Isaiah 8 - 10

After Isaiah’s visit with Ahaz, the anxious king of Judah, Isaiah went “home to the prophetess (his wife) and she conceived and gave birth to a son.” When God got the birth announcement, the Lord told Isaiah that “before the boy knows how to say “My father” or “My mother,” the wealth of Damascus (capital of Syria) and the plunder of Samaria (capital of Israel) will be carried off by the king of Assyria.”

And this happened, Israel and Syria were plundered in 734-732 B.C. see 2 Kings 15:29 and 2 Kings 16:7-9. So, when these “signs” were given to the King and they all come true, just as Isaiah predicted, his credibility must have skyrocketed.  In the eyes of the King, Isaiah could do no wrong.  He probably told his secretary or chief of staff that whenever Isaiah called for an appointment, to bring him in as soon as possible. If the king had a smart phone, Isaiah’s number would be on speed dial.

In verses 5-6, God repeats to Isaiah the reason why Judah was being punished. In these passages Judah is said to have “rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and rejoices over Rezin and the son of Remaliah. Therefore, the Lord is about to bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the River-the king of Assyria.”

Sometimes when the ancient writers are trying to make a point by drawing an analogy or using a figure of speech. It doesn’t always translate very well to modern English.

I learned this lesson on my first trip to Belarus.  I couldn’t use figures of speech, cultural references or even try to tell a joke because neither translated very well. I also had to use simple words in short phrases since my interpreters were not professionals.

It reminds me of the book I used in the first grade when learning to read.  The book highlighted three characters, Dick, Jane and Sally along with their dog named Spot.  The sentences were very simple: “Look Jane, look, look, look.  Here comes Spot.” Well, it wasn’t quite that bad in Belarus or Tanzania.

What did it mean when Isaiah wrote, “Because this people have rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah”? This is when a good Bible commentary comes in handy.  I’m using the 780-page Ariel’s Bible Commentary: The Book of Isaiah, by Dr. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum. Another favorite commentary of mine is The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, a twelve-volume set by Frank E. Gaebelein.

The word Shiloah has several meanings, one is “peace.”  That’s why some churches have the word Shiloh in their name.  A church should be a place of peace for members. Isaiah is using this expression to say, “You people have rejected the stable, predictable, peaceful care that God has provided you.”

They rejected God’s care and “rejoiced over Rezin and the son of Remaliah (Pekah).”  Rezin and Pekah were the kings of Syria and Israel who went up against Jerusalem in Judah but failed to take the city during the time of Isaiah (2 Kings 16:5). They both died in 732 B.C.  Judah thought that their troubles were over, but that wasn’t true.

The passage goes on to say that since they rejected the rule of God and thought that their problems were behind them when Rezin and Pekah died, God will soon bring a mighty floodwater in the form of the Assyrian army to overwhelm much of Judah (verses 7-8).

In the rest of the chapter, verses 11-22, Isaiah is reminded to “not follow the way of this people” (verse 11), don’t be intimidated when you are accused of conspiracy or treason (verse 12) don’t fear anyone but God (verse 13), don’t consult with the dead (verse 19).

In Chapter 9 Isaiah jumps ahead in time. In fact, he speaks of the future in the past tense.  This is when he speaks of future events as if the events described had already taken place.  Sometimes this is done to express the certainty of the event.  For instance, when someone threatens another, he might say, “You’re a dead man.” Of course he isn’t really dead, at least not yet, but his demise is certain.

In the following verses he mentions five areas in Galilee that were humbled by the invading Assyrian army.  He then tells them that in spite of their current status, in the future, these areas will become famous. He is referring to places where the Messiah would minister.  In other words, in spite of their current troubles from invaders, there will be a bright future for these towns.  It would be similar to encouraging the residents of bombed out cities in Japan and Germany following World War II that their cities would soon become modern industrial powerhouses, the envy of the world.

Verse 1, “Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.  In the past (in the time of Isaiah) he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future, he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan.”

How will these areas be honored? Verse 2, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.”  The honor is derived because of the presence of Jesus who ministered in these areas and was described as a “light to the Gentiles.”

