Rabbi Simon said: Be’eri23The father of the prophet Hosea (see Hosea 1:1). prophesied only two verses, and they were not enough to constitute a book, and they were appended to Isaiah. These are they: “When they say to you” (Isaiah 8:19) and its counterpart.24Isaiah 8:20. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Every prophet whose name is mentioned and the name of his father is mentioned, he is a prophet, son of a prophet.
Every prophet whose name is mentioned and the name of his father is not mentioned, he is a prophet and his father is not a prophet. Rabbi Elazar in the name of Rabbi Yosei ben Zimra cites it from here: “Zechariah son of Ido, prophets…prophesied” (Ezra 5:1) – [the plural term is used] because he was a prophet, son of a prophet. The Rabbis said: Whether his name is mentioned or whether it is not mentioned he is a prophet, son of a prophet, as Amos said to Amatzya: “I am not a prophet, and not the son of a prophet” (Amos 7:14).
Just as he was a prophet and he said “I am not a prophet,” so too, his father was a prophet and he said: “I am not the son of a prophet,” One verse says: “Isaiah son of Amotz the prophet” (II Kings 20:1), and one verse says: “Isaiah the prophet, son of Amotz” (II Kings 19:2) as he was a prophet, son of a prophet. “Should a people not seek its own God?” (Isaiah 8:19) – each nation and language will worship its god.
“Hametzaftzefim” (Isaiah 8:19) – these are those who chirp. “Vehamagim” (Isaiah 8:19) – these are those who roar. “Should a people not seek its own God?” – each nation and language will remember its god. “On behalf of the living to the dead” (Isaiah 8:19) – Rabbi Levi said: This is analogous to one who lost his son and went to seek him among the graves.
A clever person who saw him said to him: ‘Your son whom you lost, is he alive or dead?’ He said to him: ‘Alive.’ He said to him: ‘You fool! It is the way of the dead to be inquired about among the living, but are the living inquired about among the dead?
Everywhere, the living perform the needs of the dead. Do the dead, perhaps, perform the needs of the living?’ So too, our God lives and endures, as it is stated: “The Lord God is truth” (Jeremiah 10:10). What is “truth”?
Rabbi Avin said: That He is the living God and King of the universe. But the gods of the idolaters are dead, as it is stated: “They have mouths, but cannot speak. They have eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear” (Psalms 115:5–6).
They are dead, but we forsake one who lives eternally and prostrate ourselves to the dead. “By the Torah and by the testimony” (Isaiah 8:20) – the Torah warns us: “Surely, they will talk of this matter that has no dawn” (Isaiah 8:20). Rabbi Yoḥanan and Reish Lakish: Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘My children, say to the idolaters that [idolatry] has no dawn, like this object that does not illuminate for you.’
Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘Say to the idolaters that it has no dawn; if it does not illuminate for itself, how will it illuminate for others?’ Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Darkness and thick darkness prevailed in the land of Egypt for three days, as it is stated: “There was darkness, a thick darkness in the entire land of Egypt [for three days]” (Exodus 10:22).
Emptiness and disorder have not prevailed in this world. Where are they destined to prevail? In the great city of Rome, as it is stated: “He shall stretch over it a line of emptiness and plumb bobs of disorder” (Isaiah 34:11). The Rabbis say: The nations of the world who did not receive the Torah that was given from the midst of the darkness, in their regard it says: “For, behold, the darkness will cover…” (Isaiah 60:2).
But Israel, who received the Torah that was given from the midst of the darkness, as it is written: “[It was] when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness” (Deuteronomy 5:20), in their regard it says: “But upon you the Lord will shine, and His glory will be seen upon you” (Isaiah 60:2).