Two Kings March on Jerusalem
7 1 In the days of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but they could not overpower it. 2 When the house of David was told, "Aram has joined forces with Ephraim," the hearts of Ahaz and his people shook like trees in a forest shaking before the wind.
3 Then our Father said to Isaiah, "Go out to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the channel of the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer's Field, a a v3 Shear-jashub means "a remnant shall return" — the boy's name was itself a message of hope carried to a frightened king. 4 and say to him: Be careful, be calm, and do not be afraid. Don't lose heart over these two smoldering stubs of firebrands — over the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and the son of Remaliah. 5 Because Aram, along with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has plotted evil against you, saying, 6 "Let us march up against Judah, terrify it, and split it open for ourselves, and set up the son of Tabeel as king over it" 7 —this is what the Sovereign Father says: It will not stand, and it will not happen. 8 For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered—no longer a people. 9 The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you do not stand firm in faith, you will not stand at all.
The Father Speaks to Ahaz Again
10 Our Father spoke to Ahaz again, saying,
11 "Ask for a sign from your Father; make it deep as the grave or high as the heavens above."
12 But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put our Father to the test."
13 Then Isaiah said, "Listen, house of David! Isn't it enough that you weary people? Must you weary my Father too? 14 Therefore the Sovereign Father himself will give you a sign: Look — the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel. b b v14 Matthew applies this prophecy directly to Jesus, born of the virgin Mary (Matt 1:22-23). "Immanuel" means "God with us" — our Father drawing near in his Son. 15 He will eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to reject evil and choose good. 16 For before the boy knows how to reject evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be abandoned.
17 Our Father will bring upon you, upon your people, and upon your father's house days unlike any since the day Ephraim broke away from Judah — the king of Assyria.
18 In that day our Father will whistle for the fly from the far streams of Egypt and for the bee in the land of Assyria, 19 and they will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the clefts of the rocks, on all the thornbushes and at all the watering holes.
20 In that day the Sovereign Father will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River — the king of Assyria — to shave the head and the leg hair, and it will sweep away the beard as well. 21 In that day a man will keep alive a young cow and two sheep, 22 and because they give so much milk, he will eat curds; for everyone left in the land will eat curds and honey.
23 In that day every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand pieces of silver will become briers and thorns. 24 People will go there with bow and arrows, because all the land will be briers and thorns. 25 And as for all the hills once cultivated with the hoe, you will not go there for fear of the briers and thorns; they will become a place where cattle are turned loose and where sheep trample.