Albert Barnes Commentary Isaiah 7

In the days of Ahaz - Ahaz began to reign about 738 years before Christ. By a comparison of 2 Kings 16:5 with 2 Chronicles 28:5, it will be seen that Judea was twice invaded by Rezin and Pekah in the reign of Ahaz; see the Analysis of the chapter.

That Rezin ... - This confederacy was formed in the time of Jotham (2 Kings 15:37). But it was not carried into execution during his reign. It is evident from this place that it was executed in the early part of the reign of Ahaz, probably in the first or second year of his reign.

Syria - - ארם 'ărâm — so called from Aram (Genesis 10:22–23), a son of Shem, who populated its chief provinces.

It comprehended the country lying between the Euphrates east, the Mediterranean west, Cilicia north, and Phoenicia, Judea, and Arabia south (see the notes at Isaiah 17:1-14).

Syria of the two rivers is Mesopotamia. Syria of Damascus, so called because Damascus was its capital, extended eastward along Mount Libanus; however, its limits varied according to the power of the princes of Damascus.

After the reign of the Seleucidae, Syria came to denote the kingdom or region of which Antioch was the capital. In this context, it denotes the Syria lying around Damascus, of which Damascus was the capital. - “Calmet.”

King of Israel - Of the ten tribes, called the kingdom of Israel, or Samaria (Note, Isaiah 1:1).

Went up - Jerusalem was situated on hills and on the highest part of the land. However, it is possible that this language is derived from the fact that it was the capital. The language is used even when the region from which the traveler comes does not lie lower than the city. Thus, it is not uncommon to speak of going up to London, Paris, etc.

Could not prevail - In Hebrew, this means could not fight against it, that is, with a favorable result, or with success. He was not able to take it. That the allied kings did indeed besiege Ahaz is evident from 2 Kings 16:5: They came up to Jerusalem to war, and they besieged Ahaz, but they could not overcome him. The reason they could not take Jerusalem was likely twofold: not only was it a strong place and well defended, but there was also intelligence that their own dominions were threatened by an Assyrian invasion. Consequently, they could not prolong their siege of Jerusalem long enough to capture it.

And it was told the house of David - That is, the royal family; or the king and princes; the government. Ahaz was the descendant and successor of David.

Syria is allied with Ephraim - Ephraim was one of the tribes of Israel, and the kingdom of Israel was often called "Ephraim," or the kingdom of Ephraim, in the same way as the tribes of Judah and Benjamin were called the kingdom of Judah. The phrase "is allied with" is in Hebrew "rests on" (see the margin). The meaning is that Syria was "supported by" Ephraim, or was allied with Ephraim. The kingdom of Israel, or Ephraim, was situated "between" Syria and Jerusalem. Of course, the latter could not be attacked without marching through the former and without their aid. In this sense it was that Syria, or the Arameans, relied or "rested" on Ephraim. Though Syria was by far the stronger power, yet it was not strong enough to attack Jerusalem had the kingdom of Israel been opposed to it.

And his heart - The heart of the king - of Ahaz.

Was moved as the trees of the wood - This is a very beautiful and striking image. It expresses universal trembling, consternation, and alarm, as the trees are moved "together" when the wind passes violently over them. A similar expression is found in Ovid - in "Canace," Epistle XI, lines 76-77.

Ut quatitur tepido fraxina virga noto
Sic mea vibrari pallentia membra videres.

Then said the Lord - In regard to the purposes for which Isaiah was sent to meet Ahaz, and the reason why this place was selected, see the Analysis of the chapter.

You and Shear-jashub - The meaning of the name “Shear-jashub” is, ‘the remnant shall return.’ The names which Isaiah gave to his sons were significant or emblematic of some important events which were to occur to the Jews. They were for “signs” to the people, and had been given in order to keep before the nation the great truth that God was their protector, and that however much they might suffer or be punished, yet the nation would not be totally destroyed until the great Deliverer should come (see the note at Isaiah 7:14, and the note at Isaiah 8:3).

