Isaiah 7:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: “Let us go up against Judah and terrify it, and let us conquer it for ourselves, and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it,”

NIV: Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.'

NASB: Let’s go up against Judah and terrorize it, and take it for ourselves by assault and set up the son of Tabeel as king in the midst of it,'

CSB: Let's go up against Judah, terrorize it, and conquer it for ourselves. Then we can install Tabeel's son as king in it.' "

NLT: ‘We will attack Judah and capture it for ourselves. Then we will install the son of Tabeel as Judah’s king.’

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

NKJV: “Let us go up against Judah and trouble it, and let us make a gap in its wall for ourselves, and set a king over them, the son of Tabel”—

The allied kings of Israel and Syria have brought their armies south to Judah with a specific plan. They have not come just to conquer Judah and take its territory for themselves (Isaiah 7:5). They have come to kill King Ahaz and put a man of their choosing on his throne. This man is referred to as "the son of Tabeel."

It's unclear who the son of Tabeel was. But it is clear why these two kings want him in place as Judah's king. These two nations don't want to have to worry about fighting Judah when the Assyrians arrive from the east to attack them. They want to guarantee that Judah will have their back. They're afraid that Ahaz will stand with the Assyrians against them.

To accomplish this plan, the kings of Syria and Israel have already killed or captured tens of thousands of Ahaz's people throughout Judah (2 Chronicles 28). Now they are making their way to Jerusalem to take the walled city and plant their king in it (Isaiah 7:1). The Lord, though, is telling Ahaz to calm down and not to worry. These two kings will soon be gone (Isaiah 7:4).

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).

Accessed 5/6/2024 6:05:38 AM