Isaiah 8:1-2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 8:1-8

In these verses we have a prophecy of the successes of the king of Assyria against Damascus, Samaria, and Judah, that the two former should be laid waste by him, and the last greatly frightened. Here we have, I. Orders given to the prophet to write this prophecy, and publish it to be seen and read of all men, and to leave it upon record, that when the thing came to pass they might know that God had sent him; for that was one end of prophecy, John 14:29. He must take a great roll, which would... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:1

Moreover the Lord said unto me ,.... This is another prophecy, confirming the same thing that was promised in the preceding chapter Isaiah 7:1 ; namely, safety to the Jews from the two kings of Syria and Israel, which combined against them: take thee a great roll ; or volume, a writing book, a roll of parchment, in which form the ancients used to write, Psalm 40:7 . The Targum renders it, a "table"; a writing table, such an one as Zacharias called for, Luke 1:63 and this was to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:2

And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record ,.... Not his marriage, nor the birth of his son, nor the name he gave him, but the prophecy written in the roll, concerning the spoiling of Syria and Israel, in a very short time; that so, when it came to pass, it might be a clear and certain point that it had been foretold by him: Uriah the priest ; of whom mention is made in 2 Kings 16:10 which some object to, because he proved a wicked man, and obeyed the king's command, contrary to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 8:1

Take thee a great roll "Take unto thee a large mirror" - The word גליון gillayon is not regularly formed from גלל galal , to roll, but from גלה galah , as פדיון pidyon from פדה padah , כליון killayon from כלה , calah , נקיון nikkayon from נקה nakah , עליון elyon from עלה alah , etc., the י yod supplying the place of the radical ה he . גלה galah signifies to show, to reveal; properly, as Schroederus says, (De Vestitu Mulier. Hebr. p.... 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

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