The Rejection of the Prophet (8:11-18). 

        While it is usual to praise Isaiah’s clear-sighted foreign policy when Judah was attacked by her neighbours (7:1-9), a very good case could be made for Ahaz’ action from a purely worldly point of view. Certainly the people looked on it as the only hope of salvation and came to suspect Isaiah of being a Quisling (ver. 12, R. V.).

        The result was that Isaiah turned from the people and devoted himself to the small group that held with him (ver. 16ff). We allow the possibility that a good part of the following prophecies come from his teaching to his disciples, and we believe it was to them he entrusted “Deutero-Isaiah.”