E t 1,2. The Prophecy. u 3-. The Son. Birth. u -3. The Son. Name. t 4. The Prophecy.
8)
631-630 B.C.
1 Moreover (there is no break in the prophecy) Yehovah said to me, “Take you a great tablet, and write in it with the carving tool of the people (the writing was to 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. Cp. Hab.2:2) for Maher-shalal-hash-baz” (= haste, spoil, speed, prey. These words are explained in v.4, and may be connected thus: he hastens to take the spoil, he speeds to seize the prey. this child was as sign, as also the child in 7:14).
2 And I took to me faithful witnesses to record, Urijah the priest (see 2 Kings 16:10), and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah (probably the father-in-law to Ahaz [2 Kings 18:2]).
3 And I went to the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son.
Then said Yehovah to me, “Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.
4 For before (the interval was 21 months from the prophecy, 12 from the birth) the suckling child shall have knowledge to cry, ‘My father, and my mother’, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be carried away before the king of Assyria.” (So it was: in the third year of Ahaz, Damascus was sacked and Rezin was slain)
F v 5,6. The Land. Its waters refused. w 7-. Waters of Assyria. Approach. w -7. Waters of Assyria. Arrival. v 8. The Land. Assyrian waters overflow.
5 Yehovah spoke also to me again (see 7:10), saying,
6 “Forasmuch as this people refuses the waters of Shiloah that go softly (i.e. the waters beneath Zion running from Gihon to Siloam. See 2 Sam.5:6-8), and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son (this is not a "wrong reading of the Hebrew text", but it refers to the trust reposed in the king of Syria instead of in Yehovah [7:9]. They despised God's covenant with Zion [symbolized by its secret strean], and preferred the help of the heathen; therefore the Assyrian floods should overwhelm them. [Cp. the same contrast in Ps.46:3,4]. This applied specially to Israel: and the judgment overtook Israel first);
7 Now therefore, behold, Yehovah brings up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory:
and he shall come up over all his channels (see 2 Sam.22:16. A watercourse, constrained by rocks or pipes or rocky channels), and go over all his banks:
8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings (probably referring to the wings of his army) shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel (= God [El] with us. This shows that the prophecy in 7:14 was not to be exhausted with Ahaz and his times ).
9 Make friendships, O all you nations, and you all shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all you all of far countries: gird yourselves, and you all shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and you all shall be broken in pieces.
10 Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.” (= Immanu-El. See v.8)
D² J x 8:11,12. False dependence. Confederacy y 8:13-15. True dependence. Yehovah. K 8:16,17. The Testimony and the Law. L 8:18. Messiah and His children. J x 8:19-. False dependence: spirits. y 8:-19. True Dependence. God. K 8:20-22. The Law and the Testimony. L 9:1-7. Messiah. the Son.
11 For Yehovah spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this People, saying,
13 Hollow Yehovah Sabaioth Himself
12 “Say you all not, ‘A confederacy’ (Heb. kesher. Never used in a good sense), whensoever this People shall say, ‘A confederacy’ (qouted in 1 Pet.3:14,15); neither fear you all what they fear (or with their fear), nor be afraid.
14 And He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence (cp. 1 Pet.2:7,8. Lukke 20:17. Rom.9:32,33; 11:11) to both the houses of Israel, for a trap and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among My instructed ones.” (No Article either here or in v.20. Note the Structure, above, and the Introversion of these two words in K. See 1:10)
17 And I will wait upon Yehovah (see Gen.49:18), That hides His face from the house of Jacob (see 2:5), and I will look for Him (see Heb.2:13).
18 Behold, I and the young children whom Yehovah has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from Yehovah Sabaioth (cp. 20:3. Ex.7:3. Deut.4:34; 6:22; 7:19; 13:1,2; 26:8; 28:46; 29:3; 34:11. See note on 7:11), which is making His dwelling (or is about to dwell) in mount Zion.
19 “And should they shall say to you, ‘Seek to them that have familiar spirits (see Lev.19:31), and to wizards that peep (Heb. zãphaph. Occurs only in Isaiah; and this form, only in 10:14: elsewhere, in 29:4 [whisper]; 38:14 [chatter]. It is used of an unearthly sound), and that mutter (i.e. the indistinct sounds. This refers to the low incantations which, in the Babylonian and Egyptian "mysteries", had to be recited in a whisper [like certain parts of the Roman Missal]. A whole series is called "the ritual of the whispered charm". [See The Religions of Ancient Egypt and Babylonia, pp.465,466]):
should not aany People seek unto its Elohim? for [should] the living [seek unto] to the dead? (This is a solemn warning against all ancient and modern Spiritists)
20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is shall be no morning them (all are in darkness who do not speak by and appeal to the revealed Word of God).
21 And they (i.e. they who live not in the Light of God's Word) shall pass through it (i.e. Immanuel's land. The singular number and same verb referring back to v.8),in hard case and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves (cp. Rev.16:11,21), and curse their king and their Elohim, and look upward (in vain).
