Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 8:9-15

The prophet here returns to speak of the present distress that Ahaz and his court and kingdom were in upon account of the threatening confederacy of the ten tribes and the Syrians against them. And in these verses, I. He triumphs over the invading enemies, and, in effect, sets them at defiance, and bids them do their worst (Isa. 8:9, 10): ?O you people, you of far countries, give ear to what the prophet says to you in God's name.? 1. ?We doubt not but you will now make your utmost efforts... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:3

And I went unto the prophetess ,.... His wife, so called; not because she prophesied, but because she was the wife of a prophet; and besides, the birth of her son later mentioned, and his name, had in them the nature of a prophecy. The phrase of going unto her is an euphemism, a modest way of expressing the conjugal debt: and she conceived and bare a son ; which Jarchi would have the same with Immanuel in Isaiah 7:14 but this is a later prophecy, and a distinct one from that; and not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:4

For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, my father, and my mother ,.... Which are commonly the first words children learn to say; and so it signifies that what follows should happen in a year or two; as it did: the riches of Damascus, and the spoil of Samaria, shall be taken away before the king of Assyria ; or, "he shall take away the riches" F17 ישא את חיל "asportabit, opulentiam----servus regis Assyriae", Junius & Tremellius "auferet opes----is qui stet coram... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:5

The Lord spake also unto me again ,.... In the same prophecy, or in another; the Targum is, "the Word of the Lord added to speak with me again;' but rather Jehovah the Father, or the Spirit of the Lord, is meant, since the Person speaking is distinguished from Immanuel, Isaiah 8:8 , saying ; as follows: read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:6

Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah, that go softly ,.... The same with Siloam, John 9:7 and so it is called in the Septuagint version here; and the word here used signifies "sent", as it is there interpreted. Jarchi says it is a fountain, whose name was Gihon and Shiloah; see 1 Kings 1:33 concerning which Jerom yet writes, "Siloam is a fountain at the foot of Mount Sion, which does not send forth water continually, but on certain times and days; and comes through... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:7

Now therefore the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many ,.... Alluding to the river Euphrates, which ran by Babylon, which was a large river, full of water, and had a rapid torrent, and so is opposed to Shiloah and its waters; and these waters are explained as follows: even the king of Assyria, and all his glory ; his army, which was his glory, in which he gloried, and by which he got himself honour and glory. It is usual for mighty kings, kingdoms, and... read more

John Gill

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

And he shall pass through Judah ,.... That is, the king of Assyria, compared to a river of mighty waters; who should not only run over and possess the land of Israel, or the ten tribes, but should enter into Judea, and pass through it, as a chastisement for not trusting in the Lord, but sending to Assyria for help; who instead of helping, distressed them in the times of Ahaz, even Tilgathpilneser king of Assyria, 2 Chronicles 28:20 , he shall overflow, and go over ; the whole land of... read more

Group of Brands