ישעיהו, פרק מ״ב, פסוק ט׳

Prophetic revelation relies on a historical track record, where the fulfillment of past predictions serves as a firm guarantee for the future. God points to earlier prophecies that have already materialized as a foundation of trust [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. There are different perspectives on exactly which past events are referenced. One view traces this back to the historical promise given to Abraham regarding the exile in Egypt and the subsequent Exodus [רש"י]. However, the primary approach among commentators is that this refers to more recent events, specifically Isaiah’s earlier prophecies about the downfall of Sennacherib, which had already taken place during his lifetime [רד"ק, מצודת דוד, שד"ל, צאינה וראינה]. Mentioning these past events is entirely intentional. A prophet who foretells the future earns the people's trust when his previous words come true. Because God's earlier declarations were fully realized, the people can have complete confidence that His future promises will also come to pass [מלבי"ם, רד"ק].

Building on this established trust, God announces new events that the people have not yet heard. While some interpret this as a warning about a second exile [רש"י], the primary approach among commentators is that these new declarations bring the hopeful news of a future redemption, particularly the return from the Babylonian exile [רד"ק, מצודת דוד, שד"ל].

The unique nature of these new prophecies is that God reveals them long before they begin to unfold or show any visible signs of happening in the real world [מצודת דוד, מלבי"ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ, צאינה וראינה]. This early announcement is compared to the growth of a plant. Just as a seed remains hidden deep within the earth before it sprouts, renews itself, and breaks through the surface, the future salvation of Israel will eventually be revealed after a period of deep concealment [רד"ק].