Isaiah 7:1

Context

Ahaz Receives a Sign

7:1 During¹ the reign of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, King Rezin of Syria and King Pekah son of Remaliah of Israel marched up to Jerusalem² to do battle, but they were unable to prevail against it.³

Isaiah 7:4

Context
7:4 Tell him, ‘Make sure you stay calm!⁴ Don’t be afraid! Don’t be intimidated⁵ by these two stubs of smoking logs,⁶ or by the raging anger of Rezin, Syria, and the son of Remaliah.

Isaiah 7:9

Context

7:9 Ephraim’s leader is Samaria,

and Samaria’s leader is the son of Remaliah.

If your faith does not remain firm,

then you will not remain secure.”⁷

[7:1] ¹tn The verb that introduces this verse serves as a discourse particle and is untranslated; see note on “in the future” in 2:2.

[7:1] ²map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.

[7:1] ³tn Or perhaps, “but they were unable to attack it.” This statement sounds like a summary of the whole campaign. The following context explains why they were unable to defeat the southern kingdom. The parallel passage (2 Kgs 16:5; cf. Num 22:11; 1 Sam 17:9 for a similar construction) affirms that Syria and Israel besieged Ahaz. Consequently, the statement that “they were not able to battle against them” must refer to the inability to conquer Ahaz.

[7:4] ⁴tn Heb “guard yourself and be quiet,” but the two verbs should be coordinated.

[7:4] ⁵tn Heb “and let not your heart be weak”; ASV “neither let thy heart be faint.”

[7:4] ⁶sn The derogatory metaphor indicates that the power of Rezin and Pekah is ready to die out.

[7:9] ⁷tn Heb “if you do not believe, you will not endure.” The verb forms are second plural; the Lord here addresses the entire Davidic family and court. (Verse 4 was addressed to the king.) There is a wordplay in the Hebrew text, designed to draw attention to the alternatives set before the king (cf. 1:20). “Believe” (תַאֳמִינוּ, ta’aminu) is a Hiphil form of the verb אָמָן (’aman); “endure” (תֵאָמֵנוּ, te’amenu) is a Niphal form of this same verb.