Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 8:19

19 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 ?

The Israelites, to whom I and my Children are Signs and Wonders, who are fallen from God, and his true Religion and Worship, into Superstition and Idolatry, and will endeavour to seduce you into the same impiety.

My Children, whom the Prophet here arms against the common Temptation.

For Advice and Help, and seek no more to the Prophets who have hitherto deluded you with vain Words. This was the Counsel of the ungodly and unbelieving Iews,

Of whom see Levit. 19. 31. & 20. 27. & Deut. 18. 11.

That speak with a puling and low Voice, as these two Words signifie; which they affected to do, speaking rather inwardly in their Bellies, than outwardly and audibly with their Mouths and Voice, as the Title of Ventriloqui, commonly given to them, signifies.

This Answer the Prophet puts into their Mouths, to the foregoing Counsel: Doth not every Nation, in Cases of Difficulty or Distress, seek to their own Gods for relief? Much more should we do so, that have the onely True God for our God.

Shall they seek (which Words are easily understood out of the foregoing Clause) for the living, &c. That Living Men should enquire of the Living God, is proper and reasonable; but it is highly absurd for them to forsake him, and to seek to dead Idols, either to the Images, or to the Spirits of dead Men, which are supposed to dwell and speak in them.

Marginal references: Chap. 29. 4.