8:1 Moreover the LORD said to me, Take thee a a great roll,
and write in it b with a man's pen concerning
Mahershalalhashbaz.
(a) That you may write in great letters to the intent that
it may be more easily read.
(b) Meaning, after the common fashion, because all men might
read it.
8:2 And I took to me c faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the
priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.
(c) Because the thing was of great importance, he took these
two witnesses, who were of credit with the people, when
he set this up upon the door of the temple, even though
Uriah was a flattering hypocrite, (2Ki 16:11).
8:3 And I went to the d prophetess; and she conceived, and
bore a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name
Mahershalalhashbaz.
(d) Meaning, to his wife and this was done in a vision.
8:4 For before the e child shall have knowledge to cry, My
father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil
of Samaria shall be taken away before the f king of
Assyria.
(e) Before any child is able to speak.
(f) That is, the army of Assyria.
8:6 Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of g Shiloah
that flow gently, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;
(g) Which was a fountain at the foot of mount Zion, out of
which ran a small river through the city: meaning, that
they of Judah distrusting their own power which was
small desired such power and riches as they saw in Syria
and Israel.
8:7 Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the
waters of h the river, strong and many, [even] the king of
Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all
its channels, and go over all its banks:
(h) That is, the Assyrians who dwell beyond Euphrates.
8:8 And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go
over, he shall reach [even] to the i neck; and the spread
of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O k
Immanuel.
(i) It will be ready to drown them.
(k) He speaks this to Messiah, or Christ, in whom the
faithful were comforted and who would not suffer his
Church to be destroyed utterly.
8:9 Associate yourselves, O ye l people, and ye shall be
broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries:
gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird
yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.
(l) That is, you who are enemies to the Church, as the
Assyrians, Egyptians, Syrians etc.
8:11 For the LORD spoke thus to me m with a strong hand, and
instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this
people, saying,
(m) To encourage me that I should not shrink for the
infidelity of this people, and so neglect my office.
8:12 Say ye not, A n confederacy, to all [them to] whom this
people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye o their
fear, nor be afraid.
(n) Consent not you who are godly to the league and
friendship that this people seek with strangers and
idolaters.
(o) Meaning, that they should not fear the thing that they
who have no hope in God feared.
8:13p Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and [let] him [be]
your fear, and [let] him [be] your dread.
(p) In putting your trust only in him, in calling on him in
adversity, patiently looking for his help, and fearing
to do anything contrary to his will.
8:14 And he shall be for a q sanctuary; but for a stone of
stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of
Israel, for a trap and for a snare to the inhabitants of
Jerusalem.
(q) He will defend you who are his elect, and reject all
the rest, meaning Christ against whom the Jews would
stumble and fall, (Lu 2:23, Ro 9:33, 1Pe 2:7,8).
8:16r Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
(r) Though all forsake me, yet you who are mine keep my
word sure sealed in your hearts.
8:18 Behold, I and the s children whom the LORD hath given me
[are] for signs and for wonders in Israel t from the LORD
of hosts, who dwelleth in mount Zion.
(s) Meaning, them who were willing to hear and obey the
word of God whom the world hated, as though they were
monsters and not worthy to live.
(t) This was a consolation in their troubles, knowing that
nothing could come to them, but by the will of the
Lord.
8:19 And when they shall say to you, Seek to them that are
mediums, and to wizards that peep, and that mutter: u
should not a people seek to their God? for the x living
to the dead?
(u) Answer the wicked thus, should not God's people seek
comfort only from him?
(x) That is, will they refuse to be taught by the prophet,
who is the mouth of God, and seek help from the dead,
which is the illusion of Satan?
8:20 To the y law and to the testimony: if they speak not
according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no z
light in them.
(y) Seek remedy in the word of God, where his will is
declared.
(z) They have no knowledge but are blind leaders of the
blind.
8:21 And they shall pass through it, distressed and hungry: and
it shall come to a pass, that when they shall be hungry,
they shall fret themselves, b and curse their king and
their God, and look upward.
(a) That is, in Judah, where they would have had rest, if
they had not thus grievously offended God.
(b) In whom before they put their trust.
8:22 And they shall look to the earth; and behold trouble and
c darkness, dimness of anguish; and [they shall be]
driven to darkness.
(c) They will think that heaven and earth and all creatures
are bent against them to trouble them.
