Isaiah 8:4-7

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 8:4

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 8:4

For before the child - For my father and my mother, one MS. and the Vulgate have his father and his mother. The prophecy was accordingly accomplished within three years; when Tiglath-pileser, king of Assyria, went up against Damascus and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin, and also took the Reubenites and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and carried them captive to Assyria, 2 Kings 15:29 ; 2 Kings 16:9 ; 1 Chronicles 5:26 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 8:6

Forasmuch as this people refuseth "Because this people have rejected" - The gentle waters of Shiloah, a small fountain and brook just without Jerusalem, which supplied a pool within the city for the use of the inhabitants, is an apt emblem of the state of the kingdom and house of David, much reduced in its apparent strength, yet supported by the blessing of God; and is finely contrasted with the waters of the Euphrates, great, rapid, and impetuous; the image of the Babylonian empire, which... 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

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