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Home , Ahaz, Isaiah 7, Pekahiah, Uzziah

Isaiah 7 The North, , and

Isaiah 7-13 Introduction(s)  Our reading for this week shows the chronology of the historical narrative.  In chapter 6, Isaiah is commissioned to prophecy and speak for to . This takes place in the year King died (6:1).  The following chapters show Isaiah’s ministry in the midst of a changing political landscape. Chapters 7-13 include prophecies with both an immediate threat from the north through Syria and (chps. 7-12) and later presages the coming threat from (chp. 13ff.). Through these oracles, God pronounces judgment against Israel and Assyria.  Chapter 7 picks up in the reign of , Uzziah’s grandson. Jotham, Uzziah’s son, reigned for 16 years before Ahaz became king. The prophecy of chapter 7 takes place roughly 15-20 years after Isaiah’s commission in chapter 6.

Isaiah 7  Chapter 7 begins with the approaching Syrians who are in league with the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim in 7:2)  According to 2 Kings 15-16, Ahaz began to reign in the 17th year of ’s reign over Israel. Pekah came to power by way of a violent coup against , the king of Israel. (2 Kings 15:16). During his reign, the Assyrians overtook parts of Israel (2 Kings 15:29). This could explain Pekah’s alliance with Syria. However here in Isaiah we learn that Pekah used that alliance to mount an attack against .  This causes Ahaz to fear and Isaiah is told by God to take his son Shear-jashub (“A remnant shall return”) to go and speak to King Ahaz.  In his first oracle, Isaiah prophecies to Ahaz telling him to not fear and included in the vision is that Ephraim will no longer be a people within 65 years (vss. 4-9).  Ahaz is then offered a sign, which he refuses by saying he will not put God to a test (vvs. 10-12).  Isaiah responds with God’s own sign for Ahaz in the face of this apparent attack - the sign of Immanuel. Note how the sign is shared and what it means in Isaiah’s day. Immanuel is a child to be born in that day, signifying “God with us” in that day. Before he reaches the age to differentiate between good and evil, God will have brought about judgment through Assyria that will wipe away Israel but also bring some sort of desolation on Judah (briars and thorns).