The Coming Assyrian Invasion

Then the Lord said to me, “Take a large tablet (A)and write on it in common characters,[a] ‘Belonging to Maher-shalal-hash-baz.’[b] And (B)I will get reliable witnesses, (C)Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah, to attest for me.”

And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, (D)“Call his name Maher-shalal-hash-baz; (E)for before the boy knows how to cry ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the (F)wealth of (G)Damascus and the spoil of (H)Samaria will be carried away before the king of Assyria.”

The Lord spoke to me again: “Because this people has refused the waters of (I)Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over (J)Rezin and the son of Remaliah, therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them (K)the waters of (L)the River,[c] mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it (M)will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks, and it will sweep on into Judah, it will overflow and pass on, (N)reaching even to the neck, and its (O)outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, (P)O Immanuel.”

Be broken,[d] you peoples, and (Q)be shattered;[e]
    give ear, all you far countries;
strap on your armor and be shattered;
    strap on your armor and be shattered.
10 Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing;
    speak a word, (R)but it will not stand,
    for God (S)is with us.[f]

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 8:1 Hebrew with a man's stylus
  2. Isaiah 8:1 Maher-shalal-hash-baz means The spoil speeds, the prey hastens
  3. Isaiah 8:7 That is, the Euphrates
  4. Isaiah 8:9 Or Be evil
  5. Isaiah 8:9 Or dismayed
  6. Isaiah 8:10 The Hebrew for God is with us is Immanuel

Isaiah’s Son a Sign of the Assyrian Invasion

Then the Lord said to me, “Take a large tablet and write on it in common characters, ‘Belonging to Maher-shalal-hash-baz,’[a](A) and have it attested[b] for me by reliable witnesses, the priest Uriah and Zechariah son of Jeberechiah.”(B) And I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the Lord said to me, “Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz, for before the child knows how to call ‘My father’ or ‘My mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria will be carried away by the king of Assyria.”(C)

The Lord spoke to me again: “Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently and melt in fear before[c] Rezin and the son of Remaliah,(D) therefore the Lord is bringing up against it the mighty flood waters of the River, the king of Assyria and all his glory; it will rise above all its channels and overflow all its banks; it will sweep on into Judah as a flood and, pouring over, will reach up to the neck, and its outspread wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.(E)

Take notice,[d] you peoples, and be dismayed;
    listen, all you far countries;
gird yourselves and be dismayed![e]
10 Take counsel together, but it shall be brought to naught;
    speak a word, but it will not stand,
    for God is with us.”(F)

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Footnotes

  1. 8.1 That is, the spoil speeds, the prey hastens
  2. 8.2 Q ms Gk Syr: MT and I caused to be attested
  3. 8.6 Cn: Heb rejoicing with
  4. 8.9 Gk: Heb Be shattered
  5. 8.9 Q mss: MT repeats gird yourselves and be dismayed!