Isaiah 8:5 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

The Lord spake also— After having delivered the promise concerning the deliverance of the people from the fear of the two adverse kingdoms, God, by a new, or a continued revelation, (for it was not very distant in time from the former) more distinctly unfolds his purpose concerning the fate not only of Israel, but of Judah, and confirms what in the former prophesy he had advised the prophet concerning them. See ch. Isaiah 7:17, &c. For this is of nearly the same argument, except that it is more extensive, and involves many more mysteries: the first part is entirely prophetical, from this to the 11th verse, and contains a declaration of the events of the subsequent period, immediately leading to the time of fulfilling the promise respecting Immanuel: of these events the first is the subversion of Ephraim, Isaiah 8:6-7.; the second, the affliction of Judah by the Assyrians also; Isaiah 8:8.; the third, the destruction of the hostile counsels and attempts of future times, which seemed to threaten a total excision of the church of God, Isaiah 8:9-10. To this prediction the reason is added which moved God not only to punish the Ephraimites, but also the Jews, by the Assyrians, Isaiah 8:6. The waters of Shiloah, according to some, mean the kingdom of David; but Vitringa is of opinion, that the expression here means the kingdom of God among the people of the Jews, as it was manifest in the kingdom of the house of David, as in the next verse the kingdom of Assyria is signified by the river Euphrates. For the waters of Shiloah, flowing from the bottom of mount Sion, which was sacred to God, and the seat of his kingdom hereby represented the kingdom of God. They flowed too from a perennial fountain, and hereby well denoted that eternal kingdom which was promised to David and his seed; and they are said to flow softly, gently, silently; hereby properly denoting that kingdom which is internal and spiritual, and which cometh not with observation. On account of this kingdom, Judah was chosen and established a people; and it was singly from the want of faith in this kingdom, that they ever sought for support and assistance from the kings of the earth, who were always to them like the staff of a broken reed; for God alone was their king, and in him alone, and his sure promise, was their true confidence.