Isaiah 7:5-6

7:5 Syria has plotted with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah to bring about your demise. ¹  7:6 They say, “Let’s attack Judah, terrorize it, and conquer it. ²  Then we’ll set up the son of Tabeel as its king.” ³ 

¹ tn This sentence opens with the conjunction יַעַן כִּי (ya’an ki, “because”). Consequently some take vv. 5-6 with what precedes, as another reason why Ahaz might be tempted to fear (see v. 4). However, it is more likely that vv. 5-6 give the basis for the Lord’s announcement in vv. 7-9. The conjunction יַעַן כִּי here introduces the basis for judgment (as in 3:16; 8:6; 29:13), which is then followed by the formal announcement of judgment.

² tn Heb “and let us break it open for ourselves”; NASB “make for ourselves a breach in its walls”; NLT “fight our way into.”

³ tn Heb “and we will make the son of Tabeel king in its midst.”