Isa 9:1-7 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 9:1-7: 9:1-7 Beyond destruction there is hope. In the Messiah’s kingdom, the darkness would give way to great light, which was to dawn in Galilee and reach the whole nation, and then the whole world. The Messiah’s rule would be marked by the vindication of the oppressed and the end of all oppression. He would bring justice and righteousness forever in a kingdom of peace. 9:1 Zebulun and Naphtali were northern tribes in Israel (Judg 6:35 ). They were humbled by the Assyrian invaders under Tiglath-pileser III in 734 and 732 BC . In Jesus’ lifetime, this prophecy was connected with his coming out of Galilee (Matt 4:14-16 ). • Galilee of the Gentiles was the region of Israel between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean Sea. It was heavily influenced—culturally, religiously, and politically

Summary for Isa 9:1-7: 9:1-7 ^a Beyond destruction there is hope. In the Messiah’s kingdom, the darkness would give way to great light, which was to dawn in Galilee and reach the whole nation, and then the whole world. The Messiah’s rule would be marked by the vindication of the oppressed and the end of all oppression. He would bring justice and righteousness forever in a kingdom of peace. 9:1 ^b Zebulun and Naphtali were northern tribes in Israel (Judg 6:35 ^c). They were humbled by the Assyrian invaders under Tiglath-pileser III in 734 and 732 BC. In Jesus’ lifetime, this prophecy was connected with his coming out of Galilee (Matt 4:14-16 ^d).

• Galilee of the Gentiles was the region of Israel between the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean Sea. It was heavily influenced—culturally, religiously, and politically—by the surrounding Gentile nations.
9:4 ^e The people experienced the rule of other nations as a yoke of ... slavery and a heavy burden (Jer 30:8 ^f).

• oppressor’s rod: In Isa 10:5 ^g, the Assyrians are called “the rod of [the Lord’s] anger.” Just as God’s anger will cease, so will Assyria’s oppression of Judah (14:5 ^h).

• The Lord had destroyed the army of Midian through Gideon (see Judg 6:35 ⁱ; 7:22-25 ^j).
9:5 ^k Burning the boots and uniforms marked the end of the need for instruments of war.
9:6 ^l a child is born to us, a son is given to us: This child, the Messiah, would be David’s descendant (11:1 ^m).

• he will be called: These names can be read as four throne names, signifying the nature of the child’s rule: (1) The Wonderful Counselor conforms to God’s wisdom (11:1 ⁿ; 25:1 ^o; 28:29 ^p; 40:13 ^q), unlike the counselors of Judah (1:26 ^r; 3:3 ^s). (2) Mighty God is an affirmation of the Messiah’s divine nature. (3) He cares for his children as the Everlasting Father, the father whose care continues forever (cp. 22:21 ^t; 63:16 ^u). (4) The Prince of Peace is a leader who brings peace.

• Alternatively, the four names could be collapsed into two: (1) “A Wonderful Counselor [is] the Mighty God”; and (2) “the Everlasting Father [is] a Prince of Peace” (on his nature, see 11:1-9 ^v).

• Jesus Christ, the Son of David (Matt 1:1 ^w; Luke 1:32 ^x; see also Isa 7:14 ^y; 8:3 ^z, 18 ^aa), will bring in the kingdom of his peace (Rev 19 ^ab).
9:7 ^ac Like Ahaz, this ruler will be a descendant of David. Unlike Ahaz and the rulers of Jerusalem (1:21-23 ^ad), he would trust God and rule with justice and righteousness (11:1-3 ^ae). Jesus the Messiah reigns for all eternity (Luke 1:32-33 ^af).