The river overflows

Signs in a Darkening Land · Isaiah 8

Story guide: PROPHETIC IMAGE | Gentle Shiloah is contrasted with the overwhelming River. The flood figures Assyrian power; the passage also declares that hostile plans will fail because God is with us.

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5Yahweh spoke to me again, saying,

6Because this people has rejected the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoices over Rezin and the son of Remaliah,

7Therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many—the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks.

8It will sweep on into Judah; it will overflow and pass through; it will reach up to the neck. And the spread of its wings will fill the breadth of your land, O Immanuel.

9Be shattered, O peoples, and be broken; listen, all distant parts of the earth. Strap yourselves on for battle, and be broken; strap yourselves on for battle, and be broken.

10Make a plan, and it will be thwarted; speak a word, and it will not stand, for God is with us.

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