ישעיהו, פרק ח׳, פסוק י״ז

In the midst of darkness and divine concealment, a profound declaration of unwavering faith emerges. A prophet stands as an anchor of hope during a turbulent era, demonstrating absolute loyalty to his mission and to the revelations he has received. The commentators agree that the speaker is the prophet Isaiah himself. He expresses a deep sense of anticipation, maintaining his trust and continuing to wait for God even during times of severe crisis when God appears to be completely hidden ([רד"ק], [מצודת ציון], [מלבי"ם]).

The primary approach among commentators is that Isaiah is waiting for his prophecies to materialize. He hopes that once the people witness his predictions coming true in their entirety, they will finally pay attention and heed his guidance ([רש"י], [מלבי"ם], [מצודת דוד], [שד"ל]). Taking a different perspective, [אבן עזרא] suggests the prophet is not waiting for events to unfold, but rather waiting for God to grant him permission to reveal a divine secret to the nation.

When addressing the reality of God hiding His face from the family of Jacob, the primary approach among commentators is that this refers specifically to the Ten Tribes, which make up the Kingdom of Israel. God is withdrawing His presence from them, leaving them vulnerable to their enemies as they face impending exile and destruction. However, alongside this tragedy, the prophet maintains hope that God will save the Kingdom of Judah and the royal line of David, provided they remain faithful to the Torah ([רש"י], [מצודת דוד], [אברבנאל]). Alternatively, [שד"ל] understands this divine concealment as a reference to the downfall of the Kingdom of Judah itself, brought about by the sins of King Ahaz.

The prophet then repeats his expression of hope to amplify the intensity and strength of his anticipation ([רד"ק], [מצודת דוד]). Interestingly, the oral tradition surrounding these words carries a severe warning about how they are spoken aloud. If a person with a speech impediment mispronounces the Hebrew letter chet as a heh, the meaning of the word shifts drastically. Instead of declaring an intent to wait for God, it sounds as if the speaker is threatening to strike God. This subtle error in speech can accidentally transform a profound statement of deep faith into a grave expression of blasphemy ([מנחת שי]).