Isaiah 7:2 - Exposition

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 22:3-36 ; 2 Kings 5:2 ; 2 Kings 6:8-24 ; 2 Kings 8:29 ; 2 Kings 10:32 ; 2 Kings 13:3 , 2 Kings 13:22 , 2 Kings 13:25 ). But occasionally, under the pressure of a great danger, the relations were changed, and a temporary league was formed. The inscriptions of Shalmaneser II . show such a league to have existed in the time of Benhadad II . and Ahab. The invasion of Pul, and the threatening attitude of Tiglath-Pileser. It had now once more drown the two countries together. On the use of the word "Ephraim" to designate the kingdom of Israel, see Hosea, passim . His heart was moved ; or, shook . If the two kings had each been able separately to inflict on him such loss (see the introductory paragraph), what must he not expect, now that both were about to attack him together? It is not clear whether Ahuz had as yet applied to Assyria for help or not.