7:1 During the reign of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel marched up to Jerusalem to do battle, but they were unable to prevail against it.
Chapters 7-12 comprise a single unit called “The Book of Immanuel.” This chapter predicted the birth of Immanuel.
King Ahaz was the King of Judah. King Rezin was the King of Syria. King Pekah was the King of Israel. Assyria was planning on attacking the Middle East. Syria and Israel wanted Judah to combine with them against Assyria, but King Ahaz refused. Therefore, Syria and Israel joined together to march against Judah. Their goal was to remove King Ahaz from the throne and place a puppet king over Judah.
King Ahaz was an evil king who combined the worship of Jehovah with the demonic gods of high places, the golden calf, Baal, and Moloch. However, King Ahaz was from the house of David. This attack upon Judah was a satanic ploy to remove not just King Ahaz, but the entire Davidic line. This was an attempt to stop the promised Messiah from being born.
7:2 It was reported to the family of David, “Syria has allied with Ephraim.” They and their people were emotionally shaken, just as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.
King Ahaz descended from the line of David. However, he had fallen into idolatry. He was not a believer in Jehovah.
Ephraim was the largest tribe of Israel. In this verse, Ephraim represented all ten tribes of Israel. King Ahaz did not think that Syria or Israel could defeat Judah separately, but he did fear their military alliance against him.
Israel and Syria wanted to depose of the entire House of David and replace it with a new dynasty which would be more favorable to an alliance against Assyria. This political move was a direct attack upon God’s eternal covenant with David. Therefore, this plan had no chance of success.
7:3 So the Lord told Isaiah, “Go out with your son Shear-jashub and meet Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the upper pool which is located on the road to the field where they wash and dry cloth.
King Ahaz was inspecting the water supplies in preparation for a siege. This water source was at the edge of Fuller's Field. Isaiah was commissioned by God to meet with King Ahaz. Isaiah was also to take his son with him. His son was called Shear-Jashub, which meant “a remnant will return.”
7:4 Tell him, ‘Make sure you stay calm! Don’t be afraid! Don’t be intimidated by these two stubs of smoking logs, or by the raging anger of Rezin, Syria, and the son of Remaliah.
Isaiah informed King Ahaz that Syria and Israel were nothing but smoking stubs of firewood which were about to burn out. They would not be able to remove King Ahaz from the monarchy and replace him with a puppet king. They had already done all of the damage against the House of Judah that they could do.
7:5 Syria has plotted with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah to bring about your demise.
Syria and Israel plotted to remove King Ahaz and replace him with a puppet king. Because of the Davidic Covenant, this conspiracy against the House of David had no chance of success.
7:6 They say, “Let’s attack Judah, terrorize it, and conquer it. Then we’ll set up the son of Tabeel as its king.”
Tabeel was not a member of the House of David, so he could not possibly take the throne. Isaiah was a master of the Hebrew language. Tabeel means “God is good.” Isaiah changed the vowel pattern so that the name meant “good for nothing.”
This plan would not work. Both the Syrian and Israel King were attempting to remove an anointed king from the line of David off of the throne. God was not yet ready to remove the Davidic line from the throne of Judah.
7:7 For this reason the sovereign master, the Lord, says: “It will not take place; it will not happen.
Jehovah was not about to allow the Davidic line to be exterminated. The Messiah must come through this line.
7:8 For Syria’s leader is Damascus, and the leader of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will no longer exist as a nation.
King Rezin of Syria was only a mere man. He could not remove a king from the Davidic throne unless the sovereign God allowed him to do so.
Isaiah predicted that Israel would be destroyed within 65 years. He gave this prophecy in 734 B.C., so 65 years later was 669 B.C. Israel was destroyed by Assyria in 722 B.C. Israel intermarried with the Assyrians and ceased to exist as a nation. They become the Samaritans. The Lord Jesus Christ would later walk through Samaria and ask a woman at the well for water.
7:9 Ephraim’s leader is Samaria, and Samaria’s leader is the son of Remaliah. If your faith does not remain firm, then you will not remain secure.”
Ephraim was another name for Israel. Her capital was Samaria. Her leader was the son of Remaliah. He will only rule over Israel, not Judah. King Ahaz must trust God to protect him in this situation, or his monarchy would not remain safe. The Davidic monarchy would be safe, but not the personal monarchy of Ahaz.
7:10 The Lord again spoke to Ahaz:
Jehovah spoke again to King Ahaz.
