The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary

} “Shear-jashub” This is Isaiah’s first son. His name means “a remnant shall return” of chapter10:20-23. The very fact that Isaiah is told to take his son to meet the king shows that his name hadrelevance to the subject of the meeting. It could refer to1. only a small part of the invading army will survive to return home2. only a small part of faithless Judah will survive. Isaiah uses the concept of “a faithfulremnant” often. See Special Topic at 1:9.} “at the end of the conduit of the upper pool” This relates to the Gihon spring which suppliesJerusalem with water during sieges. This spring was also used in the coronation of the kings of Judah.Ahaz was checking the preparations for a siege. He was checking his resources!7:4-9 This is YHWH’s message to Ahaz through Isaiah. The first part addresses Ahaz.1. take care, BDB 1036, KB 1581, Niphal IMPERATIVE2. be calm, BDB 1052, KB 1641, Hiphil IMPERATIVE3. have no fear, BDB 431, KB 432, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE sense4. do not be fainthearted, BDB 939, KB 1236, Qal IMPERFECT used in a JUSSIVE senseThe cause of Ahaz’s fear was the invasion plans of Syria and Israel (v. 5).YHWH characterizes the thoughts of the Syro-Ephraimite coalition (v. 6).1. let us go up against Judah, BDB 748, KB 828, Qal IMPERFECT used in a COHORTATIVE sense2. cause it a sickening dread (NASB margin), BDB 880, KB 1089, Hiphil IMPERFECT used in aCOHORTATIVE sense3. make for ourselves a breach in its walls, BDB 131, KB 149, Hiphil IMPERFECT used in aCOHORTATIVE sense4. set up the son of Tabeel as king, BDB 573, KB 590, Hiphil IMPERFECT used in aCOHORTATIVE senseYHWH describes His plans in v. 7.1. it shall not stand, BDB 877, KB 1086, Qal IMPERFECT2. nor shall it come to pass, BDB 224, KB 243, Qal IMPERFECTYHWH is in control of history, not human armies, whether Syria/Israel or Assyria. However, there is arequirement on behalf of Judah’s leadership—they must believe/trust YHWH’s word (v. 9)!1. believe, BDB 52, KB 63, Hiphil IMPERFECT, PLURAL (royal court and leadership, cf. vv.13,14)2. shall not last (lit. “be confirmed”), BDB 52, KB 63, Niphal IMPERFECT, PLURALThis same play on the meaning of 0/! is found in II Chr. 20:20. This same VERB is used in II Sam.7:16 in relation to the permanence of the Davidic kingship. In a covenant relationship YHWH choosesnot to act if His covenant partners refuse to believe/trust in Him (cf. 30:15). See Special Topic on“Believe” at 22:25.} “these two stubs of smoldering firebrands” The two invaders are depicted as soon-to-be “hasbeens.”Syria (i.e., Damascus) fell to the Assyrians in 732 B.C. and Israel (i.e., Samaria) fell in 722 B.C.The number (65 years) found in v. 8 is difficult to reconcile with our current historical informationabout this period of history.7:6NASBNKJVNRSVNJBPeshittaREB“make. . .a breach in its walls”“make a gap in its walls”“conquer it”“destroy it”“make a breach in it”“break her spirit”101