1 Commentary and Questions by Clyde M Miller The Sign of Maher-shalal-haz-baz Isaiah 8:1-22 Isaiah 9:1a
2 Text: Isaiah 8:1-22, Isaiah 7:1 9:7, The Syro-Ephraimitic War Part 2, Isaiah 8:1 9:1a The Sign of Maher-shalal-hash-baz Commentary and Questions by Clyde M. Miller 1. The LORD said to me, "Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary pen: Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. 2. And I will call in Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah as reliable witnesses for me." 3. Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the LORD said to me, "Name him Maher-Shalal- Hash-Baz. 4. Before the boy knows how to say 'My father' or 'My mother,' the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria." 5. The LORD spoke to me again: 6. "Because this people has rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and rejoices over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, 7. therefore the Lord is about to bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the River the king of Assyria with all his pomp. It will overflow all its channels, run over all its banks 8. and sweep on into Judah, swirling over it, passing through it and reaching up to the neck. Its outspread wings will cover the breadth of your land, O Immanuel!"
3 9. Raise the war cry, you nations, and be shattered! Listen, all you distant lands. Prepare for battle, and be shattered! Prepare for battle, and be shattered! 10. Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us. 11. The LORD spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said: 12. "Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. 13. The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, 14. and he will be a sanctuary; but for both houses of Israel he will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare. 15. Many of them will stumble; they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured." 16. Bind up the testimony and seal up the law among my disciples. 17. I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in him. 18. Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion. 19. When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20. To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. 21. Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. 22. Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness. NIV
4 Isaiah 9:1a, The LORD said to me, "Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary pen: NIV Introduction: Isaiah 7:1-25, When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it. Now the house of David was told, "Aram has allied itself with Ephraim"; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind. Then the LORD said to Isaiah, "Go out, you and your son Shear- Jashub, to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Washerman's Field. Say to him, 'Be careful, keep calm and don't be afraid. Do not lose heart because of these two smoldering stubs of firewood because of the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah. Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah's son have plotted your ruin, saying, "Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it." Yet this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "'It will not take place, it will not happen, for the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is only Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people. The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah's son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.'" Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, "Ask the LORD your God for a sign, whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights." But Ahaz said, "I will not ask; I will not put the LORD to the test." Then Isaiah said, "Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will eat curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right. But before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong
5 and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste. The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away from Judah he will bring the king of Assyria." In that day the LORD will whistle for flies from the distant streams of Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria. They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices in the rocks, on all the thornbushes and at all the water holes. In that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the River [f] the king of Assyria to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to take off your beards also. In that day, a man will keep alive a young cow and two goats. And because of the abundance of the milk they give, he will have curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds and honey. In that day, in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels, there will be only briers and thorns. Men will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns. As for all the hills once cultivated by the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns; they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where sheep run. NIV It is well to review past events in Isaiah s prophecy concerning the Syro-Ephraimitic War, and their connection with the sign of Mahershalal-hash-baz. Rezin of Syria and Pekah of North Israel planed war against Jerusalem, and Ahaz and Judah were afraid of them (Isa. 7:1-2). Isaiah told Ahaz to trust in God, because the plans of these two would come to nothing if he would only believe (7:3-9). Ahaz did not take heed, but decided to send to Tiglath-Pileser for help (7:10-12). Isaiah made a second attempt to dissuade Ahaz (7:10-25). Commentary: Isaiah 8:1, 2, The LORD said to me, "Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary pen: Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. And I
6 will call in Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah as reliable witnesses for me." NIV In verses 1-2, the Lord tells Isaiah to take a large scroll and write on it the name Maher-shalal-hash-baz. It is to be large so that everyone can definitely read it. Isaiah was careful to secure reliable witnesses so that it would be clear that he was following God s instructions. Isaiah 8:3, 4, Then I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. And the LORD said to me, "Name him Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. Before the boy knows how to say 'My father' or 'My mother,' the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria." NIV In verses 3-4, we must assume that Isaiah followed Yahweh s instruction to have a child by the prophetess, and it is definite that the Lord told him the name to give the son. There is no evidence that the phrase, the prophetess, refers to one who actually prophesied, but she stands as a prophetic sign to the people. The name means Speeds the spoil, Hastens the prey, with emphasis on the verbs. It signifies that before the son is old enough to talk, that is, by the time he is about a year old, the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria. Damascus, the capital of Syria, and Samaria, the capital of North Israel, are metonymies of those two allies that had planned war against Judah. These plans will be thwarted by Assyria. Isaiah 8:5, 6, The LORD spoke to me again: "Because this people has rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and rejoices over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, NIV In verses 5-6, Isaiah quotes the words that the Lord spoke to him concerning the consequence of Judah s rejecting His counsel given through Isaiah. The gently flowing waters of Shiloah (v. 6) were the waters of the Gihon spring that were used as a symbol of the quiet
