Isaiah 8:19-20

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 8:16-22

In these verses we have, I. The unspeakable privilege which the people of God enjoy in having the oracles of God consigned over to them, and being entrusted with the sacred writings. That they may sanctify the Lord of hosts, may make him their fear and find him their sanctuary, bind up the testimony, Isa. 8:16. Note, It is a great instance of God's care of his church and love to it that he has lodged in it the invaluable treasure of divine revelation. 1. It is a testimony and a law; not only... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:19

And when they shall say unto you ,.... These are the words of Christ continued, as making his appearance in Israel; and are an address to his people among them, even to his children, disciples, and followers, advising them what they should do, when those among whom they dwelt should press them to seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards, that peep, and that mutter ; meaning the Scribes and Pharisees, the doctors among the Jews, who sat in Moses's chair, and who were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:20

To the law, and to the testimony ,.... Kimchi takes this to be an oath, "by the law, and by the testimony", it is so and so; but Aben Ezra observes there is no instance of this kind in Scripture; it is a direction of Christ's to his disciples, to attend to the writings of Moses and the prophets, to search the Scriptures, as in John 5:39 and particularly what is before said in this prophecy concerning himself, the same is meant as on Isaiah 8:16 . if they speak not according to this... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 8:19

Should not a people seek "Should they seek" - After ידרש yidrosh , the Septuagint, repeating the word, read הידרש hayidrosh : Ουκ εθνος προς Θεον αυτου εκζητησουσι; τι εκζητησουσι περι των ζωντων τους νεκρους ; Should not a nation seek unto its God? Why should you seek unto the dead concerning the living? and this repetition of the verb seems necessary to the sense; and, as Procopius on the place observes, it strongly expresses the prophet's indignation at their folly. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 8:20

To the law and to the testimony "Unto the command, and unto the testimony" - "Is not תעודה teudah here the attested prophecy, Isaiah 8:1-4 ;? and perhaps תורה torah the command, Isaiah 8:11-15 ;? for it means sometimes a particular, and even a human, command; see Proverbs 6:20 , and Proverbs 7:1 , Proverbs 7:2 , where it is ordered to be hid, that is, secretly kept." - Abp. Secker. So Deschamps, in his translation, or rather paraphrase, understands it: " Tenons nous a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:16-22

The helplessness of superstition. Here a mass of thought is found, struggling for expression as the new-lighted fuel struggles into flame. I. THE ORACLE SEALED . 'Tis time to make an end. Let what has been written remain, rolled up and sealed and kept, until the day when those taciturn letters shall find their tongue and burst into flame. And, indeed, every true thing may be said to be "written down for the time to come, forever and ever." It may be lost sight of for a time, but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:19

Seek unto them that have familiar spirits. In times of great distress the Israelites seem always to have been tempted to consult those among them who pretended to magic and divination. So Saul in the Philistine war resorted to the witch of Endor ( 1 Samuel 28:7-20 ); Manasseh, threatened by Esar-haddon, "used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards" ( 2 Kings 21:6 ). Israel generally, oppressed by Syria and Assyria, "used divination and enchantments" ( 2 Kings 17:17 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:19

Seeking for the living to the dead. The necromancy of ancient times was a system of appeal to the dead on behalf of the living. The shades or ghosts of dead men were supposed to be brought up from Hades by the necromancer, who compelled them to answer his questions, and was supposed to make their answers useful to the living. A system not very dissimilar has prevailed of recent years in many parts both of England and of America, whereby "spirits" are believed to be brought into communication... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:19-22

ISAIAH RECOMMENDS LOOKING TO GOD AND THE REVEALED WORD RATHER THAN TO NECROMANCY . AFFLICTION WILL BRING ISRAEL TO GOD . Isaiah returns, in verse 19, to the consideration of his disciples. In the terrible times impending, they will be recommended to have recourse to necromancy; he urges that they should look to God and the Law. He then further suggests that, in the coming affliction which he describes (verses 21, 22), men will generally turn for relief to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:19-22

The confession of ungodliness, etc. The prevalence of the evil and sinister arts of necromancy is exceedingly significant. The attempt to supply knowledge for the living by appealing to the dead ( Isaiah 8:19 ) has been made in every latitude and longitude, in every age, in every condition of society. What is the significance of this fact? We have here— I. THE CONFESSION OF UNGODLINESS AND ITS DEGRADATION . When men have thrown off their allegiance to God, when they have... read more

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