1 It was during the reign of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin, king of Aram, marched to attack Jerusalem. Pekah, son of Remaliah, king of Israel, joined in the attack, but they couldn’t conquer the city.
2 When the royal family of Judah was told,7:2. "The royal family of Judah": literally, "the house of David." Also in verse 13. "Aram and Ephraim have an alliance," Ahaz and his people were terrified and they shook like trees in the forest tossed about by the wind.
3 Then the Lord told Isaiah, "Take your son Shear-jashub7:3. His name means "a remnant shall return," with you and go and meet Ahaz. He’ll be at the end of the aqueduct of the upper pool, by the road to the laundry field. 4 Tell him, ‘Calm down and keep quiet. Don’t be afraid or scared over a couple of smoldering bits of firewood, over the burning anger of Rezin and Aram, and of Remaliah’s son. 6 Let’s go and attack Judah! We’ll terrorize it and conquer it for ourselves, and make Tabeel’s son its king.’"
9 The head of Israel is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If you don’t trust in me, then you won’t survive."7:9. "If you don’t trust in me, then you won’t survive." There is a play on words in Hebrew. "In me": supplied for clarity.
12 "No, I’m not going to ask," Ahaz replied. "I refuse to put the Lord to the test."
14 This is why the Lord himself is going to give you a sign. Look! The virgin7:14. "Virgin": or "young woman." The word used here is inclusive of both meanings. There is however a Hebrew word that exclusively means virgin but it is not used here, so the focus is not on the issue of viriginity. Matthew’s reapplication of this prophecy should not blind us to its immediate application in the time of Ahaz. In this connection the rest of the prophecy should not be disregarded which in its immediate historical fulfillment (Isaiah 8) related to Isaiah’s wife giving birth to a son. In her case she was not a virgin, since she had already given birth to a son previously. will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and she will call him Immanuel.7:14. Immanuel means "God with us." 16 For before the boy knows to refuse evil and choose the good, the land of the two kings7:16. Referring to king of Aram and the king of Israel. you’re afraid of will be deserted.