Verse 16
16. Bind (thou) up The Septuagint and the Targum, and the greater majority of commentators, regard this verse as God’s command to the prophet, and Isaiah 8:17 as the prophet’s answer. The reason for the command is, that warnings to the ungodly factions and the duty of Jehovah’s adherents have been sufficiently presented; the divine voice, inwardly heard by the prophet, now urges to close this strain, and to seal up the roll containing the preceding truths the testimony which the mass of the people, in their blindness, do not apprehend, and, in their self-hardening, despise. See note at Isaiah 6:9-10. It is as if God was now saying to Isaiah, “The prophecy is complete; close it up.”
Seal the law The mode of sealing rolls was, by uniting the end to the body of the roll by adhesive paste or glue, then tying the volume with a cord. Daniel 8:26; Daniel 12:4. “The law” is the inspired communication within the roll.
Among my disciples The roll thus bound was to be kept with the adherents of Jehovah and the prophet, who were composed of the few believing people, and the members of the prophetic school at Jerusalem, of which, no doubt, Isaiah was the head. These were witnesses, like those in Isaiah 8:1-4.
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