Isaiah 8:11-12

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 8:11

For the Lord spake thus to me with a strong hand ,.... In the strength of prophecy, as the Targum explains it; and so all the Jews' interpreters understand it of prophecy, as in Ezekiel 1:3 , or, "the Lord spake thus to me, when he took (me) by the hand" F20 בחזקת היד "apprehensione manus", Piscator; "cum manu me apprehenderit", Tigurine version. ; as parents or masters take hold of the hands of children, while they are advising and instructing them, as expressive of their great... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 8:12

Say ye not, a confederacy ,.... With the king of Assyria, or any other; do not cry it up as a right thing, and express pleasure and satisfaction in it, and encourage others to come into it, and vote for it, and declare an approbation of it; or a "rebellion", as the Targum, that is, against Ahaz; and so deliver up the kingdom of the house of David into the hands of its enemies: to all them to whom this people shall say, a confederacy : who either were for entering into an alliance with... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 8:11

With a strong hand "As taking me by the hand" - Eleven MSS., (two ancient), of Kennicott's, thirty-four of De Rossi's, and seven editions, read כחזקת kechezkath ; and so Symmachus, the Syriac, and Vulgate. Or rather with a strong hand, that is, with a strong and powerful influence of the prophetic Spirit. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 8:12

Say ye not, A confederacy "Say ye not, It is holy" - קשר kesher . Both the reading and the sense of this word are doubtful. The Septuagint manifestly read קשה kashah ; for they render it by σκληρον , hard. The Syriac and Chaldee render it מרדא merda , and dn מרוד merod , rebellion. How they came by this sense of the word, or what they read in their copies, is not so clear. But the worst of it is, that neither of these readings or renderings gives any clear sense in this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:5-15

God with us. The prophet looks out on the troubled prospect as on a deluge, amidst which the ark of promise carrying the elect, the remnant, the Church of the faithful and chosen, is seen riding. I. TEMPORAL ALLUSIONS . 1. The foreign sympathies of the people . Tired of the inefficient reign of Ahaz, they watch for the approach of the two northern kings with interest. They have forgotten their patriotism, which once rallied round the house of David as a political and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:11

For the Lord. Mr. Cheyne regards this passage as "a short oracle, complete in itself," and entirely unconnected with what has preceded. But the initial ki , "for," is in that case inexplicable. Spake thus to me with a strong hand ; literally, with strength of hand—i.e. laying a strong grasp upon him; and, as it were, constraining him to attend (comp. Ezekiel 1:3 ; Ezekiel 3:14 , Ezekiel 3:22 , etc.). That I should not walk in the way of this people . Isaiah was bidden not to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:11-15

Our personal relation to God. It is clearly insufficient to know that we are on the same side as that of the majority of the good. The voice of God's people is not always his voice; their way not always his way ( Isaiah 8:11 ). They may call for "a confederacy" when he disapproves of it. They may cry "peace" when he sees only present confusion and future disaster. They may be shaken with fear when they ought to be calm and trustful ( Isaiah 8:12 ). They may be full of complacency when... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:11-16

THE GROUNDS OF ISAIAH 'S CONFIDENCE . Having declared his absolute confidence, not only that the attack of Pekah and Rezin will fail ( Isaiah 8:1-4 ), but that Assyria also ( Isaiah 8:8 ), nay, that all the nations of the earth ( Isaiah 8:9 ) will fail, and bring destruction upon themselves, if they "devise devices" against God's true people, the prophet explains the ground of his confidence by relating a special "instruction" which he had received from God some time... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 8:12

Say ye not . The transition from the singular to the plural is noticeable. It implies that Isaiah did not stand alone, but had followers—a "little flock," it may be—but still enough to give him the support of sympathy (comp. verse 16). A confederacy ; rather, treason , or conspiracy (see 2 Samuel 15:12 ; 1 Kings 16:20 ; 2 Kings 11:12 ; 2 Kings 12:20 ; Jeremiah 11:9 ; Ezekiel 22:25 , etc.). The command is, not to call a course of conduct treasonable simply because the people... read more

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