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Chapter 7[a]

The Coming of Immanuel.[b] During the period when Ahaz, the son of Jotham and the grandson of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and King Pekah of Israel, the son of Remaliah, went forth to conquer Jerusalem, but they were unable to mount an attack against it. When the house of David was informed that Aram had pitched camp in Ephraim, the heart of King Ahaz and the hearts of his people began to tremble just as trees of the forest shake in the wind.

Then the Lord said to Isaiah: Go forth with your son Shear-jashub[c] to meet Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the road to the Fuller’s Field, and say to him, Pay close attention to me. Remain calm and be unafraid. Do not let your courage fail because of these two smoldering stumps of firewood. Do not yield to the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and the son of Remaliah, or become fearful because Aram, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have been plotting against you and saying, “Let us go forth and attack Judah. Let us tear it apart, force it to surrender to us, and appoint the son of Tabeel[d] there as king.”

Therefore, thus says the Lord God:

This will not happen,
    either now or ever.
For the head of Aram is Damascus
    and the head of Damascus is Rezin.
The head of Ephraim is Samaria,
    and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah.
Within sixty-five years
    Ephraim will no longer be a people.
If you do not stand firm in your faith
    you will not stand firm at all.

10 [e]Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying:

11 Ask the Lord, your God for a sign;
    let it be as deep as the netherworld
    or as high as the heavens.

12 But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask. I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 Then Isaiah said:

Listen, O house of David!
    Are you not satisfied to try the patience of men?
    Must you also try the patience of my God?
14 Therefore, you will be given this sign
    by the Lord himself:
The virgin will be with child,
    and she will give birth to a son,
    and she will name him Immanuel.
15 He will feed on curds and honey
    by the time he learns to reject the bad
    and choose the good.
16 Before that child has learned
    to reject the bad and choose the good,
deserted will be the lands
    of those two kings whom you dread.
17 The Lord will inflict on you,
    and on your people and your father’s house,
days far worse than any that have been seen
    since Ephraim[f] broke away from Judah—
    you will become subjects of the king of Assyria.
18 When that day arrives,
    the Lord will summon flies from the distant streams of Egypt
    and bees from the land of Assyria.
19 They will all come forth and settle
    in the steep ravines and in the clefts of the rocks,
    on all the thornbushes and in all the pastures.
20 On that day the Lord will shave
    with a razor hired from across the river[g]
    (with the king of Assyria)
the head and the hair between the legs
    as well as the beard.
21 When that day comes,
    each man will keep a young cow and two sheep,
22 and because of the abundant milk they give
    he will subsist on curds.
For all those who are left in the land
    will eat curds and honey.
23 On that day,
    wherever there used to be a thousand vines
worth a thousand pieces of silver,
    that area will then be covered
    with brambles and thornbushes.
24 Men will go there with bows and arrows,
    for the entire country will be covered
    by briers and thorns.
25 For fear of briers and thorns
    you will not venture upon any hills
    that used to be hoed with a hoe.
They will become a place for cattle to graze
    and where sheep may tread.

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 7:1 The “Book of Immanuel” records the major interventions of Isaiah in the politics of the kingdom of Judah, especially from 734–732 B.C., that is, at the time of the Syro-Ephraimite war which was on the point of dragging the throne of David down to destruction (see 2 Ki 16:5). In this period of uncertainty, a promise kindles a light: a boy child will be born and named Immanuel, that is, “God with us.” For Christians, this promise finds its complete fulfillment in the coming of Jesus. Some later oracles have been inserted into the Book of Immanuel.
  2. Isaiah 7:1 Assyrian expansion roused concern throughout the Near East, while the kingdom of Israel plotted to free themselves from the Assyrian yoke. Their intention was to bring the king of Jerusalem into this affair, by force if necessary. The undertaking was a dangerous one and could cost this king his throne and put an end to the house of David. The king of Judah, in order to escape from the pressure of his neighbors, was going to put himself under the protection of mighty Assyria and was ready to become its vassal. But Isaiah stood up to him: the king must trust in God alone.
  3. Isaiah 7:3 Shear-jashub: a symbolic name, signifying “a remnant will return” (see Isa 10:20-22). The pool was south of Jerusalem.
  4. Isaiah 7:6 Tabeel: a region across the Jordan. The two kings want to put someone not of Davidic descent on the throne of Judah.
  5. Isaiah 7:10 King Ahaz hesitates and does not know what to do with a sign from heaven. In God’s name Isaiah announces a solemn promise: a virgin will bear a son; his name, “God with us,” signifies salvation. The child’s nourishment recalls the great days of nomadic life and of the Exodus, the ideal period when Israel was poor and close to God. It foretells, along with a hereditary ruler, a different age, and a different Messiah, expectation of whom will never be erased from the Hebrew heart. Later on, the Greek tradition will specify that the “young woman” who is to give birth is a virgin (v. 14). Matthew and the Christian tradition will see this prediction as completely fulfilled in the coming of Jesus, the true Immanuel, born of the Virgin Mary by a supernatural intervention (Mt 1:23).
  6. Isaiah 7:17 Ephraim: though but one region, it stands here for the entire northern kingdom. The division of the two kingdoms went back to 931 B.C.
  7. Isaiah 7:20 The river is the Euphrates. Prisoners were shaved to disfigure and shame them.

