Isaiah 7

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Trouble With Aram

7 <1> Ahaz[67] was the son of Jotham.[68] Jotham was the son of Uzziah.[69] Rezin[70] was the king of Aram,[71] Pekah son of Remaliah[72] was the king of Israel. When Ahaz was king of Judah, Rezin and Pekah went up to Jerusalem to attack it, but they were not able to defeat the city.[73]

<2> The family of David received a message that said, "The armies of Aram and Ephraim[74] have joined together in one camp." When King Ahaz heard this message, he and the people became frightened. They shook with fear like trees of the forest blowing in the wind.

<3> Then the Lord told Isaiah, "You and your son Shear Jashub[75] should go out and talk to Ahaz. Go to the place where the water flows into the Upper Pool,[76] on the street that leads up to Laundryman's Field.

<4> "Tell Ahaz, 'Be careful, but be calm. Don't be afraid. Don't let those two men, Rezin and Remaliah's son,[77] scare you! They are like two burning sticks. They might be hot now, but soon they will be nothing but smoke. Rezin, Aram, and Remaliah's son became angry <5> and made plans against you. They said, <6> "Let's go fight against Judah and divide it among ourselves. Then we will make Tabeel's son the new king of Judah."'"

<7-9> But the Lord my Master says, "Their plan will not succeed. Damascus is the capital of Aram, and Rezin is the ruler of Damascus for now. Samaria is the capital of Ephraim, and Remaliah's son is the ruler of Samaria for now. But their plan will not happen. If you don't believe this, you will not survive.[78]"

Immanuel-God Is With Us

<10> Then the Lord spoke to Ahaz[79] again <11> and said, "Ask for a sign from the Lord your God to prove to yourself that this is true. You can ask for any sign you want. The sign can come from a place as deep as Sheol[80] or as high as the skies.[81]"

<12> But Ahaz said, "I will not ask for a sign as proof. I will not test the Lord."

<13> Then Isaiah said, "Family of David, listen very carefully! Is it not enough that you would test the patience of humans? Will you now test the patience of my God? <14> In spite of that, God, my Master, will still show you a sign:

Look at the young woman.[82]

She is pregnant,

and she will give birth to a son.

She will name him Immanuel.[83]

<15> He will eat milk curds and honey[84]

as he learns to choose good and to refuse evil.

<16> But before he is old enough to make that choice,

the land of the two kings you fear will be empty.

<17> But the Lord will bring troubled times to you. These troubles will be worse than anything since the time Israel separated from Judah. This will happen to your people and to your father's family when God brings the king of Assyria[85] to fight against you.

<18> "At that time the Lord will call for the 'Fly' that is now near the streams of Egypt, and he will call for the 'Bee' that is now in the country of Assyria. Those enemies will come to your country. <19> They will camp in the rocky canyons by the desert streams, near the bushes and watering holes. <20> The Lord will use Assyria to punish Judah. Assyria will be hired and used like a razor to shave off Judah's beard and to remove the hair from his head and body.[86]

<21> "At that time someone might keep only one young cow and two sheep alive. <22> But there will be enough milk for them to eat milk curds. In fact, everyone left in the country will eat milk curds and honey. <23> There are now fields that have 1000 grapevines, and each grapevine is worth 1000 pieces of silver. But those fields will be covered with weeds and thorns. <24> That land will be wild and used only as a hunting ground where people go with bows and arrows. <25> People once worked the soil and grew food on these hills, but at that time people will not go there, because the fields will be covered with weeds and thorns. It will be a place where cattle graze and sheep wander."