Tyndale Open Study Notes

Verse 1

8:1 The meaning of the name Maher-shalal-hash-baz (“Swift to plunder and quick to carry away”) applies both to Judah’s enemies (8:4) and to Judah itself (8:7-8). They had trusted Assyria in place of God, and now Assyria would turn on them and all but destroy them. God was with them (Immanuel; see 7:14), but his presence would be destructive if they refused to trust in him (see 8:14).

Verse 3

8:3 my wife: Literally the prophetess. • Like the name Immanuel (7:14), Maher-shalal-hash-baz is symbolic. It is possible that this child was the partial fulfillment of the Immanuel prophecy as well (see study note on 7:14). The ultimate fulfillment of the Immanuel prophecy occurred with the birth of Jesus (Matt 1:22-23).

Verse 4

8:4 before this child is old enough: See also 7:16. • Damascus and Samaria were ruined and destroyed in 732 BC, fulfilling this verse along with 7:8, 19-20.

Verse 5

8:5-10 This prophecy connects the sign of Maher-shalal-hash-baz with the sign of Immanuel (8:8, 10).

Verse 6

8:6 The gently flowing waters of Shiloah supplied Jerusalem with water. Here they represent God’s loving presence and provision (see Ps 46:4). • Ahaz rejected the sign and the promise of God’s protection. He was not a man of faith (Isa 7:9), and now the people were following in his footsteps by placing their hope in Assyria to save them from King Rezin and King Pekah (cp. 7:7-9, 16).

Verse 7

8:7 The mighty flood from the Euphrates River represents the invading Assyrian army (see Jer 47:2). The river would overflow all its channels when the Assyrians marched deep into Judah. This stood as a frightening contrast with the gently flowing waters of Shiloah (Isa 8:6).

Verse 8

8:8 chin deep: Judah barely survived the Assyrian assaults in 701 BC (see chs 36–37). • submerging your land from one end to the other: From north to south, Judah was nearly devastated, except for the city of Jerusalem (see 1:8-9; chs 36–37). • Immanuel: Despite their failure to trust him and the disaster it brought, God was still with his people (see 7:14).

Verse 9

8:9-10 God’s plan to rescue his stubborn people would ultimately be fulfilled. God planned to destroy Assyria, just as he does every other proud nation that rejects him or boasts in its own power.

Verse 10

8:10 God is with us: See 7:14; 8:8.

Verse 11

8:11-15 This text reveals the heart of Isaiah’s message. The issue was fear of the Lord versus fear of people (see 7:9; 8:6). When an individual fears people, the Lord becomes a trap and destruction is certain (cp. Prov 29:25; see “Fearing People” Theme Note). For those who fear the Lord, he becomes a sanctuary; their salvation is assured.

Verse 12

8:12 People regarded Isaiah’s message of non-involvement with Assyria as treasonous, part of a conspiracy. But Isaiah was not trying to play political games; rather, he proclaimed God’s message. • What frightens them was the alliance of Syria and Israel attacking Judah (see 7:1, 4).

Verse 13

8:13 To make the Lord . . . holy meant giving him first place in life and acknowledging that nothing is greater than he is. • Fear of God means reverencing him as God (Prov 1:7). The people of Judah were not to fear Israel and Syria or the Assyrians (Isa 7:9; 10:24).

Verse 14

8:14 He will keep you safe (literally he will be a sanctuary): God is a place of refuge. • stone . . . stumble . . . rock . . . fall: By trusting Assyria rather than God, the people of Jerusalem would find themselves in a trap and a snare as the Assyrians turned against them. For those who trust in the Lord, however, he is faithful and strong (28:16; see Ps 118:22-23; Luke 2:34; Rom 9:32-33; 1 Pet 2:6-8).

Verse 16

8:16-17 The command to preserve Isaiah’s teaching suggests that it was harshly received by his contemporaries, who might have wanted to snuff it out. Faithful disciples safely preserved the prophet’s messages.

8:16 instructions (Hebrew torah): The Torah defined Israel’s covenant relationship with God, but the people were quick to forget (see also 1:10).

Verse 17

8:17 I will wait for the Lord . . . I will put my hope in him: Isaiah’s message against Syria, Israel, and Assyria would be proven true in the historical events that followed. The fulfillment would further encourage the godly to await the final downfall of all ungodly power structures (see 8:9-10). Waiting for the Lord requires submission, prayer, hope, and faith (see 25:9; 26:8; 33:2), resulting in a quiet spirit and a renewal of inner strength (40:31). The book of Hebrews applies these words to Jesus Christ (Heb 2:13). • God had turned away; the people of Israel and Judah were alienated from the Lord because of their sin.

Verse 18

8:18 I and the children the Lord has given me (see the application to Jesus Christ in Heb 2:13): The names of the prophet Isaiah and his children carried significance as signs and warnings. Shear-jashub (a remnant will return; 7:3) was a sign of God’s faithfulness to Judah. Maher-shalal-hash-baz (swift to plunder and quick to carry away) signified the destruction of Damascus and Samaria (8:1-4) and the desolation of faithless Judah (8:5-8). The name of Isaiah (Yahweh is salvation) itself signifies that salvation is from the Lord alone. These three names also represent major themes in the book: the remnant, the desolation of Judah, and salvation. Immanuel (God is with us) embodies all of these themes, along with the idea that Judah would be protected if only it would trust in the Lord.

Verse 19

8:19-22 Isaiah contrasts his counsel with that of his ungodly contemporaries. Isaiah’s message gives light, whereas the message of the spiritists led to darkness and death. • Mediums used various means of divination, including summoning the dead, in the attempt to determine the future (see 19:3). God had banned these useless activities (47:9; Deut 18:9-11).

Verse 20

8:20 God gave instructions and teachings through the law and through his prophets, such as Isaiah (see 8:16).