From the Gospel accounts we learn that Nazareth would be the hometown of the Messiah.  Capernaum, where Peter lived, would be where he would set up his ministry.  The third location is called “by the way of the sea” which refers to the Sea of Galilee, another major area of the Messiah’s ministry. The fourth location is “beyond the Jordan”, the area of Perea. This is the area east of the Jordan where the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh settled.  This is also where Jesus was anointed Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus (Matt. 26:6) on his way to Jerusalem. The last area mentioned is “Galilee of the nations”, this refers to the northernmost border of the land of Israel. Being the northernmost area, it was the first part of Israel to be conquered.  Despite all the gloom and disgrace that would fall upon this region, it will become a major area of Messiah’s ministry (Matt. 4:12-17).

Matt. 4:22-17 says, “When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee.  Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali- to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:  “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles-the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Verse 17, “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’”

Other reasons to rejoice are found in verses 6-7 when Isaiah speaks of the Messiah and his second coming when he will rule the world. Verse 6, “for to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders (this didn’t happen at his first coming). And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  At his first coming Jesus was called a blasphemer by the Jews and a traitor by the Romans. Verse 7, “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” He never did reign over Israel or the world at his first coming.  In fact, the people made their wishes clear. In John 19:14, “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.  “But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”  “Shall I crucify your king?  Pilate asked.  “We have no king but Caesar, the chief priests answered.”

Isaiah goes on to show how those who oppressed them (the Assyrians) will be shattered by God just as was done in the past. This prophecy was fulfilled in 701 B.C. when the oppressive Assyrian army was defeated. Isaiah 37:36 describes their destruction, “Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp.”

In time, all Judah’s enemies: Syria, Israel and Assyria, would be defeated.  It wouldn’t be until another 120 years had passed that Jerusalem itself would be defeated by the Babylonians in 585 B.C. I think the message is clear.  There is someone else in charge of world events and it’s not the feared kings of nations.

Quite often when a prophet brings bad news to their people concerning their future, he will also give them good news about what will happen further down the road.  We might ask how giving a distant prophecy is of any comfort to those alive during the time of Isaiah.  Perhaps it is because in their collectivist culture people focus more on their long-term national situation, rather than their immediate individual hopes and dreams.  We American are more individualistic in our thinking than other cultures, such as those in the far east. We are more concerned about what happens to us here and now than the larger community in the future.

In verse 9 Isaiah turns his attention to the northern Kingdom of Israel. Israel is referred to as Jacob, Ephraim or Samaria. They all mean the same thing.  Jacob was the son of Isaac, and his name was changed to Israel. Israel refers to the northern kingdom which was made up of ten tribes or descendants of Jacob. Ephraim was one of the sons of Israel, whose descendants developed into one of the major tribes of Israel. Samaria was the capital city of the northern Kingdom of Israel and was located in the tribal area of Ephraim.  These names are used interchangeably. It would be like referring to the United States of American as America, the U.S. or sometimes “Washington” or “the states.”

What message does Isaiah have for the northern kingdom of Israel, Ephraim or Samaria?  As you can imagine, it isn’t a positive one.

In Verse 10, we find the Israelites unconcerned about the destruction of their cities.   “The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone. The fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.”

They must have had good insurance coverage without a “War Exclusion Clause” which excludes coverage for acts of war and protects the insurer from catastrophic losses. They think they will not only rebuild their land, but they will also build it better than before, replacing bricks with solid stones and fig trees with cedars.

But it won’t be that easy.  God has other plans.  Verses 14-16, “So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day.” This is another opportunity for a good commentary to shed light on a figure of speech. The head refers to the elders and prominent men, the tail refers to the prophets (verse 15). Those who were responsible for the leadership of the people are under condemnation. Does the expression, “To whom much is given, much is required” come to mind?  Verse 16, “Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray. But the common citizen was not without guilt.  Verse 17, “For everyone is ungodly and wicked, every mouth speaks vileness.”

The result will be, verse 19, “By the wrath of the Lord Almighty the land will be scorched, and the people will be fuel for the fire; no one will spare his brother.” Things will get so bad that they will turn to cannibalism. Verse 20, “On the right they will devour, but still be hungry; on the left they will eat but not be satisfied.  Each will feed on the flesh of his own offspring.”

