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Nazarene Commentary 2000©

21^st Century Paraphrase of the Hebrew Scriptures© –
21^st Century Version of the Christian Scriptures© [NCMM]

THE PROPHET ISAIAH

CHAPTER SEVEN:
A VIRGIN BIRTH AND THE COMING ASSYRIAN

Isaiah 7:1, 2 – War with Syria

IS7:1 In happened during the days of Ahaz 302 – son of Jotham son of Uzziah king of Judah – that Rezin king of Syria 303 ascended to Jerusalem to war against it. However, he could not conquer the city.

302	Days of Ahaz: Compare 2 Kings 16:1, 2; 2 Chronicles 28:1.

303	Rezin king of Syria: Compare 2 Chronicles 16:5. [c777-746 BC]

IS7:2 Then the House of David was told: “Syria has become allied 304 with Ephraim.” 305 This caused his heart – and the heart of his people – to tremble, 306 just as the leaves of a forest tree shake in a wind.

304	Allied: Or, KJV: confederate; JPS: Aram had allied itself; NJB: Aram has halted in; RHM: settled down on; LXX: Aram has conspired with. “Aram” is a general term for Syria.

305	Ephraim: Compare Isaiah 11:13. “Ephraim” is a designation for the northern kingdom of Israel. [2 Chronicles 25:7]

306	Heart… tremble: Or, LXX: his soul was amazed; RHM: shook. The Greek LXX uses PSYCHE [soul].

Isaiah 7:3-6 – Planned Attack against Judah

IS7:3 Then Y^eH^oW^aH told Isaiah: “Go forth, please, to meet Ahaz – you and your son Shearjashub 307 – at the end of the channel of the upper pool, to the road of the laundryman’s field.

307	Shearjashub: One of Isaiah’s sons to be mentioned more. The name is cryptic and means “Only-A-Remnant-Will-Return.” [Isaiah 8:18]

IS7:4 And tell him: ‘Beware and remain calm. Do not be fearful, nor let your heart grow faint because of these two smoking ends of the same stick of firewood, 308 despite the glowing anger of Rezin and Syria and the son of Remaliah. 309

308

Two smoking ends of the same stick of firewood: Or, LXX: two smoking firebrands; JPS: two smoking stubs of firebrands; NJB: smoldering sticks; RHM: fag-ends; KJV: two tails. That is a piece of kindling burning at both ends. The old English word “fag [fagot]” meant a stick of wood. It came to refer to that switch with which some monks beat themselves against impure thoughts.

309	Son of Remaliah: That is, northern king of Israel, Pekah. [2 Chronicles 28:6]

IS7:5 For Syria has mischievously counseled 310 against you with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah with these words:

310	Mischievously counseled: Or, KJV: taken evil counsel; NJB: plotting; LXX: devised an evil counsel.

IS7:6 ‘Let us attack Judah and lay siege to it, divide it up among ourselves. Then appoint a ruler [in Judah], even the son of Tabeel.’” 311

311	Tabeel: That is, the father of. The name means “God-Is-Good.”

Isaiah 7:7-9 – A Warning from Yehowah

IS7:7 The Sovereign Lord Y^eH^oW^aH says: “It will all be a failure, for it will never come to pass. IS7:8 Despite the fact that the head of Syria is Damascus 312 – and the head of Damascus is Rezin – within sixty-five years 313 Ephraim will be shattered and become a non-existent people.

312	Damascus: The capital of Syria. A city still in the news today. Paul is converted there by the appearance of Christ.

313	Sixty-five years: About 720 BC. [2 Kings 17:6; Hosea 1:6]

IS7:9 Despite the fact that the head of Ephraim is Samaria – and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah – if you are not trustworthy, surely you cannot be trusted.” 314

314

If you are not trustworthy, surely you cannot be trusted: Or, LXX: if you believe not, neither will you at all understand; NJB: if you will not take your stand on me you will not stand firm [see footnote]; JPS: if you will not believe, for you cannot be trusted; RHM: if ye trust not surely ye cannot be trusted; KJV: if ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established; BAS: If you will not have faith, your kingdom will be broken; YNG: If ye do not give credence, Surely ye are not stedfast. [Considered a difficult passage.]

Isaiah 7:10-17 – A Sign of a Virgin Birth

IS7:10 And Y^eH^oW^aH continued to say more to Ahaz: IS7:11 “Ask for a sign from Y^eH^oW^aH your God – digging deep as Hades, 315 or ascend heaven-high 316.”

315	Digging deep as Hades: Or, KJV: in the depth; RHM: go down deep; JPS: down to Sheol; NJB: in the depths of Sheol; LXX: in the depth. [Some texts omit “Sheol.”] Compare Amos 9:2.

