The Message to Ahaz

1During the reign of Jotham’s son Ahaz, Uzziah’s grandson, king of Judah, King Rezin of Aram and Remaliah’s son Pekah, king of Israel, approached Jerusalem and waged war against it, but theya could not mount an attack against it. 2When it was reported to the house of David, “Aram has joined forces with Ephraim!” theb heart of the people of Ahazc trembled like forestd trees in a windstorm.

3So the LORD told Isaiah, “Go out to meet Ahaz, you and your son Shear-jashub, at the end of the aqueduct of the Upper Pool that proceeds along the highway to Launderer’s Field. 4Tell him, ‘Be careful, be calm, don’t be afraid, and don’t lose heart because of these two smoldering stumps of torches, that is, because ofe the fierce anger of Rezin, from Aram, and Remaliah’s son. 5Aram, Ephraim, and Remaliah’s son have plotted this evil against you: 6“Let’s go attack Judah, let’s terrorize it, and let’s conquer it for ourselves. Then we’ll install Tabeel’s son as king!”’

7‘But this is what the Lord GOD has to say:

“‘It won’t take place.

It won’t ever happen.

8Because Aram’s head is Damascus,

and Rezin is its king,f

within sixty-five years

Ephraim will be shattered as a people.

9Furthermore, Ephraim’s head is Samaria,

and Remaliah’s son is its king.g

If all of you don’t keep on believing,

you’ll never remain loyal.’”h

God with Us

10Later on, the LORD spoke to Ahaz again: 11“Ask a sign from the LORD your God. Make it as deep as Sheoli or as high as heaven above.”

12But Ahaz replied, “I won’t ask! I won’t put the LORD to the test.”

13In reply, the LORDj announced, “Please listen, you household of David. Is it such a minor thing for you to try the patience ofk men? Must you also try the patience ofl my God?

14“Therefore the LORDm himself will give you a sign. Watch! The virginn is conceiving a child, and will give birth to a son, and his name will be calledo Immanuel.p 15He’ll eat cheeseq and honey, when he knows enough to reject what’s wrong and choose what’s right. 16However, before the youth knows enough to reject what’s wrong and choose what’s right, the land whose two kings you dread will be devastated.”

Conquest by Assyria

17“The LORD will bring to you, to your people, and to your ancestor’s house such a timer as has never been since Ephraim broke away from Judah—the king of Assyria will come.s

18“At that time,t the LORD will callu for flies that will come from far away—from the headwaters of Egypt’s rivers—and for bees that are in the land of Assyria. 19They will all come and settle in the steep ravines, in the rocky crevices, in all the thorn bushes, and in all the pastures.v 20At that time,w the LORD will hire a barberx to comey from beyond the Euphratesz River—that is, the king of Assyria—and he will shave your heads, your legaa hair, and your beards, too.

21“At that time,bb a man will keep alive a heifer and two sheep, 22and because of the abundance of milk that they give, he will have cheesecc to eat, since whoever remains in the land will be eating cheesedd and honey.

23“At that time,ee every place where once there were a thousand vines worth a thousand shekelsff of silver, only briars and thorns will grow.

24“People will come there armed with bowsgg and arrows, because the entire land will be nothing but briers and thorns. 25As for all the hills that used to be cultivated with a hoe, you won’t go there, because you’ll fear ironhh briars and thorns. Nevertheless, those hillsii will be reserved as a pasture where cattle will feed and where sheep will graze.”jj