Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 8:20

20 To the law and to the testimony : if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them .

Let this Dispute between you and them be determined by God's Word, which is here and in many other places called the law, to signifie their Obligation to believe and obey it; and the testimony, because it is a Witness between God and Man, of God's Mind and Will, and of Man's Duty; and so these two Titles contain two Arguments against these Idolatrous Practices.

Your Antagonists, that [illegible: 1+ letters]eek to pervert you, v. 19.

This proceeds from the darkness of their Minds, because they are blind, and will not see, and God hath shut their Eyes that they cannot see. But these Words are by divers Learned Interpreters understood not as a Declaration of their Ignorance, but a Commination and Prediction of their Misery, light being most commonly used in Scripture for Comfort and Happiness, and darkness for Sorrows and Calamities. And this sence seems to be much favoured by the following Passages. And then the Words may be thus rendred, Assuredly (for the Hebrew Particle asher is frequently used as a Note of Asseveration, as 1 Sam. 15. 20. Psal. 10. 6. & 95. 11. &c. as hath been more than once observed before) no light or morning-light shall be (for that may as well be understood as is) to them, a Night of Misery shall come upon them, and they shall never have a Morning of Deliverance from it; they shall be swallowed up in endless Calamities.

Marginal references: Luk. 16. 29.; Heb. no morning.