Isaiah 8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 8:21

Hardly bestead "Distressed" - Instead of נקשה niksheh , distressed, the Vulgate, Chaldee, and Symmachus manifestly read נכשל nichshal , stumbling, tottering through weakness, ready to fall; a sense which suits very well with the place. And look upward "And he shall cast his eyes upward" - The learned professor Michaelis, treating of this place (Not. in de Sacr. Poes. Hebr. Prael. ix.) refers to a passage in the Koran which is similar to it. As it is a very celebrated passage, and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:1

Take thee a great roll ; rather, a large tablet . The word is the same as that used for "mirror" in Isaiah 3:23 . Write in it with a man's pen ; i.e. "write upon it with the pen used by ordinary men"—in opposition to the implements of an engraver. The tablet was probably to be hung up to view in a public place (comp. Isaiah 30:8 ), so that all might read, and the writing was therefore to be such as was in ordinary use. Concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz . These were the words... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:1-3

Prophecy in a name. The interpretation of this name demands some acquaintance with the history of the times, and with the views of political parties in the city of Jerusalem. The great danger immediately pressing was the combined attack of Rezin and Pekah, representing the neighbor-kingdoms of Syria and Israel. Isaiah had prophesied the fall of these nations, and, so, encouraged Judah to hold on, and keep trust in Jehovah's protection. But time passed on, and there were no signs of calamity... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:1-4

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... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:1-4

Symbolic utterances. THE PROPHET 'S POPULAR METHOD . He wished to inspire hope in the people as well as in the king—to expel the panic fear of the two northern kings, and impress the expectation that the two capitals of these kings would themselves be taken and sacked. The way in which he set about this was simple yet remarkable. 1. He took a large tablet, and wrote therein in "popular characters," i.e. in large text, distinct from the literary character, perhaps a character... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:1-4

Orders of service. We may serve God in more ways than one. There is— I. UNWILLING SERVICE . We may conclude, from 2 Kings 16:10 , 2 Kings 16:11 , that Uriah the priest ( 2 Kings 16:2 ) had no real interest in the service of Jehovah; that he did what Isaiah requested of him with an indifferent, if not a positively reluctant mind. We may be "requisitioned" by the great King in the long warfare he is conducting. He who is rebelliously refusing to place his intelligence, his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:2

And I took unto me ; rather, and I will have taken for me . It is still God who is speaking. Uriah the priest . Probably the high priest of the time, mentioned in 2 Kings 16:10-16 , as the ready tool of Ahaz at a later date. Though a bad man, he may have been a trustworthy witness to a fact. Zechariah . Perhaps the father of Abi or Abijah, Ahaz's queen ( 2 Kings 18:2 ; 2 Chronicles 29:1 ). It would serve to call public attention still more to the tablet, if it bore the names of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:3

The prophetess . It is not necessary to suppose that the wife of Isaiah must have uttered prophecies because she is called "the prophetess." Titles were given in the East to the wives, daughters, etc; of officials, which merely reflected the dignity of their husbands, fathers, etc. Even Miriam seems to be called a "prophetess" ( Exodus 15:20 ) from her close relationship to Moses, rather than from any supernatural power that she had. In the Mishna, a priest's wife or daughter is called... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:4

My father … my mother . "Abi," "Immi," would have been among the first utterances of childhood—simple sounds, combinations of primary vowels with labials, corresponding in easiness of utterance to "Pappy," "Mammy," rather than to the expressions of the text. A child commonly utters such sounds when it is about a year old. The riches of Damascus . The position of Damascus lay in the direct path of the main trade that was carried on between the West and East, which was conducted by the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:5-8

The false standard and the fatal issue. The cardinal error into which Israel fell was that of judging by appearances instead of by the reality. The "softly flowing waters" of the Davidic kingdom seemed far less reliable than the "strong and many waters" of Syria and of Assyria, and therefore Ephraim trusted in the one and Judah in the other of these great "powers." But they were utterly misplacing their confidence. Those waters that "went softly" and seemed so strengthless, were the river... read more

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