*H And the Lord said to me: Take thee a great book, and write in it with a man's pen. Take away the spoils with speed, quickly take the prey.
Ver. 1. Book. This mystery would require a large explanation. W. — Pen. Lit. "style." H. — Write intelligibly. Here all is plain. C. — Take. Prot. "concerning Mahershalalchashbaz." Marg. "in making speed to the spoil, he hasteneth the prey." H. — Chashbaz, the son of Isaias, was a sign that Syria and Israel should soon be rendered desolate; and in a more elevated sense, he shewed that Christ should overturn the powers of hell. C. — The virgin's son took the prey from the devil, who before possessed almost all the world. W. — Urias. Probably the high priest, who afterwards weakly complied with the king's idolatrous order. 4 K. xvi. 10. C. — Yet at this time, he was a credible witness. H. — Zacharias. A person to us unknown. C.
*H And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived, and bore a son. And the Lord said to me: Call his name, Hasten to take away the spoils: Make hast to take away the prey.
Ver. 3. Prophetess. The blessed Virgin, (S. Chrys. &c.) or to his wife. He gives his son a different name from Emmanuel, (c. vii. 14.) that they might not be confounded. — Hasten. Heb. Mahershalalchashbaz. v. 1. H.
*H For before the child know to call his father and his mother, the strength of Damascus, and the spoils of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of the Assyrians.
Ver. 4. Assyrians. Theglathphalassar, the next year, took the Damascenes to Kir, and Nephthali, Reuben, Gad, and Manasses into captivity. Yet the kingdom continued some time longer. Never was prediction more explicit. Can the pagans produce any thing similar?
*H Forasmuch as this people hath cast away the waters of Siloe, that go with silence, and hath rather taken Rasin, and the son of Romelia:
Ver. 6. Silence. Being willing to receive Tabeel, instead of their lawful prince. Achaz was then terrified, and chose to become tributary, rather than to lose his crown. Herein both offended God, in whom they ought to have trusted; and the auxiliary king looked upon himself as master of the country. 2 Par. xxviii. 20. C. — Israel had joined with the Syrian; but was reduced to the state of captivity, while Jerusalem was preserved. W.
*H Therefore behold the Lord will bring upon them the waters of the river strong and many, the king of the Assyrians, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and shall overflow all his banks.
Ver. 7. River. Euphrates, (C.) with the overflowing of which the Assyrian is compared. H.
*H And shall pass through Juda, overflowing, and going over shall reach even to the neck. And the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy, land, O Emmanuel.
Ver. 8. Wings. Or troops. — Emmanuel. Christ was born in the country, and Lord of it: though it might be said to belong to the son of Isaias, as being his figure. C.
*H Gather yourselves together, O ye people, and be overcome, and give ear, all ye lands afar off: strengthen yourselves, and be overcome, gird yourselves, and be overcome.
Ver. 9. Overcome. The defeat of Sennacherib, of the Idumeans, &c. under Ezechias, is intimated. 4 K. xviii. 8. and xix. 35.
*H Take counsel together, and it shall be defeated: speak a word, and it shall not be done: because God is with us.
Ver. 10. God. Heb. "Emmanuel." We have a pledge of God's protection.
*H Say ye not: A conspiracy: for all that this people speaketh, is a conspiracy: neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
Ver. 12. Conspiracy. In despair, they wish to submit to the enemy. v. 6. Isaias exhorts them to have recourse rather to the Lord. C.
*H And he shall be a sanctification to you. But for a stone of stumbling, and for a rock of offence to the two houses of Israel, for a snare and a ruin to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Ver. 14. Two. The wicked of both kingdoms, (H.) who choose to revolt from God. Many of Israel were led into captivity, and the territory of Juda was laid waste. C.
* Footnote * Luke 2 : 34
And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be contradicted.* Footnote * Romans 9 : 32
Why so? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were of works. For they stumbled at the stumblingstone.* Footnote * 1_Peter 4 : 6
For, for this cause was the gospel preached also to the dead: That they might be judged indeed according to men, in the flesh: but may live according to God, in the Spirit.*H Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
Ver. 16. Disciples. Let some faithful witnesses keep this prophecy, (H.) that when it is verified, all may be convinced.
*H And I will wait for the Lord, who hath hid his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
Ver. 17. Jacob. Having resolved on their ruin. C.
*H Behold I and my children, whom the Lord hath given me for a sign, and for a wonder in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwelleth in mount Sion.
Ver. 18. I and my two children. C. vii. 3. and viii. 4. H. — The actions of some were prophetical. C. xx. 2. Os. xii. 10. C. — God announces what will happen, by the names of my children, (H.) and by their age, as well as by my mouth. C.
*H And when they shall say to you: Seek of pythons, and of diviners, who mutter in their enchantments: should not the people seek of their God, for the living of the dead?
Ver. 19. Seek of pythons. That is, people pretending to tell future things by a prophesying spirit. — Should not the people seek of their God, for the living of the dead? Here is signified, that it is to God we should pray to be directed, and not to seek of the dead, (that is, of fortune-tellers dead in sin) for the health of the living. Ch. — Mutter. Lit. "use a shrill note," strident. H. — So Horace, (1 Sat. viii.) says—
*H To the law rather, and to the testimony. And if they speak not according to this word, they shall not have the morning light.
Ver. 20. Law. Sealed, (v. 16.) or to the law of Moses. Eccli. xxxiv. 28. C. — Sept. "why do they consult the dead concerning the living? For he gave the law to assist us." H. — Light. They shall die or be miserable. C.
*H And they shall pass by it, they shall fall, and be hungry: and when they shall be hungry, they will be angry, and curse their king, and their God, and look upwards.
Ver. 21. By it. The word of God. H. — God. Elohim means also princes or idols. C. — Whether they seek God unwillingly, or the aid of men, (v. 22.) they shall perish. W.