316	Ascend heaven-high: Or, LXX: in the height; JPS: up to the sky; RHM: ascend on high; KJV: in the height above. Note a similar phrasing by Paul at Romans 10:6, 7. [Matthew 11:23]

IS7:12 But Ahaz responded: “I will never ask, nor will I ever put Y^eH^oW^aH to the test.” 317

317	Put YeHoWaH to the test: Or, LXX: tempt; RHM: to the proof.

IS7:13 Then [Isaiah] said: “Listen, please, O House of David! Is it such an insignificant thing to tire of humans, 318 let alone that you become tired of my God?

318	Tire of humans: Or, KJV: weary men; JPS: treat men as helpless; NJB: satisfied with human patience; LXX: contend with men.

IS7:14 As a result Y^eH^oW^aH Himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin will conceive 319 and give birth to a son and you will name him – Immanuel. 320 [Matthew 1:23]

319

A virgin will conceive: Or, NJB: the young woman is with child; LXX: virgin. This important verses is quoted at Matthew 1:23 and applied to the mother of Jesus. Arguments have continued for two thousand years on the application. The Hebrew word ALMAH [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #5959, virgin, young woman… newly married] may be rendered by either “young woman” or “virgin.” Depending on the translator’s bias one is selected over the other. In the 3rd Century BC the Jews themselves in the LXX used the Greek word PARTHENOS as at Matthew 1:23 [Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance #3933]. It is possible that Matthew in his Hebrew version of the Gospel used ALMAH. Syriac versions use BETHULTHA [virgin].

320	Immanuel: The name means GOD-IS-WITH-US. See Isaiah 8:10 where the Hebrew is spelled out. That is – not God [= Jesus] is with us – but rather “God is on our side.” Considered to be another son of Isaiah with a cryptic name. [See Isaiah 8:18 and compare Hebrews 2:13.]

IS7:15 Honey and butter he will eat 321 by the time he knows to reject bad and choose good. 322

321	Honey and butter he will eat: That is, still very young. Three of Isaiah’s sons will be cryptic “signs and portents” regarding the impending doom against Israel.

322	He knows to reject bad and choose good: Compare Luke 2:40. The Christ learned very early what was good and bad. He followed goodness throughout his life. [Hebrews 1:9; 5:14]

IS7:16 For before the boy knows to reject the bad and chose the good, the land of those two kings you fear will be abandoned. IS7:17 Y^eH^oW^aH will bring upon you – and upon your people, and upon the house of your father – days that have not occurred from the day when Ephraim separated from Judah – namely, the Assyrian king!

Isaiah 7:18-20 – The Coming Assyrian

IS7:18 [Isaiah continues] “And it will occur in that day that Y^eH^oW^aH will give a signal for the flies throughout all of the Nile canals of Egypt, as well as to the bees that are in the land of Assyria. 323

323

Egypt… Assyria: Likely referring to the multitude of enemy soldiers to invade Israel. Assyria was a world power often associated with Egypt and Babylon. It’s territory include modern Iraq and neighbor powers in northern Mesopotamia. The first mention is with regard to the location of Eden. [Genesis 2:14; 10:11] For more details see notes on Daniel chapters 2 and 7 in Nazarene Apocalypse 2000©.

IS7:19 Then all of them will come and settle down in the desert ravines, and in the cracks of rocky cliffs, and all the thorn bushes, and on all the watered pastures. IS7:20 In that day – using the hired razor 324 in the area of the [Euphrates] river along with the Assyrian king – Y^eH^oW^aH will shave the head, even the hair on the privates, 325 even the hair of the beard will be swept away.

324	Hired razor: Or, LXX: hired razor; JPS: the razor that is hired.

325	Hair of the privates: Or, KJV: beard. See BDB, page 920 on “privates.”

Isaiah 7:21-25 – What Will Happen in that Day

IS7:21 [Isaiah continues] “It will occur in that day that a man will not slaughter a young cow and two sheep. IS7:22 It must occur with the abundance of milk such a man will eat butter, for all that remains in the land 326 will be butter and honey.

326	For all that remains in the land: That is, from the severity of the siege and invading armies there is considerable food shortage. One cannot afford to slaughter cattle and must rely on honey and butter.

IS7:23 It must occur in that day every where there used to be a thousand vines at a cost of a thousand silver coins there will be only cactus and thorns. 327

327	Cactus and thorns: Due to the dire straits under attack and the following desolating.

IS7:24 A man will arrive with only a bow and arrows 328 because all that remains are cactus and thorns.

328	Bow and arrows: That is, a hunter returning is without game as the land will not sustain such.

IS7:25 And all the hills once cleared of rocks with a hoe you will never approach for fear of cactus and thorns. 329 It will only be good for wandering oxen and for sheep and goats to trample.”

329	Cactus and thorns: Wild cactus and thorn-bushes spread widely and uncontrolled without human intervention.