes). Eastern languages have these two, down to the present day. Compare Habakkuk 2:2. "Pen" is put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_, for the writing written by it. MAN'S. a common man's. Hebrew. _'enosh._ concerning. "for Maher, &c. " MAHER-SHALAL-HASH-BAZ. haste, spoil, speed, prey. (Note the _Alternation_.) These words are explained in Isaiah 8:4, and may be connected thus: he hasteneth