Tumah
Veteran Member
Let's see how that bears up.
Why do you start in the middle of a chapter? If you take it out of its context, you can make anything say whatever you want.
The previous chapter ended with the complete destruction of the Northern Kingdom and its exile as it was invaded by Assyria. There were two stages to the invasion. The first was when Assyria conquered Reuben, Gad, half of Manasseh and within Israel, Naftali and Zebulun. The second was when the rest of the Northern Kingdom was conquered.
Assyrian captivity - Wikipedia
"Because there is no tiredness to that who oppresses her. The first time he was lenient [capturing only], the land of Zebulun and the land of Naftali. And the last [time] he [dealt] heavily, the way of the sea, [and] over the Jordan, the areas of the nations."
That is what is described here. The first conquest including Naftali and Zebulun and then the remainder of the kingdom. Both times after they invaded the land, they exiled the people (see 2 Kings 15:29, 17:6)
"The nations going in darkness, saw a great light. [Those] sitting in the land of the shadow of death, light shone on them."
Notice how this verse is broken into two parts? There are currently two main situations going on with the entirety of Israel. Half of them are awaiting the Assyrian conquest of their land (the Kingdom of Judah). The other half are currently exiled (the Kingdom of Israel). That's what this verse is describing. The Kingdom of Judah who were expecting the Assyrians to conquer their land next following the invasion of the Northern Kingdom "see a great light" in their land, with the end of the Assyrian conquest. And the Northern Kingdom who was exiled to "the land of the shadow of death" also had light shine on them all the way there.
"You multiplied the nation, You increased the happiness. They were happy before You like the happiness of the harvest when they divided the spoils".
2 Kings 19:35 recounts the angel killing Sennacherib's invading army leaving a pile of corpses. Here Isaiah recounts the joy of Israel at the end of invasion and the splitting of their booty. He compares it to the happiness of reaping a harvest.
"Because the yoke of his suffering and the staff of his shoulder [the] rod of the [one who] oppressed him, You broke like the day of Midian""Because every shout [of war], shouts with noise. [And every] garment rolled in blood. And it will be for a burning, devoured by fire."
Here the prophet described the difference between Hezekiah's victory against the Assyrians to normal war. In a regular war, there's noise and blood all over the place. But when the angel fought on Hezekiah's behalf, it was like a consuming flame: no noise and no blood. Also compare with Lev. 10:2 where G-d kills by fire.
"Because a child (male) is born to us, a son given to us. And the ruler-ship will be on his shoulders. And the Wondrous Adviser, Mighty G-d, Eternal Father, will call his name "Prince of Peace".
Here the prophet speaks about Hezekiah's rule. The phrase "ruler-ship will be on his shoulders" is not repeated in the whole Tanach. Its usage here is meant to contrast with the previous mention of "the staff of his shoulder" representing Assyrian conquest. During Hezekiah's time, the Assyrian conquest will fail and his own ruler-ship will prevail over the people.
Here G-d is called the "Wondrous Adviser" in comparison with Isaiah 8:10 where the prophet says "take advice from your adviser and it will be voided, speak a word and it will not stand, because G-d is with us."
G-d is called, "Mighty G-d", obviously for the ease at which Sennacherib's army was destroyed.
G-d is called the "Eternal Father", because time is in His hands, as He showed when He added 15 years to Hezekiah's life in 2 Kings 20:6.
And He gave Hezekiah a peaceful reign. The word "prince" used here, doesn't denote a son of the king, but rather someone in charge of something. As its used in Gen.40:2, 4 "prince of drinks" and "prince of bakers" "prince of slaughterers". There as well it means the guy in charge of the drinks, baked goods and people who are on their way to the next life. Here too, Hezekiah is made in charge of keeping the peaceful reign G-d has entrusted to him.
"To [the one who] increases the ruler-ship and for peace without end. On David's throne and on his kingdom. To prepare it and to support it with judgement and righteousness. From now until forever. The jealousy of the G-d of Hosts will do this."
Here again, the two factors identified with Hezekiah are repeated "the ruler-ship will be on his shoulder" he is "[the one who] increases ruler-ship" and G-d calls him the "prince of peace" and he will have "peace without end". Here peace without end doesn't mean that his peace will continue eternally, but that there will not be any boundary to his peace. His country will have peace at all its borders.
Hezekiah, a descendant of David sat on David's throne and ruled the kingdom. He ruled it righteously.
Although it says, "from now until forever" we know Hezekiah didn't live forever. Therefore we use the alternate interpretation of this word meaning "for the duration of his life". This interpretation can also be found in 1 Sam. 1:22 when Hannah tells Elkannah that Samuel would dwell there "forever". Not forever and ever, but rather his forever as long as he would remain alive.
