βMoreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz. Mahershalalhashbaz: Heb. In making speed to the spoil he hasteneth the prey, or, Make speed, etcβ
Book. This mystery would require a large explanation. (Worthington) β Pen. Literally, βstyle.β (Haydock) β Write intelligibly. Here all is plain. (Calmet) β Take. Protestants, βconcerning Mahershalalchashbaz.β Marginal note, βin making speed to the spoil, he hasteneth the prey.β (Haydock) β 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. (Calmet) β The virginβs son [Jesus Christ] took the prey from the devil, who before possessed almost all the world. (Worthington) β Urias. Probably the high priest, who afterwards weakly complied with the kingβs idolatrous order, 4 Kings xvi. 10. (Calmet) β Yet at this time, he was a credible witness. (Haydock) β Zacharias. A person to us unknown. (Calmet)
βAnd I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz. went: Heb. approachedβ
Prophetess. The blessed Virgin [Mary], (St. Chrysostom, &c.) or to his wife. He gives his son a different name from Emmanuel, (chap. vii. 14.) that they might not be confounded. β Hasten. Hebrew Mahershalalchashbaz, ver. 1. (Haydock)
βFor before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria. the riches: or, he that is before the king of Assyria shall take away the riches, etcβ
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?
βForasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;β
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 Paralipomenon xxviii. 20. (Calmet) β Israel had joined with the Syrian; but was reduced to the state of captivity, while Jerusalem was preserved. (Worthington)
βNow therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:β
River. Euphrates, (Calmet) with the overflowing of which the Assyrian is compared. (Haydock)
βAnd he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel . stretching: Heb. fulness of the breadth of thy land shall be the stretchings out of his wingsβ
Wings. Or troops. β 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. (Calmet)
βAssociate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. people and: or, people, yetβ
Overcome. The defeat of Sennacherib, of the Idumeans, &c., under Ezechias, is intimated, 4 Kings xviii. 8., and xix. 35.
βTake counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.β
God. Hebrew, βEmmanuel.β We have a pledge of Godβs protection.
βSay ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.β
Conspiracy. In despair, they wish to submit to the enemy, ver. 6. Isaias exhorts them to have recourse rather to the Lord. (Calmet)
βAnd he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.β
Two. The wicked of both kingdoms, (Haydock) who choose to revolt from God. Many of Israel were led into captivity, and the territory of Juda was laid waste. (Calmet)
βBind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.β
Disciples. Let some faithful witnesses keep this prophecy, (Haydock) that when it is verified, all may be convinced.
βAnd I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.β
Jacob. Having resolved on their ruin. (Calmet)
βBehold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.β
I and my two children. Chap. vii. 3., and viii. 4. (Haydock) β The actions of some were prophetical, chap. xx. 2., and Osee xii. 10. (Calmet) β God announces what will happen, by the names of my children, (Haydock) and by their age, as well as by my mouth. (Calmet)
βAnd when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?β
Seek of pythons. That is, people pretending to tell future things by a prophesying spirit. β 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. (Challoner) β Mutter. Literally, βuse a shrill note,β strident. (Haydock) β So Horace, (1 Sat. viii.) says: UmbrΔ cum sagana resonarent triste et acutum. β Should. Make this reply: Should, &c.
βTo the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. no: Heb. no morningβ
Law. Sealed, (ver. 16.) or to the law of Moses, Ecclesiasticus xxxiv. 28. (Calmet) β Septuagint, βwhy do they consult the dead concerning the living? For he gave the law to assist us.β (Haydock) β Light. They shall die or be miserable. (Calmet)
βAnd they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.β
By it. The word of God. (Haydock) β God. Elohim means also princes or idols. (Calmet) β Whether they seek God unwillingly, or the aid of men, (ver. 22.) they shall perish. (Worthington)