INTRODUCTION Because of King Ahaz’s lack of faith in Yahweh, and his trust in power politics, swift judgment is coming on Judah. Yet, Judah’s defeat will not be final. God is with His people even in this, and the nations will be shattered as swiftly as they have plundered Israel. THE . . . . Continue Reading »
Isaiah 8:1-3 is puzzling. Yahweh tells Isaiah to take a large tablet (Heb. gillayon ) and write “with the stylus of a man” the phrase Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Isaiah doesn’t write anything, but instead “approoached the prophetess” so that she conceives and gives birth to . . . . Continue Reading »
My colleague Chris Schlect suggested an interesting take on Yahweh’s threat to shave the beard from Judah, using the rented razor of Assyria (Isaiah 7:20). In Assyria, beardless men were eunuchs. Assyria will not only take men from Judah to be slaves, but will castrate them. That makes senses . . . . Continue Reading »
Whose heart is shaken by the report of the invasion of Aram and Israel (Isaiah 7:2)? The antecedent is not Ahaz, but the “house of David.” What is the “heart” of the house of David? Is it the temple, or perhaps even more specifically, the Most Holy Place? That would fit with . . . . Continue Reading »
Is Isaiah 7:22 a promise of abundance, a restoration of the land, or a continuation of the threat of invasion and devastation? Are curds and honey the food of Israel in Yahweh’s fruitful land, or the food of the beleaguered remnant? Both. And the proof is in verse 18. Yahweh is bringing bees . . . . Continue Reading »
Yahweh hisses for the beasts and flies and bees that invade Judah (Isaiah 5:26; 7:18). Jerusalem is left desolate, and everyone who passes by hisses in contempt (see Jeremiah 19:8). Someday, Yahweh promises to hiss again and gather His people back to the city of hissing (Zechariah 10:8). . . . . Continue Reading »
Isaiah threatens “days” against Ahaz worse than anything that has happened since Israel and Judah separated (7:17). King, people, and dynasty are threatened by these coming “days.” At the end of the verse, in apposition to the warning about coming “days,” Isaiah . . . . Continue Reading »
Isaiah 7:16 is a puzzle. A child will be born (v. 14), and before he is grown up (so the NASB says) “the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken.” What land would that be? Perhaps the land of Israel and Aram, but while that meets the threat to Ahaz, it does so indirectly. The AV . . . . Continue Reading »
Yahweh instructs Isaiah to meet Ahaz at the “conduit of the upper pool” (7:3; Heb. te’alat habberekah ha’elyon ). It’s the same place where the Rabshakeh will later confront Hezekiah (Isaiah 36:2). The location underscores the contrast of Ahaz and his son. The name of . . . . Continue Reading »
What makes you quiver? It’s a fundamental question. Isaiah sees Yahweh enthroned, and hears the voice of thunder that makes the posts of the house to quiver (6:4). Elsewhere, Yahweh makes the idols of Egypt shake in fear (19:1), and the earth itself (24:20). The wine of His judgment makes . . . . Continue Reading »
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