20. razor--The Assyrians are to be God's instrument of devastating Judea, just as a razor sweeps away all hair before it ([Is 10:5]; [Eze 29:19], ).
hired--alluding to Ahaz' hiring ([2Ki 16:7], ) Tiglath-pileser against Syria and Israel; namely,
by them beyond the river--namely, the Euphrates; the eastern boundary of Jewish geographical knowledge ([Psa 72:8]); the river which Abram crossed; the Nile also may be included ([Is 7:18]) [G. V. Smith]. Gesenius translates, "With a razor hired in the parts beyond the river."
head ... feet--the whole body, including the most honored parts. To cut the "beard" is the greatest indignity to an Easterner ([Is 50:6]; [2Sa 10:4], ; [Eze 5:1]).
Is 7:21-25. The Coming Desolate State of the Land Owing to the Assyrians and Egyptians
21. nourish--that is, own.
young cow--a heifer giving milk. Agriculture shall cease, and the land become one great pasturage.
22. abundance--by reason of the wide range of land lying desolate over which the cows and sheep (including goats) may range.
butter--thick milk, or cream.
honey--(See on [Is 7:15]). Food of spontaneous growth will be the resource of the few inhabitants left. Honey shall be abundant as the bees will find the wild flowers abounding everywhere.
23. where there were, &c.--where up to that time there was so valuable a vineyard as to have in it a 1000 vines, worth a silverling (shekel, about 2s. 3d.; a large price) each, there shall be only briers ([So 8:11]). Vineyards are estimated by the number of the vines, and the goodness of the kind of vine. Judea admits of a high state of cultivation, and requires it, in order to be productive; its present barrenness is due to neglect.
24. It shall become a vast hunting ground, abounding in wild beasts (compare [Jr 49:19]).
25. shall be--rather, "were once."
digged--in order to plant and rear vines ([Is 5:6]).
there shall not come--that is, none shall come who fear thorns, seeing that thorns shall abound on all sides [Maurer]. Otherwise, "Thou shalt not come for fear of thorns" [Gesenius]. Only cattle shall be able to penetrate the briery ground.
lesser cattle--sheep and goats.
Chapter 8
[Is 8:1-9:7].
The first seven verses of the ninth chapter belong to this section. The eighth chapter continues the subject of the seventh chapter, but at a later period (compare [Is 8:4] with [Is 7:16]); implying that the interval till the accomplishment is shorter now than then. The tone of [Is 8:17], 21, 22, expresses calamity more immediate and afflictive than [Is 7:4], 15, 22.
1. great--suitable, for letters large enough to be read by all.
roll--rather, tablet of wood, metal, or stone ([Is 30:8]; [Ha 2:2]); sometimes coated with wax, upon which characters were traced with a pointed instrument, or iron stylus; skins and papyrus were also used ([Is 19:7]).
man's pen--that is, in ordinary characters which the humblest can read (so [Ha 2:2]). Hebrew, enosh means a "common man," is contrasted with the upper ranks ([Re 21:17]; [Ro 3:5]). Not in hieroglyphics. The object was that, after the event, all might see that it had been predicted by Isaiah.
concerning--the title and subject of the prophecy.
Maher-shalal-hash-baz--"They (that is, the Assyrians) hasten to the spoil (namely, to spoil Syria and Samaria), they speed to the prey" [Gesenius]. Otherwise, "The spoil (that is, spoiler) hastens, the rapine speeds forward" [Maurer].
2. I took--rather, "The Lord said to me, that I should take," &c. [Maurer].
Uriah--an accomplice of Ahaz in idolatry, and therefore a witness not likely to assist the prophet of God in getting up a prophecy after the event ([2Ki 16:10]). The witnesses were in order that when the event should come, they might testify that the tablet containing the prophecy had been inscribed with it at the time that it professed.
Zechariah--([2Ch 29:13]).
3. prophetess--perhaps the same as the "virgin" ([Is 7:14]), in the interim married as Isaiah's second wife: this is in the primary and temporary sense. Immanuel is even in this sense distinct from Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Thus nineteen months at least intervene from the prophecy ([Is 7:14]), nine before the birth of Immanuel, and ten from that time to the birth of Maher-shalal-hash-baz: adding eleven or twelve months before the latter could cry, "Father" ([Is 8:4]), we have about three years in all, agreeing with [Is 7:15], .