Chapter ten focuses on the unjust and oppressive laws that corrupt leaders impose on their people. Verse 1, “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.”

The Law of Moses decreed special protection for these people, those who are poor and powerless.  Ex. 22:22-24, “Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless.  If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows and your children fatherless.”  The apostle James tells us in James 1:26, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”  These people were not looking after orphans and widows.  They weren’t just ignoring their needs; they were oppressing them.  And they knew better.  James 4:11 says that “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”

Isaiah then goes on to ask the oppressors (verse 3), “What will you do on the day of reckoning, when disaster comes from afar?  To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?”  I would suggest that they don’t run to those whom they oppressed. They probably wouldn’t get a very warm reception.

Isaiah then turns his attention to the Assyrians, the very people who God will use to punish Israel. Verses 5-6, “Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath. I send him against a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder and to trample them down like mud in the streets.”

God can use anyone he chooses to do his will. But sometimes the one he uses to discipline his people has a different motive in mind. Verse 7, “But this is not what he (the Assyrians) intends, this is not what he has in mind; his purpose is to destroy, to put an end to many nations.”

He used the Assyrians to punish Israel, not destroy it. In time He will use another nation, the Babylonians, to destroy the Assyrians and then He will use the Greeks to destroy the Babylonians. And so it goes, empire after empire.

Verse 12, “When the Lord has finished all his work against Mount Zion and Jerusalem, he will say, “I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes.”

We see the same thing in the book of Habakkuk.  Habakkuk asked God why he hadn’t stepped in to put an end to the evil in Judah.  God responded that He had a plan in place and a schedule and would be using the Babylonians to punish Judah.  Habakkuk was shocked and asked how He could use such an evil people as the Babylonians to do his work.  God said, in effect, that when he was done using the Babylonians he would punish them, also.

There’s an expression that says, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”  We saw this in World War II when the U.S. and Britain teamed up with the Soviet Union to fight a common enemy, Nazi Germany.

Verse 16 describes what would happen to the Assyrian army. “Therefore, the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will send a wasting disease upon his sturdy warriors.” This event was recorded in Isa. 37:36 where 185,000 members of the Assyrian army led by King Sennacherib died in 701 B.C.  After which the remains of the army broke camp and returned to Nineveh and stayed there. Then, one day while the king was in his temple, his sons came and killed him.

In verses 20-21 we see again Isaiah jumping ahead in time. “In that day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of the house of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down (the Assyrians) but will truly rely on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.  A remnant will return, remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God.”

The expression, “In that day” put the regeneration of Israel beyond the time of the Assyrian Empire.  Isaiah uses the same words in Isa. 28:14-22 to describe the tribulation at the end of the age.

The point is, the Jews will survive.  As Israel once leaned upon the Assyrians for help, they will one day, during the tribulation, lean upon the Antichrist.  The remnant of Israel refers to the one third of the Jewish population that will survive the tribulation (Zech. 13:7-9).  Those who survive and come to faith in Jesus and will no longer lean upon those who struck them down.

Verses 24-25, “O my people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians, who beat you with a rod and lift up a club against you, as Egypt did.  Very soon my anger against you will end and my wrath will be directed to their destruction.”

In Verses 28-31 Isaiah describes the approach of the Assyrian army listing the cities from north to south towards Jerusalem, a distance of about 30 miles.  Verse 32, “This day they will halt at Nob; they will shake their fist at the mount of the Daughters of Zion, at the hill of Jerusalem.”

Nob is modern-day Mount Scopus which has been strategically important as a base from which to attack the city of Jerusalem. It’s only about three miles from Jerusalem.

The Assyrians will “shake their fist” in frustration when they are stopped in their tracks, able to see Jerusalem just three miles away but they couldn’t get any closer.



In World War II the German army had a similar experience when they were within a short distance from Moscow. They could see with binoculars the cupolas of St. Basils Cathedral in Red Square but couldn’t go any further. The offensive against Moscow failed because, as German General Heinz Guderian wrote, "We underestimated the enemy's strength, as well as his size and climate.” The winter was the coldest of the 20th century with reported temperatures as low as -49F. One has to wonder if there were outside influences on the weather.