Isa 8:11-14 | JFB | STEP | 11. with a strong hand —or else, "when He grasped me with His hand" [HORSLEY ]. MAURER , as English Version, "with the impetus of His hand," that is, the felt impulse of His inspiration in my mind ( ). way of . . . people —their distrust of Jehovah, and the panic which led them and Ahab to seek Assyrian aid.

Isaiah 8:11-14

11. with a strong hand—or else, "when He grasped me with His hand" [HORSLEY]. MAURER, as English Version, "with the impetus of His hand," that is, the felt impulse of His inspiration in my mind (Jer 15:17; Eze 1:3; 3:14, 22; 37:1).

way of . . . people—their distrust of Jehovah, and the panic which led them and Ahab to seek Assyrian aid.

12-16. The words of Jehovah.

confederacy—rather, a conspiracy; an appropriate term for the unnatural combination of Israel with Syrian foreigners against Judea and the theocracy, to which the former was bound by ties of blood and hereditary religion [MAURER].

to all . . . say—rather, of all which this people calleth a conspiracy [G. V. SMITH].

their fear—namely, object of fear: the hostile conspiracy.

be afraid—rather [MAURER], "nor make others to be afraid."

13. Sanctify—Honor His holy name by regarding Him as your only hope of safety (Isa 29:23; Nu 20:12).

him . . . fear—"fear" lest you provoke His wrath by your fear of man and distrust of Him.

14. sanctuary—inviolable asylum, like the altar of the temple (1Ki 1:50; 2:28; Eze 11:16; compare Pr 18:10); namely, to those who fear and trust in Him.

but . . . offence—that is, a rock over which they should fall to their hurt; namely those who would not believe.

both . . . houses—Israel and Judah. Here again the prophecy expands beyond the temporary application in Ahaz' time. The very stone, Immanuel, which would have been a sanctuary on belief, becomes a fatal stumbling-block through unbelief. Jesus Christ refers to this in Mt 21:44. (Compare De 32:4, 15, 18, 30, 31, 37; Da 2:34; Ro 9:33; 1Pe 2:8).

gin—trap, in which birds are unexpectedly caught (Lu 21:35; 1Th 5:2). So at the destruction of Jerusalem under Titus.