Posted by mikeyom on April 07, 1998 at 16:10:46:
Continuation of Isaiah 9:1
My apologies for not getting back sooner. I've been swamped
with work and wanted to give you the best answer.
Unfortunately I lost the line so if I don t answer your
question or mis-quote you, please feel free to correct me.
My understanding of what Curt's primary question involved
first, what he perceived as a lack of authoritative support
involving my view of Isaiah 9:1 (I contend there are 2
vexations, one from the Land of Zebulun and Naphtali, which
I agree with commentators as a reference to attacks by
Assyria unde Tiglath-pileser and Sargon II.vs.
the second vexation which I contend came from east of
Jordan from the peoples of the region of the Kings Highway)
as versus his view referencing the way of the sea to be
the highway from Phoenicia to Memphis. The
source of contention is comparing this to 2 Nephi 19:1
to which the original author of this verse labels the road
as by way of the Red Sea . The consequence of this
argument is that if I am correct, Joseph Smith has somewhat
more credibility because it would be difficult
for a farm boy of his education to arbitrarily suggest
this location from the context of the one verse, on the
other hand, Curt suggests the verse is a mistranslation
and is proof of a false prophet. He basis this on 2 points
with regards to this scripture, 1) the Red Sea is a wrong
point of reference, and 2) an indication that Joseph Smith
copied the KJV and further promoted a mistranslation of
the Hebrew word Kabad.
First, there are very reputable commentators who suggest
that the second vexation in fact came from East of Jordan.
Matthew Henry s Commentary is one. Regarding comments of
Isaiah 9:1 Henry says, "and afterwards he more grievously
afflicted the land by the way of the sea and beyond Jordan
(v. 1), referring probably to those days when God began to
cut Israel short and to smite them in all their coasts, 2
Ki. 10:32. (1) Second Kings 10:32-33 says, 'In those days
the LORD began to cut Israel short: and Hazael
smote them in all the coasts of Israel;
2Ki 10:33 From Jordan eastward, all the land of
Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the
Manassites, from Aroer, which [is] by the river Arnon, even
Gilead and Bashan.(2) An analysis of any Bible Atlas
reveals all of the above locations to be EAST of Jordan
along the Kings Highway, which does in fact lead to the
Red Sea. (3) If one takes into account the recollections of
Zepheniah and Jeremiah, as well as the point Isaiah makes
to specify the way to the sea as being, beyond Jordan ,
the only conclusion is that Isaiah is referring to the
region of the Kings Highway, and the Red Sea.
Second, a proper understanding of the hebrew word kabad
is only understood when it is looked at with respect to the
various contextual uses of the word in scripture.(4) Gen
18:20 explains, "And the LORD said, Because the cry of
Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very
grievous:", here kabad is translated grievous. Clearly
the Lord is not saying that the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah
are honourable. Clearly, the Lord has deemed the sin
heinous per the destruction of the blight. It is this
blending of a sin and the resultant purification which is
referred to in Hebrew as kabad. Exodus 5:9, 8:15, 8:32,
9:7...etc, illustrates this similar use of the word kabad
for hardened (as in hardened his heart) or laid up (as in
more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour...ö.
Here is a trial which the Lord uses to purify his people.
The same is found in Isaiah 9:1, and Matthew Henry s
Commentary has the same view, "Note, God tries what less
judgments will do with a people before he brings greater;
but if a light affliction do not do its work with us, to
humble and reform us, we must expect to be afflicted more
grievously; for when God judges he will overcome. Well,
those were dark times with the land of Zebulun and
Naphtali, and there was dimness of anguish in Galilee of
the Gentiles, both in respect of ignorance (they did not
speak according to the law and the testimony, and then
there was no light in them, ch. 8:20) and in respect of
trouble, and the desperate posture of their outward
affairs; we have both together, 2 Chr. 15:3, 5. Israel has
been without the true God and a teaching priest, and in
those times there was no peace. But the dimness threatened
(ch. 8:22) shall not prevail to such a degree; for (v. 2)
the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.
(1.) At this time when the prophet lived, there were many
prophets in Judah and Israel, whose prophecies were a great
light both for direction and comfort to the people of God,
who adhered to the law and the testimony. Besides the
written word, they had prophecy; there were those that had
shown them how long (Ps. 74:9), which was a great
satisfaction to them, when in respect of their outward
troubles they sat in darkness, and dwelt in the land of the
shadow of death. (2.) This was to have its full
accomplishment when our Lord Jesus began to appear as a
prophet, and to preach the
gospel in the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, and in Galilee
of the Gentiles. And the Old-Testament prophets, as they
were witnesses to him, so they were types of him. When
he came and dwelt in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali,
then this prophecy is said to have been fulfilled, Mt. 4:13
16. Note, [1.] Those that want the gospel walk in darkness,
and know not what they do nor whither they go; and they
dwell in the land of the shadow of death, in thick
darkness, and in the utmost danger. [2.] When the gospel
comes to any place, to any soul, light comes, a great
light, a shining light, which will shine more and more. It
should be welcome to us, as light is to those that sit in
darkness, and we should readily entertain it, both because
if is of such sovereign use to us and because it brings its
own evidence with it. Truly this light is sweet." (5) This
verse is seen as a prophecy that the trials which Israel
and Judah where in the process of going through would reap
honour on the Lord. As you pointed our Curt, the next
verses contextualize this. This dimness mentioned in verse
1 and 2 (and trial by vexation) is also caused by and
symbolic of the apostacy and captivity of Israel and
Judah. The subsequent great light and the kabad or
honor is Christ.
In summary, I have provided you with both textual evidence
and authoritative evidence for my suggestion that
Isaiah is referring to the region of the Kings Highway.
Furthermore, I have provided an analysis of the word kabad
to illustrate that it is a fair interpretation to refer to
the second trial period as a vexation.
Incidentally, what Bible are you using? It must be one of
those strange Satanic Bibles that add to the word of God,
I don t seem to have an Isaiah 8:23.
(1)http://www.khouse.org/cgi-bin.blb/comm_read.pl?book=Isa&
chapter=9&verse=1&Comm=Comm%2Fmhc%2FIsa%2FIsa009.html%231%2
6Matthew%26Henry&Select.x=20&Select.y=16 [Matthew Henry
Commentary of Isaiah 9:1]
(2) http://www.khouse.org/blueletter/2Ki/2Ki010.html#32
[2 Kings 10:32-33]
(3)http://www.khouse.org/blueletter/images/maps/Otest/south
_palestine1.html [map of Southern Palestine illustrating
the location of those geographical sites mentioned in 2
Kings 10:33, NOTE: this map shows Aroer as being West
of the Dead Sea, whereas all other Bible Maps show Areor
being on the River Arnon.]
(4)http://www.khouse.org/blueletter/tmp_dir/conc/890941598.
html [Strongs Concordance analysis of kabad]
(5) ibid, [Matthew Henry Commentary of Isaiah 9:1]