At nangyari, nang mga kaarawan ni Achaz na anak ni Jotham, anak ni Uzzias, na hari sa Juda, na si Rezin na hari sa Siria, at si Peca na anak ni Remalias, hari sa Israel, ay nagsiahon sa Jerusalem upang makipagdigma laban doon; nguni't hindi nanganaig laban doon.

At nasaysay sa sangbahayan ni David, na sinasabi, Ang Siria ay nalakip sa Ephraim. At ang puso niya'y nakilos, at ang puso ng kaniyang bayan na gaya ng mga punong kahoy sa gubat na kinilos ng hangin.

Nang magkagayo'y sinabi ng Panginoon kay Isaias, Lumabas ka na iyong salubungin si Achaz, ikaw, at si Sear-jasub na iyong anak, sa dulo ng padaluyan ng tipunan ng tubig sa itaas, sa lansangan ng parang ng nagpapaputi ng kayo;

At sabihin mo sa kaniya, Ikaw ay magingat, at tumahimik ka; huwag kang matakot, o manglupaypay man ang iyong puso ng dahil sa dalawang buntot na apoy na ito na umuusok, ng dahil sa mabangis na galit ng Rezin at Siria, at ng anak ni Remalias.

Dahil sa ang Siria ay pumayo ng masama laban sa iyo, ang Ephraim din naman, at ang anak ni Remalias, na nagsasabi,

Magsiahon tayo laban sa Juda, at ating bagabagin, at ating papasukin sila, at tayo'y maglagay ng hari sa gitna niyaon, sa makatuwid baga'y ang anak ni Tabeel:

Ganito ang sabi ng Panginoong Dios, Hindi matatayo o mangyayari man.

Sapagka't ang pangulo ng Siria ay ang Damasco, at ang pangulo ng Damasco ay ang Rezin: at sa loob ng anim na pu't limang taon ay magkakawatakwatak ang Ephraim, upang huwag maging bayan:

At ang pangulo ng Ephraim ay ang Samaria, at ang pangulo ng Samaria ay ang anak ni Remalias. Kung kayo'y hindi maniniwala, tunay na hindi kayo mangatatatag.

10 At ang Panginoon ay nagsalita uli kay Achaz, na nagsasabi,

11 Humingi ka sa ganang iyo ng tanda na mula sa Panginoon mong Dios; humingi ka maging sa kalaliman, o sa kaitaasan sa itaas.

12 Nguni't sinabi ni Achaz, Hindi ako hihingi, ni tutuksuhin ko man ang Panginoon.

13 At kaniyang sinabi, Dinggin ninyo ngayon, Oh sangbahayan ni David; maliit na bagay ba sa inyo ang mamagod sa mga tao na inyong papagurin rin ang aking Dios?

14 Kaya't ang Panginoon nga ay magbibigay sa inyo ng tanda; narito, isang dalaga ay maglilihi, at manganganak ng isang lalake, at tatawagin ang kaniyang pangalan na Emmanuel.

15 Siya'y kakain ng mantekilla at pulot, pagka siya'y natutong tumanggi sa kasamaan, at pumili ng mabuti.

16 Sapagka't bago maalaman ng bata na tumanggi sa kasamaan, at pumili ng mabuti, pababayaan ang lupain ng dalawang haring iyong kinayayamutan.

17 Ang Panginoon ay magpapasapit sa iyo, at sa iyong bayan, at sa sangbahayan ng iyong magulang ng mga araw na hindi nangyari mula ng araw na humiwalay ang Ephraim sa Juda; sa makatuwid baga'y ang hari sa Asiria.

18 At mangyayari sa araw na yaon, na susutsutan ng Panginoon ang langaw na nasa kahulihulihang bahagi ng mga ilog ng Egipto, at ang pukyutan na nasa lupain ng Asiria.