7:11 “Ask for a confirming sign from the Lord your God. You (singular) can even ask for something miraculous.”
King Ahaz was an idolater. He did not believe in Jehovah. He sent gifts to the Assyrian emperor, asking for assistance against these two kings. Ahaz had more faith in Assyria than he did in Jehovah.
Jehovah offered to show King Ahaz a miraculous sign so that he would switch his faith from Assyria to God. Jehovah offered him a blank check miracle. King Ahaz could have asked for any miracle that he desired, no matter how difficult, and God would have performed it. King Ahaz was basically given one wish.
7:12 But Ahaz responded, “I don’t want to ask; I don’t want to put the Lord to a test.”
Ahaz sounded very sweet, pious, and spiritual, but he was a hypocritical fraud who was trusting satanic idols. He misapplied Deuteronomy 6:16 about putting God to the test. Deuteronomy 6:16 warns against testing God, but here God is offering a sign and Ahaz is invited to respond. Ahaz does not want a sign, because this sign would force him to abandon his alliance with Assyria. He does not want to make Assyria angry at him. He would rather not offend the satanists in Assyria than the One True God who controlled his heartbeat.
7:13 And he said, Hear you all (plural) now, O house of David: Is it a small thing for you all (plural) to weary men, that you all (plural) will weary my God also?
In Hebrew, the “you” switches from singular to plural. Isaiah is not just talking to King Ahaz. He is now talking to the entire future House of David who would come out of the loins of Ahaz’s. Isaiah was telling the future Davidic line that they need to pay close attention to this prophecy that he was about to reveal. He told the future Davidic line that they all would not only try the patience of men, but they would also try the patience of God Himself.
7:14 Therefore (לָ֠כֵן) Adonai himself (אֲדֹנָ֥י ה֛וּא) he will give (יִתֵּ֨ן) to you all (לָכֶ֖ם) a sign (אֹ֑ות) : behold (הִנֵּ֣ה), the virgin (הָעַלְמָ֗ה) she shall conceive and bear (וְיֹלֶ֣דֶת), a son (בֵּ֔ן), and she shall call (וְקָרָ֥את) his name (שְׁמֹ֖ו) “with us God” (עִמָּ֥נוּ אֵֽל).
Since King Ahaz is an unbelieving hypocrite who is placing his nation in jeopardy, then Adonai Himself would give a sign to the entire (plural) house of David. It would be one of the most miraculous signs in all of history.
The Hebrew word for “behold” is הִנֵּ֣ה (hinah). It is combined with a present participle, meaning that it is pointing to a future prophetic event. This meant that the birth and the conception was future. This meant that there was no “young woman” present who would later give birth, as many liberals claim.
The Hebrew word for “the virgin” is הָעַלְמָ֗ה (ha-almah), meaning “the virgin.” The Hebrew article indicates that this would be a very specific virgin. Since there was no virgin mentioned in this context, then it must refer to “the virgin” which was already known to the Jewish people. The only specific virgin that the Jewish people knew about at this time was the promise of the coming virgin-born Messiah in Genesis 3:15. The NIV and NKJV correctly translate the Hebrew as “the virgin.” The NASB (like most modern translations) says “a virgin,” which is very inaccurate and even blasphemous. The NET and RSV translate “a young woman,” which is deceptively wrong and even more blasphemous. Jehovah informed the future House of David that “the virgin" in their line would give birth to a son. The son would be called Immanuel.
Many Christ-rejecting liberals falsely claim that the Hebrew word means “young, unmarried woman” instead of “virgin.” Many English versions translate it as such, hoping to deceive those who are ignorant of the biblical languages. This is nothing but a deceitful tactic to avoid the miracle of the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Hebrew word הָעַלְמָ֗ה (ha-almah) is used six or more times in the Old Testament, and in all instances the context favors “young virgin.” It never means a “married woman.” Conception by a “young unmarried woman” would not be a miracle. It would be fornication, which was a sin against the Mosaic Law. On the other hand, a baby born by a virgin would be a mighty creation miracle which only God Himself could accomplish.
There is no reason for one to be biased and skeptical about this prophecy. Matthew 1:23 quotes this passage in Greek. The Holy Spirit chose the Greek word “ἡ παρθένος” (ha parthenos), which can only mean “the virgin.” Skeptics who deny the virgin birth of Christ are elevating their own human opinion above that of the Holy Spirit of God.