7 presence of God among His people. Rather than accepting the quiet voice of God, they had feared the thundering threats of Rezin and Pekah, the son of Remaliah. The phrase, rejoices over Rezin and the son of Remaliah probably refers to their rejoicing over the spoils of them made by Assyria. It is not necessary to emend the text, as the RSV does. The thought is that their rejoicing will be turned to mourning. Isaiah 8:7, 8, therefore the Lord is about to bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the River the king of Assyria with all his pomp. It will overflow all its channels, run over all its banks and sweep on into Judah, swirling over it, passing through it and reaching up to the neck. Its outspread wings will cover the breadth of your land, O Immanuel!" NIV The turbulence of Assyria (vv. 7-8) will almost consume Judah. However, there will be a remnant that survives. The symbolic waters of Assyria will come up to the neck, but they will not go over the head of Judah. Since Immanuel is referred to in direct address in verse 8, he had already been born, and would be among the very few survivors in Judah following Assyria s invasion. Isaiah 8:8-10, and sweep on into Judah, swirling over it, passing through it and reaching up to the neck. Its outspread wings will cover the breadth of your land, O Immanuel!" Raise the war cry, you nations, and be shattered! Listen, all you distant lands. Prepare for battle, and be shattered! Prepare for battle, and be shattered! Devise your strategy, but it will be thwarted; propose your plan, but it will not stand, for God is with us. NIV In verses 8-10, the nations are addressed through the literary apostrophe (addressing an audience not present). The message is actually to Judah. The remnant left in Judah will not be devastated by these nations, for, God is with us (Heb. Immanuel). This shows the signifi-
8 cance of the name Immanuel for Judah in Isaiah s day. The verbal interpretation is made clear in verse 10, rather than the nominal form. Matthew 1:23, "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" which means, "God with us." NIV John 10:30, I and the Father are one." NIV John 6:38, For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. NIV Hebrews 2:14-18, Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death that is, the devil and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham's descendants. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. NIV The New Testament Immanuel is Christ (Mt. 1:23). The nominal form is appropriate in this case. During his earthly sojourn, Christ was both God and man. Jesus declared, I and the Father are one (Jn. 10:30), meaning He had the same nature and design as the Father. Jesus submitted himself to God (Jn. 6:38), which shows that they were not the same person. The Hebrew writer tells us that Christ shares our humanity so that by his death he might become our Savior (Heb. 2:14-18). Isaiah 8:11-15, The LORD spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said: "Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The LORD Al-
9 mighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread, and he will be a sanctuary; but for both houses of Israel he will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall. And for the people of Jerusalem he will be a trap and a snare. Many of them will stumble; they will fall and be broken, they will be snared and captured." NIV 1 Peter 3:14, 15, But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, NIV Isaiah 8:17, 18, I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in him. Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion. NIV Hebrews 2:13, And again, "I will put my trust in him." And again he says, "Here am I, and the children God has given me." NIV 1 Peter 2:8, and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message which is also what they were destined for. NIV In verses 12-15, Isaiah addresses his followers, telling them not to fear or dread the conspiracy of Syria and North Israel (v. 12), but the Lord is the one they are to fear and dread (v. 13). This verse is quoted by Peter, telling Christians not to fear opposition to the gospel (1 Peter 3:14-15). The use in 1 Peter is the use of familiar words in a different context. In like manner, I will put my trust in him (Isa. 8:17c), and Here am I, and the children God has given me (Isa. 8:18a) are
10 quoted in Hebrews 2:13. God will be a sanctuary for the faithful in both houses of Israel, that is, North Israel and Judah, (14a,b), but he will be a stone of stumbling to unbelieving (14c,d). For the people of Jerusalem who are unfaithful he will be a trap and a snare (14e,f), and a stumbling stone (v. 15). Verses 14-15 are also reflected in principle in 1 Peter 2:8. Isaiah 8:16, 17, Bind up the testimony and seal up the law among my disciples. I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in him. NIV In verses 16-17, Isaiah instructs one of his disciples to preserve his pronouncements about the Syria-Israel conflict until they are fulfilled, so that they will be verified a coming from God. Apparently, verse 17a means that Isaiah will no longer preach about the Syro- Ephraimitic situation. As for Isaiah, he will put his faith in the Lord (17c). Isaiah 8:18, Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion. NIV In verse 18, Isaiah s children are designated as signs and symbols. Shear-jashub signified that a remnant would return to God, and Maher-shalal-hash-baz signified the defeat of Israel and Syria by Assyria. Isaiah 8:19-22, When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and
11 darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness. NIV Isaiah 9:1a, Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. NIV In verses 19-22, Isaiah tells his disciples not to believe those who attempt to find solution to their problems by means of mediums and spiritists. The people should consult the living God rather than these dead sources of information (v. 19). Men must consult God s law and testimony if they desire the truth about their situation (v. 20). This fact holds true for all times and situations. When this standard is forsaken, there is no spiritual light remaining. Those who seek help from false sources will suffer severely, and they will curse their king (Ahaz) who had failed them. Apparently, the last term in verse 21 refers to the false god consulted by the mediums, etc., and thus should not be capitalized in the text. There will be nothing but spiritual darkness for these unfaithful ones (v. 22). In contrast, there will be no more gloom for the faithful remnant (9:1a).
12 Questions by Clyde M. Miller Isaiah 8:1-22 Isaiah 9:1a 1. What is the meaning of the name, Maher-shalal-hash-baz? 2. By the time this child is about a year old, what would happen to the wealth of Damascus/Syria and the plunder of Samaria/North Israel? _ 3. What does the literary device called apostrophe mean? 4. What does the verbal form of Immanuel mean?
13 5. What is the significance of this name for the Old Testament context? 6. Who is the New Testament Immanuel? 7. What is the significance of the name Immanuel for the New Testament context? 8. What Bible passage shows that Christ and God were one in nature and design?
14 9. In your own words, what does the above passage say? 10. What Bible passage shows that Christ and God were not the same person? 11. In your own words, what does the above passage say? 12. How does the apostle Peter use Isaiah 8:13? 13. In your own words, what does the above passage say?
15 14. How does the Hebrew writer in the New Testament use Isaiah 8:17 and 18? 15. What does Isaiah 8:20 say we must use as our standard of faith and conduct?