SECTION IV . PROPHECIES CONNECTED WITH THE SYRO - ISRAELITE WAR (Isaiah 7-10:4). THE PROPHECY GIVEN TO AHAZ AT THE TIME OF THE SYRO - ISRAELITISH WAR . The Syro-Israelitish war is touched on both in Kings and Chronicles. In Kings the alliance between Rezin and Pekah is distinctly declared, as also the fact that they conjointly besieged Jerusalem ( 2 Kings 16:5 ). From Chronicles we learn that, before the siege, Ahaz was twice defeated with... read more
The prophet comforts the king. I. THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK . The kings and chieftains of Palestine were in dread of the great Assyrian power. Under the weak rule of Ahaz Judah had sunk very low, and the King of Damascus, with the King of Ephraim, think it a favorable opportunity to attack the little kingdom, and so strengthen themselves against the Assyrians. "Far down to the gulf of Akaba the shock of invasion was felt. Elath, the favorite seaport of Jehoshaphat and Uzziah, was made... read more
The establishing power of faith. The practical force of this prophetic utterance is found in the final words of it: "If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established" ( Isaiah 7:9 ). We may see in them a declaration expressly personal . They intimate to Ahaz that if he, the present King of Judah, does not put his faith in the minister and in the message of the Lord, his kingdom and his power will suffer loss. 1. His faith was sorely tried. "His heart was moved as the... read more
It was told the house of David . Before the actual siege began, news of the alliance reached Ahaz. It is said to have been" told the house of David," because the design was to supersede the family of David by another—apparently a Syrian—house (see note on Isaiah 7:6 ). Syria is confederate with Ephraim ; literally, rests upon Ephraim . Under ordinary circumstances the kingdoms of Syria and Israel were hostile the one to the other (see 1 Kings 15:20 ; 1 Kings 20:1-3 ; 1 Kings... read more
Thou, and Shear-Jashub thy son . The name Shear-Jashub, "a remnant shall return," may have been given to Isaiah's son by revelation, as Ewald thinks it was; or Isaiah may have given it to testify his faith both in the threats and in the promises of which he had been made the mouth-piece. The command to take him with him on the present occasion was probably given on account of his name, that the attention of Ahaz might be called to it. The conduit of the upper pool is mentioned also in 2... read more
Take heed, and be quiet ; or, see that thou keep quiet ; i.e. "be not disturbed; do not resort to strange and extreme measures; in quietness and confidence should be your strength" (see Isaiah 30:15 ). The two tails of these smoking firebrands . Rezin and Pekah are called "two tails," or "two stumps of smoking firebrands," as persons who had been dangerous, but whose power of doing harm was on the polar of departing from them. They could not now kindle a flame; they could only... read more
Make a breach therein . The word employed means properly "making a breach in a city wall" ( 2 Kings 25:4 ; 2 Kings 2:1-25 Citron. 32:1; Jeremiah 39:2 ; Ezekiel 26:10 ), but is used also in a metaphorical sense for injuring and ruining a country (see especially 2 Chronicles 21:17 ). The son of Tabeal ; or, Tubal . "Tab-ill" appears to be a Syrian name, founded upon the same pattern as Tab-rimmon ( 1 Kings 15:18 ), rite one meaning "God is good, "the other "Rimmon is good."... read more
And it was told the house of David - That is, the royal family; or the king and princes; the government. Ahaz was the descendant and successor of David.Syria is confederate with Ephraim - Ephraim was one of the tribes of Israel, and the kingdom of Israel was often called “Ephraim,” or the kingdom of Ephraim; in the same way as the tribes of Judah and Benjamin were called the kingdom of Judah. The phrase, ‘is confederate with,’ is in Hebrew ‘resteth on;’ see the margin. The meaning is, that... read more
Then said the Lord - In regard to the purposes for which Isaiah was sent to meet Ahaz, and the reason why this place was selected, see the Analysis of the chapter.Thou and Shear-ashub - The meaning of the name “Shear-jashub” is, ‘the remnant shall return.’ The names which Isaiah gave to his sons were significant or emblematic of some important events which were to occur to the Jews. They were for “signs” to the people, and had been given in order to keep before the nation the great truth that... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 7:1-7
The designs of the wicked, however well laid, easily brought to naught by God. It would be difficult to find a scheme, humanly speaking, more prudent and promising than that now formed by Rezin and Pekah. They had each measured their strength against that of Ahaz singly, and had come off decided victors from the encounter. What doubt could there be of success when their arms were united? And success would be a matter of the greatest importance to them. It would enable them to form a compact... read more