Isaiah 7-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:14

The Immanuel-Child. It is one of the most important facts concerning the manifestation of Christ, that he was "born of a virgin," or, as the "Te Deum" expresses it, "He did not abhor the Virgin's womb." We dwell on two points. I. IN THE VIRGIN 'S CHILD LIES HID THE MYSTERY OF THE INCARNATION . Isaiah could have had but faint and shadowy glimpses of those deeper meanings which we can find in his words. Reading his prophecy in the light of its fulfillment in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:14-16

The nature of the Messianic prophecies. This being the first in the Book of Isaiah recognized as Messianic, the general subject may be illustrated in connection with it. Isaiah here gives a sign. Looking upon some woman in the king's presence who at the time was a virgin, he, in effect, says, "You shall know that Jehovah is the living God, and the all-sufficient Helper of his people, by this.—Before this woman can bear a son, and that son grow old enough to know good from evil, your land... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:15

Butter and honey shall he eat . His fare shall be of the simplest kind (comp. Isaiah 7:22 ). That he may know ; rather, till he shall know (Rosenmüller); i.e. till he come to years of discretion. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:16

The land , etc. Translate, The land shall be desolate , before whose two kings thou art afraid . The "land" must certainly be that of the two confederate kings, Rezin and Pekah, the Syro-Ephraim-itic land, or Syria and Samaria. "Desolate" may be used physically or politically. A land is "desolate" politically when it loses the last vestige of independence. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:16

The culture of conscience. "Before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good." Some take this expression as referring to pleasant or unpleasant food; but it probably is used in a general moral sense. Compare the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, in Genesis 2:9 ; Genesis 3:5 . For the expression as used in reference to children, see Deuteronomy 1:39 . Isaiah evidently intends, by a figure of speech, to indicate two or three years, the time when a child may be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:17

The Lord shall bring upon thee , etc. The transition from promises to threatenings is abrupt, and calculated to impress any one who was to any extent impressible. But Ahaz seems not to have had "ears to hear." From the day that Ephraim departed from Judah ; i.e. from the time of the revolt under Jeroboam ( 1 Kings 12:16-24 )—an evil day, which rankled in the mind of all true Judaeans. Even the King of Assyria . The construction is awkward, since "the King of Assyria' cannot well stand... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:17-20

Our pleasant vices whips for our own backs. Ahaz has made up his mind to "hire" the keen razor that lies beyond the far waters of the Euphrates, in Mesopotamia and Assyria Proper. He means to meet the danger which he sees to be impending, by his own wisdom and in his own strength. His ally, Tigiath-Pileser, "the great king, the King of Assyria" ( 2 Kings 18:28 ), shall crush the hosts of Pekah and Rezin, save Judah and Jerusalem from harm, nay, perhaps exalt Judah to the position which was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:17-25

THE DANGER TO JUDAH FROM ASSYRIA . The perversity of Ahaz, already rebuked in Isaiah 7:13 , is further punished by a threat, that upon him, and upon his people, and upon his father's house, shall come shortly a dire calamity. The very power whose aid he is himself bent on invoking shall be the scourge to chastise both king and people ( Isaiah 7:17-20 ). The land shall be made bare as by a razor ( Isaiah 7:20 ). Cultivation shall cease; its scant inhabitants will support... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:17-25

Divine retribution. The reference of these verses is clearly national; nevertheless they may be pointed so as to bear upon individual men; for we may be sure that it is on the same principles on which God governs communities that he rules the heart and life of each one of his subjects. We gather concerning Divine retribution— I. THAT IT MAY BE WROUGHT BY VARIOUS INSTRUMENTALITIES . 1. Sometimes by unconscious instruments . 2. Sometimes by conscious agents . ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:18

The Lord shall hiss (see Isaiah 5:26 , and note ad loc .). For the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt . The "fly of Egypt," like the "bee of Assyria," represents the military force of the nation, which God summons to take part in the coming affliction of Judaea. The prophetic glance may be extended over the entire period of Judah's decadence, and the " flies " summoned may include those which clustered about Neco at Megiddo, and carried off Jehoahaz from... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:14

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:14-16

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:15

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:16

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:17

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:17-20

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:17-25

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:17-25

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:18

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