22 And they shall look to the land; and behold trouble and darkness, the gloom of anguish; and they shall be thrust out into darkness.
9)
1 For (this member [9:1-7] relates to Messiah, the Son, referring back to 8:9,10; and carries 7:14 on to its future fulfilment) the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation (almost the same words as dimness...anguish [8:22]), when at the first (when Ben-hadad, in the reign of Baasha, "smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abel-beth-maachah, and all Cinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali" [1 Kings 15:20]) He lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun (qouted in Luke 1:79) and the land of Naphtali, and afterward (referring to the heavier scourge when Hazael "smote all the coasts of Israel from Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead" [2 Kigs 10:32,33]. This land was the first to be afflicted by the armies of Assyria [2 Kings 15:29], and was the first to see the promised Light in the person of Messiah) did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
2 The people the walkers in darkness saw a great Light (qouted in Matt.4:14-16): they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the Light shined.”
3 You (i.e. Yehovah) have (this is a figure by which the future is prophetically spoken of as present, or past) multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy (the difficulty is not removed by reading lõ, "to him", instead of l'o, "not" [which is the marginal reading of Heb. text, and is fllowed by the R.V.] Dr. C.D. Ginsburg suggests that the word in question, haggil'o, was wrongly divided into two words, and the last syllable [l'o] was treated as a seperate word. Read as one word, the four lines form and Introversion, thus:
z You have multiplied the exultation,
a You have increased the joy:
a They joy before You according to the joy in harvest,
z And as men exult when they divide the spoil.
): they joy before You according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden, and the rod of his shoulder (i.e. the rod that smites the shoulder), the sceptre of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian (refers to Judg.7:21, &c).
5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.
6 For unto us a Child is born (the prophecy of the "Divine Interposition" ends with Messiah, even as it began in 7:14 [qouted in Luke 2:11]), unto us a Son is given (the interval of ths present dispensation comes between the word "given" and the next clause): and the government shall be upon His shoulder (the Heb. word misrãh occurs only in these verses [6,7]. Like politeuma [Phil.3:20]): and He Himself (see Ps.20:1) shall be called Wonderful (cp. Judg.13:18), Counsellor, The mighty EL (Eng. God. As in 10:21), The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (i.e. the Prince Who gives peace. Cp. Rom.15:16).
7 Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end (cp. the angelic message [Luke 1:32,33]), upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice (feminie, referring to the kingdom) from henceforth even for ever (qouted in Luke 1:32,33). The zeal of Yehovah Sabaioth will perform this.’ (see 1 Sam.1:3)
C³ M¹ 9:8 - 10:4. Made with Israel's enemy (in judgment). M² 10:5-32. Broken with enemies for Israel's deliverance (in grace).
M¹ N¹ b¹ 9:8-10. Sin. Self-confidence. c¹ 9:11,12-. Threatening. d¹ 9:-12. Anger not turned away. N² b² 9:13. Sin. Impenitence. c² 9:14-17-. Threatening. d² 9:-17. Anger not turned away. N³ b³ 9:18-. Sin. Lawlessness. c³ 9:-18-21-. Threatening. d³ 9:-21. Anger no turned away. N4 b4 10:1,2. Sin. Haughtiness. c4 10:3,4-. Threatening. d4 10:-4. Anger not turned away.
8 Yehovah sent a word (2:5,6, which had now been fulfilled. Cp. 5:25. 2 Chron.28:6-8) into Jacob (see 2:5), and it has fallen upon Israel.
9 And all the People shall know, even Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in the pride and stoutness of heart,
10 “The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycomores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.”
11 Therefore Yehovah shall set up the adversaries (some codices read "princes, or generals") of Rezin against him (i.e. Ephraim [not Rezin]), and join his enemies together (= weave together, unite as allies);
12 The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth.
For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out [in judgment] still (see 5:25).
13 For the people turned not to Him that smites them (see Deut.4:29,30), neither do they seek Yehovah Sabaioth Himself.
14 Therefore Yehovah will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush (a marshy pool), in one day.
15 The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teaches lies, he is the tail (see Deut.28:13,14).
16 For the leaders (or flatterers) of this People cause them to stray; and they that are flattered of them are swallowed up.
17 Therefore Yehovah shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly.
For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.
18 For lawlessness burns as the fire:
it shall devour the briers and thorns, and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up like the lifting up of smoke.
19 Through the wrath of Yehovah Sabaioth is the land darkened, and the People shall be as the fuel for the fire: no man shall spare his brother.
20 And he shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied (see Lev.26:26): they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:
21 Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh: and they together shall be against Judah.
For all this His anger is not turned away, but is hand is stretched out still.
10)
1 Woe to them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that ordain (or register; legalize iniquities) grievousness which they have written;
2 To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of My People (Heb. ‘ani [wretched ?]. See Prov.6:11), that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!
