Wizards that Peep and Mutter
“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?” Isaiah 8:19
I remember reading this verse for the first time in the KJV and wondering what it was exactly that the wizards were peeping at!
The word in Hebrew means “chirp” and Isaiah also uses it again in 10:14, and also in 29:4 where the KJV renders it “whisper”. A better translation (perhaps) comes from NetBible:
They will say to you, “Seek oracles at the pits used to conjure up underworld spirits, from the magicians who chirp and mutter incantations. Should people not seek oracles from their gods, by asking the dead about the destiny of the living?”
The International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia says, “The reference is to the sounds made by wizards and ventriloquists, who imitated the chirping of the bats which was supposed to proceed from the lower world.”
The Hebrew word ’ov, “ritual pit”, refers to a pit used by a magician to conjure up underworld spirits. In 1 Samuel 28:7 the witch of Endor is called a ba’alat-’ov, “owner of a ritual pit”.
Perhaps this is why, in his Revelation lectures, Jordan understands the significance of the three-frog army as a plague of nocturnal “chirpers.” The true Spirit coos like a daytime dove, hovering as light over the darkness of the deep, but the false prophets speak only from their darkness. They pretended to bring out treasures but they were only dredging up the Abyss. The best they could do was “throw their voice” and imitate the beasts from the tombs.
Revelation often contrasts the Old Covenant with the New using images of night and day. [1] As in 1 Kings 22, the Herodian false prophets gathered the “kings of the earth” (rulers of the Land) to a battle they could not win. (The phrase Har-Magedon links the event to Joshua’s battle against Amalek [2]).
I had a go at using the matrix on this passage, and it seems to begin with Isaiah 8:19 and end at 9:7. It is a heptamerous structure, with each of the seven sections also following the structure. Among others, the final sections of both Daniel and Zechariah also do this. [3] Here’s my best shot (very limited without Hebrew). Some of the small structures won’t make sense if you haven’t read Totus Christus, but the large structure should. Enough of it seems to fit to make a case. Most importantly, notice that the child born unto us is at Day 6/Atonement. This new Adam would wear the government on His shoulders like the inscribed onyx stones of the High Priest. At Step 3 within that small cycle, these are also aligned with the tablets of the Law on Sinai.
Feasts in Isaiah 8:19-9:7
Sabbath – Word/Call (false Ark, false Light)
When they say to you,
…..“Consult the mediums and the spiritists who [chirp] and mutter,”
……….should not a people consult their God?
……………Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living?
……….To the law and to the testimony!
…..If they do not speak according to this word,
it is because they have no dawn.
Passover – Valley of Death (Veil)
They will pass through the land hard-pressed and famished,
…..and it will turn out that when they are hungry,
……….they will be enraged and curse their king and their God as they face upward.
……………Then they will look to the Land,
……….and behold, distress and darkness,
…..the gloom of anguish;
and they will be driven away into darkness.
Firstfruits – Covenant betrothal/nearbringing (Altar-Land)
But there will be no more gloom
…..for her who was in anguish;
……….in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun
……….and the land of Naphtali with contempt,
……………but later on He shall make it glorious,
……….by the way of the sea,
…..on the other side of Jordan,
Galilee of the Gentiles.
Pentecost – Harvest (Lampstand)
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light;
…..Those who live in a dark land,
……….the light will shine on them.
……………You shall multiply the nation,
……….You shall increase their gladness;
…..They will be glad in Your presence as with the gladness of harvest,
as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
Trumpets – Hosts (Incense Clouds)
For You shall break the yoke of their burden
…..and the staff on their shoulders,
……….the rod of their oppressor,
……………as at the battle of Midian.
……….For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult,
…..and cloak rolled in blood,
will be for burning, fuel for the fire.[4]
Atonement – Adam Mediator/Conqueror (High Priest)
For a child will be born to us,
…..a son will be given to us;
……….And the government will rest on His shoulders;
……………And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor,
……….Mighty God,
…..Eternal Father,
Prince of Peace.
Tabernacles – Kingdom Glory (Shekinah)
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
…..On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
……….To establish it and to uphold it
…………..with justice and righteousness
……….From then on and forevermore.
…..The zeal of the LORD of hosts
will accomplish this.
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[1] See The End of Shadows.
[2] “In Hebrew, “Har” means “Mountain”, and “Maged” means “Festival Assembly”. The Battle of the Mountain of Festival Assembly is a battle at Mount Sinai, at Mount Zion, at the Church.” See James B. Jordan, The Vindication of Jesus Christ, pp. 69-71.
[3] For Daniel, see Jordan’s The Handwriting on the Wall. For Zechariah, see my effort in Totus Christus.
[4] As Trumpets, this cycle concerns troops, but the battle of Midian at the centre was a Lamptand with “Pentecost” torches. Notice also the cloak rolled in blood at “Atonement” and the Shekinah glory as a purifying fire. This step often concerns plunder being refined by fire.
