Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 1. Dimness "Accumulated darkness"] Either hjdnm menuddechah, fem. to agree with hlpa aphelah; or jdnmh lpa aphel hammenuddach, alluding perhaps to the palpable Egyptian darkness, Exod. x. 21.
The land of Zebulun] Zebulun, Naphtali, Manasseh, that is, the country of Galilee all round the sea of Gennesareth, were the parts that principally suffered in the first Assyrian invasion under Tiglath-pileser; see 2 Kings xv. 29; 1 Chron. v. 26. And they were the first that enjoyed the blessings of Christ's preaching the Gospel, and exhibiting his miraculous works among them. See Mede's Works, p. 101, and 457. This, which makes the twenty-third verse of chap. viii. in the Hebrew, is the first verse in ver. in our authorized version. Bishop Lowth follows the division in the Hebrew.
Matthew Henry Commentary
- Exhortations and warnings. (Is. 8:1-8) Comfort for those who fear God (Is. 8:9-16) Afflictions to idolaters. (Is. 8:17-22)
Is. 8:1-8 The prophet is to write on a large roll, or on a meta tablet, words which meant, "Make speed to spoil, hasten to the prey: pointing out that the Assyrian army should come with speed, and make great spoil. Very soon the riches of Damascus and of Samaria, citie then secure and formidable, shall be taken away by the king of Assyria The prophet pleads with the promised Messiah, who should appear in tha land in the fulness of time, and, therefore, as God, would preserve it in the mean time. As a gentle brook is an apt emblem of a mil government, so an overflowing torrent represents a conqueror an tyrant. The invader's success was also described by a bird of prey stretching its wings over the whole land. Those who reject Christ, wil find that what they call liberty is the basest slavery. But no enem shall pluck the believer out of Emmanuel's hand, or deprive him of his heavenly inheritance.
Is. 8:9-16 The prophet challenges the enemies of the Jews. Their efforts would be vain, and themselves broken to pieces. It concerns us in time of trouble, to watch against all such fears as put us upo crooked courses for our own security. The believing fear of God preserves against the disquieting fear of man. If we thought rightly of the greatness and glory of God, we should see all the power of ou enemies restrained. The Lord, who will be a Sanctuary to those wh trust in him, will be a Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offence, to those who make the creature their fear and their hope. If the things of God be an offence to us, they will undo us. The apostle quotes this a to all who persisted in unbelief of the gospel of Christ, I Pet. 2:8 The crucified Emmanuel, who was and is a Stumbling-stone and Rock of offence to unbelieving Jews, is no less so to thousands who are calle Christians. The preaching of the cross is foolishness in their esteem his doctrines and precepts offend them.
Is. 8:17-22 The prophet foresaw that the Lord would hide his face; but he would look for his return in favour to them again. Though no miraculous signs, the children's names were memorials from God, suite to excite attention. The unbelieving Jews were prone to seek counsel i difficulties, from diviners of different descriptions, whose foolis and sinful ceremonies are alluded to. Would we know how we may seek to our God, and come to the knowledge of his mind? To the law and to the testimony; for there you will see what is good, and what the Lor requires. We must speak of the things of God in the words which the Holy Ghost teaches, and be ruled by them. To those that seek to familiar spirits, and regard not God's law and testimony, there shal be horror and misery. Those that go away from God, go out of the way of all good; for fretfulness is a sin that is its own punishment. The shall despair, and see no way of relief, when they curse God. And their fears will represent every thing as frightful. Those that shut their eyes against the light of God's word, will justly be left to darkness All the miseries that ever were felt or witnessed on earth, are a nothing, compared with what will overwhelm those who leave the words of Christ, to follow delusions _________________________________________________
Original Hebrew כי3588 לא3808 מועף4155 לאשׁר834 מוצק4164 לה כעת6256 הראשׁון7223 הקל7043 ארצה776 זבלון2074 וארצה776 נפתלי5321 והאחרון314 הכביד3513 דרך1870 הים3220 עבר5676 הירדן3383 גליל1551 הגוים׃1471
