circa 800–400 BC
The Hebrew Prophets
God speaks through Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the minor prophets—calling Israel to repentance and foretelling the coming Messiah.
- Isaiah 7:23c. 741 BC
And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand silverlings, it shall even be for briers and thorns.
- Isaiah 7:24c. 741 BC
With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.
- Isaiah 7:25c. 741 BC
And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns: but it shall be for the sending forth of oxen, and for the treading of lesser cattle.
¶ Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.
And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.
And I went unto the prophetess; and she conceived, and bare a son. Then said the LORD to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.
For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.
- Isaiah 8:5c. 741 BC
The LORD spake also unto me again, saying,
- Isaiah 8:6c. 741 BC
Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;
- Isaiah 8:7c. 741 BC
Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come up over all his channels, and go over all his banks:
- Isaiah 8:8c. 741 BC
And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach even to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.
- Isaiah 8:9c. 741 BC
¶ Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.
- Isaiah 8:10c. 741 BC
Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.
- Isaiah 8:11c. 741 BC
For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,
- Isaiah 8:12c. 741 BC
Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
- Isaiah 8:13c. 741 BC
Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
- Isaiah 8:14c. 741 BC
And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
- Isaiah 8:15c. 741 BC
And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.
- Isaiah 8:16c. 741 BC
¶ Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
- Isaiah 8:17c. 741 BC
And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
- Isaiah 8:18c. 741 BC
Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.
- Isaiah 8:19c. 741 BC
And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
- Isaiah 8:20c. 741 BC
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
- Isaiah 8:21c. 741 BC
And they shall pass through it, hardly bestead and hungry: and it shall come to pass, that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves, and curse their king and their God, and look upward.
- Isaiah 8:22c. 741 BC
And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.