Isaiah 7:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it.

NIV: When Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it.

NASB: Now it came about in the days of Ahaz, the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Aram and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not conquer it.

CSB: This took place during the reign of Ahaz, son of Jotham, son of Uzziah king of Judah: Aram's King Rezin and Israel's King Pekah son of Remaliah went to fight against Jerusalem, but they were not able to conquer it.

NLT: When Ahaz, son of Jotham and grandson of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah, the king of Israel, set out to attack Jerusalem. However, they were unable to carry out their plan.

KJV: 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 toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.

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

Isaiah 7 begins a new section in Isaiah's book. Here, he focuses on how God works out His will for Israel through specific historical events. It's important to understand the context of these times to follow how Judah's king and people are responding to the Lord.

The events of this chapter take place around 735 BC. It has been nearly 200 years since the nation of Israel split into two kingdoms. The northern kingdom, made up of ten of the twelve tribes, is called "Israel" or sometimes "Ephraim." The southern kingdom consists of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and is called "Judah." Isaiah is God's prophet to Judah.

At the moment Isaiah wrote his words, the massive Assyrian war machine threatened every nation in the region. Assyria is in modern-day Iraq. The kings of Israel and Syria, the nation north of Israel, have formed an alliance to take their stand against the Assyrians. They want Judah to join them in their alliance. But Ahaz, the king of Judah, is either neutral or he has already made an alliance with the Assyrians.

That's where things stand as chapter 7 opens. In Judah, where Isaiah is, it is the time of King Ahaz. It is possible that Ahaz's father Jotham is still alive and the two are leading as co-regents, although Ahaz is clearly in control of the nation.

Rezin is the king of Syria, and Pekah is king of Israel. They have brought their armies south to attack Judah. Both nations have likely already killed and captured tens of thousands of Judeans (2 Chronicles 28). They want to defeat Judah before the Assyrians attack them. This is in order that they don't have to fight both Assyria and Judah at the same time. They have not yet attacked Jerusalem, which is difficult to defeat, but they are preparing to do so.

Isaiah 7:1–9 describes the terror of Judah's King Ahaz and his people at the news that Israel and Syria have teamed up to defeat him. The Lord tells Isaiah to take his son and find Ahaz in a specific place. Isaiah reveals to Ahaz that what he fears will not happen. Syria and Israel will not conquer Jerusalem and divide up Judah and put someone else on Ahaz's throne. Instead, Israel will cease to be a people within 65 years. Ahaz must be firm in his faith in the Lord if he wishes to have any foundation.

Isaiah 7 begins with the threat of invasion from two of Judah's enemies: Israel and Syria. Judah's King Ahaz and his people are terrified. Speaking for the Lord, Isaiah tells Ahaz to not be afraid because it will not happen. Israel and Syria will soon be gone. Ahaz, though, refuses the Lord's command to ask for a sign. In response, Isaiah tells Ahaz that after Syria and Israel are destroyed, the Lord will use the king of Assyria to bring judgment on Judah through invading armies, emptying the land until little remains.

Isaiah 7 follows the description of Isaiah's commission as a prophet in Isaiah 6. Now the Lord tells him to go and speak to Judah's king Ahaz, who is terrified about an impending invasion from Syria and Israel. Isaiah promises this invasion will not happen. Instead, both nations will soon be destroyed. Ahaz refuses the Lord's command to ask for a sign to confirm His words. Isaiah tells Ahaz that after Israel and Syria are wiped out, the Lord will use the king of Assyria to bring harsh judgment against Judah in the form of relentless invading armies.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).