Isaiah 8:22

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 8:22

And they shall look unto the earth ,.... As persons in distress, upwards and downwards, backwards and forwards, on the right hand and on the left, particularly into the land of Judea; a land that used to flow with milk and honey, a land of light, plenty, and prosperity: and behold trouble and darkness ; adversity, and miseries of all kinds, expressed by a variety of words; and even words fail to express the tribulation of these times, which were such as were not from the beginning of the... 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 8:19-22

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:21-22

are supposed by some to be cut of place, and to belong properly to the description of the Assyrian invasion, given in Isaiah 8:7 , Isaiah 8:8 . But this bold solution of a difficulty is scarcely to be commended, there being no limit to its use. An order followed in all the manuscripts should not be disturbed, if it gives any tolerable sense. Such a sense can, it is thought, be found here by regarding the two verses as exegetical of the last clause of Isaiah 8:20 —"when there is no dawn... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:22

They shall look unto the earth. For necessary nutriment, or simply as the place to which downcast and despairing eyes are turned naturally. They shall be driven to darkness. So Kay, who thinks the Captivity is meant; but it seems better to render the whole passage, with Mr. Cheyne, "They shall look to earth, and behold, distress and darkness, gloom of affliction, and thick darkness driven (upon them)." The darkness is spoken of as if it were a thing palpable, like rain or snow (comp. ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 8:22

And they shall look unto the earth - They would look upward and find no relief, and then in despair cast their eyes to the earth to obtain help there. Yet equally in vain. The whole image is one of intense anguish brought on the nation for leaving the counselor the true God.And behold ... - see the note at Isaiah 5:30.Trouble - Anguish, oppression, צרה tsârâh, from צור tsûr, to oppress, to straiten, to afflict. This is a remarkable instance of the prophet Isaiah’s manner - of a rapid,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 8:21-22

Isaiah 8:21-22 . And they The idolatrous and apostate Israelites; shall pass through it Namely, their own land, into captivity; or, as עבר בה may be rendered, shall pass to and fro, or wander hither and thither, in it, like distracted men, not knowing whither to go, or what to do; whereas, if they had not forsaken God, they might have had a quiet and settled abode in it. Hardly bestead and hung r y Hebrew, נקשׁה ורעב , distressed and famished, as Bishop Lowth translates the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:11-22

Judah rejects Isaiah’s preaching (8:11-22)Once again God reminds Isaiah to trust in him alone. Isaiah is not to follow Ahaz and the people, whether in fearing the Israelite-Syrian alliance or in trusting in Judah’s alliance with Assyria (11-12). God should be the means of Judah’s safety; but if the people do not trust in him they will find that he is the means of their destruction (13-15).When neither the king nor the people heed the messages he brings them from God, Isaiah ceases his public... read more

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