19 At sila'y magsisidating, at silang lahat ay mangagpapahinga sa mga gibang libis, at sa mga bitak ng malalaking bato, at sa lahat ng mga tinikan, at sa lahat ng mga sukal.

20 Sa araw na yaon ay aahitin ng Panginoon ang ulo at ang balahibo ng mga paa, ng pangahit na inupahan, ang nangasa bahagi ng dako roon ng Ilog, ang hari sa Asiria: at aalisin din ang balbas.

21 At mangyayari sa araw na yaon, na ang isang tao ay magaalaga ng guyang baka, at ng dalawang tupa;

22 At mangyayari, na dahil sa kasaganaan ng gatas na kanilang ibibigay ay kakain siya ng mantekilla: sapagka't ang bawa't isa na naiwan sa gitna ng lupain ay kakain ng mantekilla at pulot.

23 At mangyayari sa araw na yaon, na ang bawa't dakong kinaroroonan ng libong puno ng ubas na nagkakahalaga ng isang libong siklong pilak, ay magiging dawagan at tinikan.

24 Paroroon ang isa na may mga pana at may busog; sapagka't ang buong lupain ay magiging mga dawag at mga tinikan.

25 At ang lahat ng burol na hinukay ng azarol, hindi mo paroroonan dahil sa takot sa mga dawag at sa mga tinikan; kundi magiging pagalaan sa mga baka, at yurakan ng mga tupa.

The Sign of Immanuel

When Ahaz(A) son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, King Rezin(B) of Aram(C) and Pekah(D) son of Remaliah(E) king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem, but they could not overpower it.

Now the house of David(F) was told, “Aram has allied itself with[a] Ephraim(G)”; so the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken,(H) as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.

Then the Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out, you and your son Shear-Jashub,[b](I) to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field.(J) Say to him, ‘Be careful, keep calm(K) and don’t be afraid.(L) Do not lose heart(M) because of these two smoldering stubs(N) of firewood—because of the fierce anger(O) of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.(P) Aram, Ephraim and Remaliah’s(Q) son have plotted(R) your ruin, saying, “Let us invade Judah; let us tear it apart and divide it among ourselves, and make the son of Tabeel king over it.” Yet this is what the Sovereign Lord says:(S)

“‘It will not take place,
    it will not happen,(T)
for the head of Aram is Damascus,(U)
    and the head of Damascus is only Rezin.(V)
Within sixty-five years
    Ephraim will be too shattered(W) to be a people.
The head of Ephraim is Samaria,(X)
    and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah’s son.
If you do not stand(Y) firm in your faith,(Z)
    you will not stand at all.’”(AA)

10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask the Lord your God for a sign,(AB) whether in the deepest depths or in the highest heights.(AC)

12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.(AD)

13 Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David!(AE) Is it not enough(AF) to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience(AG) of my God(AH) also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you[c] a sign:(AI) The virgin[d](AJ) will conceive and give birth to a son,(AK) and[e] will call him Immanuel.[f](AL) 15 He will be eating curds(AM) and honey(AN) when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, 16 for before the boy knows(AO) enough to reject the wrong and choose the right,(AP) the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.(AQ) 17 The Lord will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since Ephraim broke away(AR) from Judah—he will bring the king of Assyria.(AS)

Assyria, the Lord’s Instrument

18 In that day(AT) the Lord will whistle(AU) for flies from the Nile delta in Egypt and for bees from the land of Assyria.(AV) 19 They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices(AW) in the rocks, on all the thornbushes(AX) and at all the water holes. 20 In that day(AY) the Lord will use(AZ) a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River(BA)—the king of Assyria(BB)—to shave your head and private parts, and to cut off your beard(BC) also.(BD) 21 In that day,(BE) a person will keep alive a young cow and two goats.(BF) 22 And because of the abundance of the milk they give, there will be curds to eat. All who remain in the land will eat curds(BG) and honey.(BH) 23 In that day,(BI) in every place where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels,[g](BJ) there will be only briers and thorns.(BK) 24 Hunters will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers(BL) and thorns. 25 As for all the hills(BM) once cultivated by the hoe, you will no longer go there for fear of the briers and thorns;(BN) they will become places where cattle are turned loose and where sheep run.(BO)

Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 7:2 Or has set up camp in
  2. Isaiah 7:3 Shear-Jashub means a remnant will return.
  3. Isaiah 7:14 The Hebrew is plural.
  4. Isaiah 7:14 Or young woman
  5. Isaiah 7:14 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls son, and he or son, and they
  6. Isaiah 7:14 Immanuel means God with us.
  7. Isaiah 7:23 That is, about 25 pounds or about 12 kilograms