Isaiah as a Mini-Bible

Isaiahchapter 7

25 verses · ASV

This chapter sends 242 cross-references outward and receives 308 — heaviest partner: Isaiah.

Chapter summary

Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah march against Jerusalem in the days of Ahaz, and the house of David trembles like trees shaken by wind. Jehovah sends Isaiah, with his son Shear-jashub, to meet Ahaz at the conduit of the upper pool: the two invaders are only "two tails of smoking firebrands," and their plan to install the son of Tabeel will not stand — "if ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established." Ahaz refuses to ask a sign, so Jehovah gives one: the virgin conceives and bears a son named Immanuel (7:14, quoted of Christ in Matthew 1:23). Before the child knows to refuse evil and choose good, both threatening kings' lands lie forsaken; then Assyria comes — flies, bees, a hired razor, and a land of briers and thorns.

Drafted from Matthew Henry, Calvin, Gill, Clarke, JFB, and Barnes.

Context

Prophecy · Isaiah — see the Isaiah overview for the book's full setting.

14–25 Isaiah as a Mini-Bible

1 And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.

2 And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart trembled, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the forest tremble with the wind.

3 Then said Jehovah unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, in the highway of the fuller’s field;

4 and say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither let thy heart be faint, because of these two tails of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.

5 Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have purposed evil against thee, saying,

6 Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set up a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeel;

7 thus saith the Lord Jehovah, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.

8 For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken in pieces, so that it shall not be a people: