Isaiah 7
7
1It was during the reign of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin, king of Aram, marched to attack Jerusalem. Pekah, son of Remaliah, king of Israel, joined in the attack, but they couldn't conquer the city.
2When the royal family of Judah was told,#7:2. “The royal family of Judah”: literally, “the house of David.” Also in verse 13. “Aram and Ephraim have an alliance,” Ahaz and his people were terrified and they shook like trees in the forest tossed about by the wind.
3Then the Lord told Isaiah, “Take your son Shear-jashub#7:3. His name means “a remnant shall return,” with you and go and meet Ahaz. He'll be at the end of the aqueduct of the upper pool, by the road to the laundry field. 4Tell him, ‘Calm down and keep quiet. Don't be afraid or scared over a couple of smoldering bits of firewood, over the burning anger of Rezin and Aram, and of Remaliah's son. 5Aram has plotted to destroy you together with Ephraim and Remaliah's son saying, 6Let's go and attack Judah! We'll terrorize it and conquer it for ourselves, and make Tabeel's son its king.’”
7But this is what the Lord God says, “This plan won't materialize—it just won't happen! 8For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin.#7:8. Suggesting that the plan was dependent merely on the ambition of one man. Similarly in following verse regarding Remaliah's son. In addition, within sixty-five years Israel#7:8. “Israel”: literally, “Ephraim,” the most prominent tribe of Israel. Also in the following verse. as a nation will be destroyed. 9The head of Israel is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If you don't trust in me, then you won't survive.”#7:9. “If you don't trust in me, then you won't survive.” There is a play on words in Hebrew. “In me”: supplied for clarity.
10Later the Lord sent another message to Ahaz, 11“Ask the Lord your God for a sign, whether as deep as where people are buried or as high as heaven.”
12“No, I'm not going to ask,” Ahaz replied. “I refuse to put the Lord to the test.”
13Then Isaiah said, “Listen, royal family of Judah! Isn't it enough for you to wear people out? Do you have to wear my God out too? 14This is why the Lord himself is going to give you a sign. Look! The virgin#7:14. “Virgin”: or “young woman.” The word used here is inclusive of both meanings. There is however a Hebrew word that exclusively means virgin but it is not used here, so the focus is not on the issue of viriginity. Matthew's reapplication of this prophecy should not blind us to its immediate application in the time of Ahaz. In this connection the rest of the prophecy should not be disregarded which in its immediate historical fulfillment (Isaiah 8) related to Isaiah's wife giving birth to a son. In her case she was not a virgin, since she had already given birth to a son previously. will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and she will call him Immanuel.#7:14. Immanuel means “God with us.” 15He will eat curds and honey until the time he knows to refuse evil and choose the good. 16For before the boy knows to refuse evil and choose the good, the land of the two kings#7:16. Referring to king of Aram and the king of Israel. you're afraid of will be deserted. 17The Lord will make you, your people, and the royal family experience a time unlike anything since the day Ephraim split from Judah. He will bring the king of Assyria to attack you!”#7:17. “To attack you.” Supplied for clarity.
18At that time the Lord will whistle to call flies from the distant rivers of Egypt and bees from the country of Assyria.#7:18. Obviously referring to the kings of Egypt and Assyria. Their armies are referenced in the next verse. 19They will all come and descend on the steep valleys and rock crevices, on all the thorn bushes and waterholes.
20At that time the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River, the king of Assyria, to shave you from head to toe, including your beards.
21At that time someone who manages to keep a young cow and two sheep alive 22will eat curds, because they produce so much milk—for everyone who survives in the land will eat curds and honey.
23At that time everywhere that once had a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels will only have brambles and thorns. 24People will go hunting there with bows and arrows because the land will be covered with brambles and thorns. 25In fact, all the hills that were once tilled by the hoe you won't want to go to because you'll worry about the brambles and thorns there. They'll just be where cattle are let loose and where sheep roam.
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Dr. Jonathan Gallagher. Released under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Unported License. Version 4.3. For corrections send email to jonathangallagherfbv@gmail.com
Isaiah 7
7
Isaiah Offers Hope to King Ahaz
1 #
2 K 16.5,6; 2 Ch 28.5,6. Ahaz, the son of Jotham and the grandson of Uzziah, was king of Judah when King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel went to attack Jerusalem. But they were not able to do what they had planned.#7.1 went … had planned: Or “attacked Jerusalem, but could not capture it.” 2When news reached the royal palace that Syria had joined forces with Israel, King Ahaz and everyone in Judah were so terrified that they shook like trees in a windstorm.
3Then the Lord said to me:
Take your son Shearjashub#7.3 Shearjashub: In Hebrew “Shearjashub” means “a few will return.” and go see King Ahaz. You will find him on the road near the cloth makers' shops at the end of the canal that brings water from the upper pool. 4Tell Ahaz to stop worrying. There's no need for him to be afraid of King Rezin and King Pekah. They are very angry, but they are nothing more than a dying fire. Ahaz doesn't need to fear 5their evil threats 6to invade and defeat Judah and Jerusalem and to let the son of Tabeel be king in his place.
7I, the Lord, promise that this will never happen. 8-9Damascus is just the capital of Syria, and King Rezin rules only in Damascus. Samaria is just the capital of Israel, and King Pekah rules only in Samaria. But in less than 65 years, Israel will be destroyed. And if Ahaz and his officials don't trust me, they will be defeated.
A Son Named Immanuel
10Once again the Lord God spoke to King Ahaz. This time he said, 11“Ask me for proof that my promise will come true. Ask for something to happen deep in the world of the dead or high in the heavens above.”
12“No, Lord,” Ahaz answered. “I won't test you!”
13Then I said:
Listen, every one of you in the royal family of David. You have already tried my patience. Now you are trying God's patience by refusing to ask for proof. 14#Mt 1.23. But the Lord will still give you proof. A virgin#7.14 virgin: Or “young woman.” In this context the difficult Hebrew word did not imply a virgin birth. However, in the Greek translation made about 200 b.c. and used by the early Christians, the word parthenos had a double meaning. While the translator took it to mean “young woman,” Matthew understood it to mean “virgin” and quoted the passage (Matthew 1.23) because it was the appropriate description of Mary, the mother of Jesus. is pregnant; she will have a son and will name him Immanuel.#7.14 Immanuel: In Hebrew “Immanuel” means “God is with us.” 15-16Even before the boy is old enough to know how to choose between right and wrong, he will eat yogurt and honey,#7.15,16 yogurt and honey: This may refer either to expensive foods eaten in a time of plenty or to a limited diet eaten in times of a food shortage. and the countries of the two kings you fear will be destroyed. 17But the Lord will make more trouble for your people and your kingdom than any of you have known since Israel broke away from Judah. He will even bring the king of Assyria to attack you.
The Threat of an Invasion
18When that time comes, the Lord will whistle, and armies will come from Egypt like flies and from Assyria like bees. 19They will settle everywhere—in the deep valleys and between the rocks, on every thornbush and all over the pastureland.
20The Lord will pay the king of Assyria to bring a razor from across the Euphrates River and shave your head and every hair on your body, including your beard.#7.20 shave … head … body … beard: This would have been a terrible insult.
21Anyone who is able to save only one young cow and two sheep, 22will have enough milk to make yogurt. In fact, everyone left in the land will eat yogurt and honey.#7.22 yogurt and honey: See the note at 7.15,16.
23Vineyards that had 1,000 vines and were worth 1,000 pieces of silver will turn into thorn patches. 24You will go there to hunt with your bow and arrows, because the whole country will be covered with thornbushes. 25The hills where you once planted crops will be overgrown with thorns and thistles. You will be afraid to go there, and your cattle, sheep, and goats will be turned loose on those hills.
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Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)
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