3 And what will you all do in the day of visitation, and in the storm which shall come from far? to whom will you all flee for help? and where will you all secure (or put in safe keeping. Heb. ‘azab, a Homonym with 2 meanings. See Ex.23:5) your glory?
4 Without Me captives will be enough to make you bow down, and mortally wounded ones [will be enough] to make you fall.
For (see 9:12) all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still.
M² O 5,6. Assyrian invasion. Mission. P e 7-11. Assyrian intntion. f 12-15. Yehovah's punishment of Assyria. P e 16-19. Assyrian work. f 20-27. Yehovah's deliverance of Israel. O 28-32. Assrian invasion. March.
5 O Assyrian (not woe to the Assyrian. That Woe comes later [cp. 17:12 and 33:1], after the latest woes on Ephraim and Judah. This is a Divine summons. The monuments tell us that this was Sargon, the father of Sennacherib), the rod of My anger, and the staff in their hand is My indignation.
6 I will send him against an hypocritical nation (= impious, profane, godless, or irreligious. Cp. 9:17 and 33:14, the only other occ. in Isaiah), and against the People of My wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
7 However he will not mean (the blindness of the instrument emphasises the truth of the prophecy), neither does his heart so inteand; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few.
8 For he will say, “Are not my princes all of them kings?
9 Is not Calno as Carchemish? is not Hamath as Arpad? is not Samaria as Damascus?
10 According as my hand has found the kingdoms of the nothings, and whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and of Samaria;
11 Shall I not, according as I have done to Samaria and her effigies, so do to Jerusalem and her effigies?”
12 And it shall come to pass, that when Yehovah has performed His whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks.
13 For he says, “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the peoples (see Deut.32:8), and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man:
14 And my hand has found [means to reach] as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathers eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.” (see8:19)
15 Shall the axe boast itself against him that hews therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaks it? as if the rod should brandish them that lift it up, or as if the staff should raise him that lifts it up.
16 Therefore shall Adon (with article see Divine names in O.T.), Yehovah Sabaioth, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory He shall be like a burning like the burning of a fire.
17 And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day (so it was [2 Kings 19:35]);
18 And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standard-bearer faints.
19 And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a lad may reckon them.
20 And it shall come to pass in that day (passing on to the final fulfilment in the Day of the Lord, i.e. the Mellennium), that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob (see 2:5), shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon Yehovah, the Holy One of Israel (see 1:4), in truth.
21 The remnant shall return (Heb. Shear-jashub. See 7:3. So they did. Cp. 2 Chron.30:1-13, esp. v.6), even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty El (cp. 9:6. Deut.10:17).
22 For though Your People Israel (qouted in Rom.9:27:28) be as the sand of the sea (see Gen.22:17; 32:12, &c.), yet a remnant of them shall return: the full end (or finish. See Deut.28:65) decreed shall overflow in righteousness.
23 For Adonai Yehovah Sabaioth shall make a consummation, even decreed, in the midst of all the land.”
24 Therefore thus says Adonai Yehovah Sabaioth, “O My people that dwellest in Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian: he shall smite you [indeed] with a club, and shall lift up his staff against you, after the manner of Egypt.
25 For yet a very little while, and the indignation shall cease, and My anger [shall cease] in their destruction.
26 And Yehovah Sabaioth shall stir up a scourge for him like the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb (cp. 9:4, and Judg.7:25): and as His rod was upon the sea, so shall He lift it up after the manner of Egypt.
27 And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off your shoulder, and his yoke from off your neck, and the yoke will rot before the face [at the sight] of the oil (i.e. in Gideon's lamps; and of the Anointed One, Messiah).
28 He is come to Ai (this is a prophetic description of Sennacherib's advance against Judah), he is passed to Migron (not yet identified. Probably near Gibeah [1 Sam.14:2]. Sennacherib mentions it as Amgarron. See 2 King 18:5,13); at Michmash (
29 They are gone over the ravine (i.e Wady Suweinit. Cp. 1 Sam.13:23): they have taken up their lodging at Geba (now Jeb'a, near michmash); Ramah is afraid (now er Ram, 5 miles north of Jerusalem); Gibeah of Saul is fled (now Tell el Ful, between Jerusalem and Emmaus, 2 1/2 miles north of Jerusalem).
30 Lift up your voice, O daughter of Gallim (not identified. Probably Bietfãla’, near Bethlahem): cause it to be heard to Laish (not Laish of the tribe of Dan), O poor Anathoth (now ’Anãta. 3 miles nort-east of Jerusalem).
31 Madmenah is removed (not identified. A town of Benjamin, near Jerusalem. See 25:10); the inhabitants of Gebim gather themselves to flee (not identified. North of Jerusalem).
32 As yet shall he remain at Nob that day (a city of the priests, in sight of Jerusalem, from whence Sennacharib shook his hand against the city. Nob only a half day's journey from Jerusalem): he shall shake his hand against the mount of the daughter of Zion, the hill of Jerusalem.