4. before, &c.--within a year.
6. waters of Shiloah ... softly--Their source is on the southeast of Zion and east of Jerusalem. It means "sent," the water being sent through an aqueduct ([Joh 9:7]). Figurative for the mild, though now weak, sway of the house of David; in the highest sense Shiloah expresses the benignant sway of Jehovah in the theocracy, administered through David. Contrast to the violent Euphrates, "the river" that typifies Assyria ([Is 8:7]; [Re 17:15]). "This people" refers both to Israel, which preferred an alliance with Rezin of Syria to one with the kings of Judah, and to Judah, a party in which seems to have favored the pretentions of the son of Tabeal against David's line ([Is 7:6]); also to Judah's desire to seek an Assyrian alliance is included in the censure (compare [Is 7:17]). [Is 8:14] shows that both nations are meant; both alike rejected the divine Shiloah. Not "My people," as elsewhere, when God expresses favor, but "this people" ([Is 6:9]).
7. therefore--for the reason given in [Is 8:6], the Assyrian flood, which is first to overflood Syria and Samaria, shall rise high enough to reach rebel Judah also ([Is 8:8]).
the river--Euphrates swollen in spring by the melting of the snow of the Armenian mountains (compare [Is 8:6]; [Is 7:20]).
all his glory--Eastern kings travel with a gorgeous retinue.
channels--natural and artificial in the level region, Mesopotamia.
8. pass through--The flood shall not stop at Syria and Samaria, but shall penetrate into Judea.
the neck--When the waters reach to the neck, a man is near drowning; still the head is not said to be overflowed. Jerusalem, elevated on hills, is the head. The danger shall be so imminent as to reach near it at Sennacherib's invasion in Hezekiah's reign; but it shall be spared ([Is 30:28]).
wings--the extreme bands of the Assyrian armies, fulfilled ([Is 36:1]; ).
thy land, O Immanuel--Though temporarily applied to Isaiah's son, in the full sense this is applicable only to Messiah, that Judea is His, was, and still is, a pledge that, however sorely overwhelmed, it shall be saved at last; the "head" is safe even now, waiting for the times of restoration ([Ac 1:6]); at the same time these words imply that, notwithstanding the temporary deliverance from Syria and Israel, implied in "Immanuel," the greatest calamities are to follow to Judah.
9. Associate yourselves--rather, "Raise tumults," or, Rage, that is, Do your worst [Maurer], referring perhaps to the attack of Rezin and Pekah on Jerusalem.
and ... be broken in pieces--rather, "yet ye shall be thrown into consternation." Imperative in the Hebrew, according to the idiom whereby the second of two imperatives implies the future, namely, the consequence of the action contained in the first (so [Is 6:9]). The name "Immanuel" in [Is 8:8] (compare [Is 8:10]) suggests the thought of the ultimate safety of Immanuel's land, both from its present two invaders, and even from the Assyrians, notwithstanding the grievous flood, wherewith the previous verses foretell they shall deluge it. The succession of the house of David cannot be set aside in Judah, for Immanuel Messiah is to be born in it as heir of David, of whom Isaiah's son is but a type ([Is 9:4], ).
give ear ... far countries--witness the discomfiture of Judah's enemies. The prophecy probably looks on also to the final conspiracy of Antichrist and his supporters against the Heir of David's throne in the latter days and their utter overthrow [Horsley].
gird yourselves ... gird yourselves--The repetition expresses vehemently the certainty of their being thrown into consternation (not as English Version, "broken in pieces").
10. the word--of command, for the assault of Jerusalem.
God is with us--"Immanuel" implies this ([Nu 14:9]; [Psa 46:7]).
11. with a strong hand--or else, "when He grasped me with His hand" [Horsley]. Maurer, as English Version, "with the impetus of His hand," that is, the felt impulse of His inspiration in my mind ([Jr 15:17]; [Eze 1:3]; , ; 37:1).