Also, when the Jewish scribes translated הָעַלְמָ֗ה (ha-almah) into the Greek Septuagint in about 250 B.C., they translated it as “ἡ παρθένος” (ha parthenos), which can only mean “the virgin.” This translation was used by the rabbi interpreters 250 years before Jesus was born.
The Hebrew word עִמָּ֥נוּ אֵֽל (Immanuel) means “with us God.” The baby who will be born of “the virgin" would actually be the Creator God Himself. God will be born into the human race as a little baby. This little baby could have spoken the universe out of existence. This little baby would grow up to be an adult on earth. God would be with His people on earth in human form.
7:15 Butter and honey shall he eat, when he knows to refuse the evil, and choose the good.
Why was Isaiah commissioned to bring his young son with him to the conduits to meet King Ahaz? The “he” is Isaiah’s son.
7:16 For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land whose two kings you (singular) you fear will be desolate.
Before Isaiah’s son would become old enough to make moral distinctions between right and wrong, the kings of Israel and Syria would be deposed and their threat removed. This prophecy was fulfilled within three years.
7:17 The Lord will bring on you, your people, and your father’s family a time unlike any since Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria!”
Instead of Israel and Syria attacking Judah, then the Assyrian Empire would attack Judah. This nation in which Ahaz trusted was actually going to betray Judah and destroy every city of Judah except for Jerusalem. This would be the worst experience of Judah, until the Babylonian Captivity.
In conclusion, verses 1-17 prophesied a very important event in world history. Syria and Israel would attempt to remove a Davidic king off of the throne of Judah. This could not happen, because it was a violation of the Davidic Covenant. Isaiah and his son were commissioned to meet King Ahaz at the water conduits outside of Jerusalem. King Ahaz was placing his trust in the Assyrian Empire to deliver him from this dual alliance. God asked King Ahaz to transfer his trust from Assyria to Jehovah. He offered King Ahaz a blank check miracle, but King Ahaz hypocritically refused the request. Jehovah gave a prophecy to the entire future House of David which would come from the loins of King Ahaz. A virgin from the line of David would give birth to the God-man. As for Israel and Syria, both of their kingdoms would be destroyed within 65 years. Before Isaiah’s son could distinguish between right and wrong, the Syrian and Israelite kings would be removed from power. The threat of this Israel-Syrian confederation attack would end within three years.
Basically, Jehovah was telling Judah that if you want to make an alliance with Assyria, then you are going to get Assyria. However, you will get a lot more of Assyria than what you want.
7:18 At that time the Lord will whistle for flies from the distant streams of Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria.
Flies are very numerous and bothersome. The stings of bees inflict great pain on the people. Assyria would swarm upon Judah like flies and sting them like bees.
7:19 All of them will come and make their home in the ravines between the cliffs, and in the crevices of the cliffs, in all the thorn bushes, and in all the watering holes.
Assyria would camp all over all of the hills and cliffs of Judah.
7:20 At that time the sovereign master will use a razor hired from the banks of the Euphrates River, the king of Assyria, to shave the head and the pubic hair; it will also shave off the beard.
Assyria would come to Judah and humiliate her by shaving off the hair of the women and the beards of the men.
7:21 At that time a man will keep alive a young cow from the herd and a couple of goats.
When Assyria attacks, many of the livestock animals would die. The Jewish farmers would only be able to keep alive one cow and a couple of goats for milk, but not for meat.
7:22 From the abundance of milk they produce, he will have sour milk for his meals. Indeed, everyone left in the heart of the land will eat sour milk and honey.
The young cow and two goats would have no young to nurse. Therefore, their milk would become sour to drink.
The fields would be desolate of crops, so wild flowers would grow. The bees would swarm to the wild flowers, producing a lot of honey.
7:23 At that time every place where there had been a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels will be overrun with thorns and briers.
The farmers would have no crops. Their fields would be full of thorns and thistles.
7:24 With bow and arrow men will hunt there, for the whole land will be covered with thorns and briers.
Since there would be no crops, no farmers, and no people, then the deserted land of Judah would be filled with wild game.
7:25 They will stay away from all the hills that were cultivated, for fear of the thorns and briers. Cattle will graze there and sheep will trample on them.
The land would no longer produce crops. It would only be good only for grazing by cattle and sheep.
In conclusion, Judah would get way too much of Assyria. King Ahaz should have trusted in God instead.