Isa 8:22, Amo 5:18, 8:9 | JFB | STEP | 21, 22. More detailed description of the despair, which they shall fall into, who sought necromancy instead of God; implies that too late they shall see how much better it would have been for them to have sought "to the law," &c. ( ). But now they are given over to despair. Therefore, while seeing the truth of God, they only "curse their King and God"; foreshadowing the future, like conduct of those belonging to the "kingdom of the beast," when they shall be visited with divine plagues ( ; compare ). through it —namely, the land. hardly bestead —oppressed with anxiety. hungry —a more grievous famine than the temporary one in Ahaz' time, owing to Assyria; then there was some food, but none now ( ). their king . . . God —Jehovah, King of the Jews ( ). look upward . . . unto the earth —Whether they look up to heaven, or down towards the land of Judea, nothing but despair shall present itself. dimness of anguish —darkness of distress ( ). driven to darkness —rather, " thick darkness " ( ). Driven onward, as by a sweeping storm. The Jewish rejection of "their King and God," Messiah, was followed by all these awful calamities.

Isaiah 8:22

21, 22. More detailed description of the despair, which they shall fall into, who sought necromancy instead of God; Isa 8:20 implies that too late they shall see how much better it would have been for them to have sought "to the law," &c. (De 32:31). But now they are given over to despair. Therefore, while seeing the truth of God, they only "curse their King and God"; foreshadowing the future, like conduct of those belonging to the "kingdom of the beast," when they shall be visited with divine plagues (Re 16:11; compare Jer 18:12).

through it—namely, the land.

hardly bestead—oppressed with anxiety.

hungry—a more grievous famine than the temporary one in Ahaz' time, owing to Assyria; then there was some food, but none now (Isa 7:15, 22; Le 26:3-5, 14-16, 20).

their king . . . God—Jehovah, King of the Jews (Ps 5:2; 68:24).

look upward . . . unto the earth—Whether they look up to heaven, or down towards the land of Judea, nothing but despair shall present itself.

dimness of anguish—darkness of distress (Pr 1:27).

driven to darkness—rather, "thick darkness" (Jer 23:12). Driven onward, as by a sweeping storm. The Jewish rejection of "their King and God," Messiah, was followed by all these awful calamities.

Amos 5:18

18. Woe unto you who do not scruple to say in irony, "We desire that the day of the Lord would come," that is, "Woe to you who treat it as if it were a mere dream of the prophets" (Isa 5:19; Jer 17:15; Eze 12:22).

to what end is it for you!—Amos taking their ironical words in earnest: for God often takes the blasphemer at his own word, in righteous retribution making the scoffer's jest a terrible reality against himself. Ye have but little reason to desire the day of the Lord; for it will be to you calamity, and not joy.

Amos 8:9

9. "Darkness" made to rise "at noon" is the emblem of great calamities (Jer 15:9; Eze 32:7-10).