Why this name was given to this son, or on what occasion, is not certainly known. It is probable, however, that it was with reference to the future calamities and captivity of the Jews, denoting that a part of the people would return to the land of their fathers . The name was a remembrancer given by him as a prophet, perhaps, some time before this, that the nation was not to be wholly annihilated—a truth which Isaiah everywhere keeps before them in his prophecies (compare the note at Isaiah 6:13). “Why” Shear-jashub accompanied Isaiah now is not recorded. It might be as a pledge to Ahaz of the purpose of the Lord, that the people should not be destroyed. Ahaz may have been apprised of the reason why the name was given, and his presence might serve to mitigate his fears.

At the end of the conduit - A “conduit” is a pipe, or other conductor of water. The water flowed from a fountain, but was conducted to different receptacles for the supply of the city.

Of the upper pool - Or the upper receptacle, or pond. Robinson (“Bib. Researches,” i. p. 483) and Pococke (“Descr. of the East,” ii. pp. 25, 26) suppose that the upper and lower pools referred to by Isaiah were on the west side of the city, the ruins of which now remain. The upper pool is now commonly called by the monks “Gihon,” and by the natives “Birket el Mamilla.” It lies in the basin forming the head of the valley of Hinnom or Gihon, about seven hundred yards west-northwest from the Yafa gate, on the west of Jerusalem.

The sides of this pool are built of hewn stones laid in cement, with steps at the corners by which to descend into it. The bottom is level. There is no water-course, or other visible means, by which water is now brought into this reservoir, but it is probable that it was filled in the rainy seasons by the waters which flowed from the higher ground round about.

From this upper pool a part of the water was conveyed into the city to the pool of Hezekiah, lying within the walls, and situated some distance to the northeastward of the Yafa gate. Hezekiah stopped the upper watercourse of Gihon, and brought it straight down to the west side of the city of David (2 Chronicles 32:30; compare the notes at Isaiah 22:9).

This upper pool had a trench or ‘conduit,’ and a considerable part of the waters were allowed to flow through this to the lower pool. The ‘lower pool’ is mentioned in the Old Testament only once, and that by Isaiah (Isaiah 22:9), and there without any hint of its locality. There is now a large lower pool on the western side of Jerusalem, which is not improbably the one intended, and which stands in contrast with the one mentioned here. This pool is called by the Arabs “Birket es-Sultan.”

There is, at present, no other pool in the vicinity of Jerusalem to which the description in Isaiah can be well applied. This reservoir is situated in the valley of Hinnom or Gihon, southward from the Yafa gate. Its northern end is nearly upon a line with the southern wall of the city. The pool was formed by throwing strong walls across the bottom of the valley, between which the earth was wholly removed. A road crosses on the causeway at the southern end.

This reservoir was probably filled from the rains, and from the superfluous waters of the upper pool. It is now in ruins. The water from this pool would flow off into the valley of Hinnom, and thence, into the valley of Jehoshaphat or Kedron, or subsequently into the pool of Hezekiah, situated “within” the city (see the notes at Isaiah 22:9, Isaiah 22:11).

Why Ahaz was at that place, the prophet does not say. It is possible he was examining it, to see whether the fountain could be stopped up, or the water diverted so that it could not be used by the enemy, and so that they could be prevented from maintaining a protracted siege (compare 2 Chronicles 32:4).

It is probable that the king had gone to this place attended by many of his counselors. As this was the main source of the supply of water to the city, a multitude would be there. This would give Isaiah an opportunity not only to deliver his message to Ahaz and his court but also to do so in the presence of a considerable concourse of people, and he might thus inspire confidence among the alarmed and dejected inhabitants of the city.

In the highway of the fuller’s field - In the place occupied as a situation on which to spread, or suspend cloth that was bleached, or dyed. This situation would be chosen because much water was needed in bleaching or dyeing cloth. The name ‘highway’ denotes the public path, or road that led to this field. Probably, on one side of this highway was the aqueduct, and on the other the fuller’s field. Of the fuller’s field, Eusebius and Jerome merely say that it was shown in their day in the suburbs of the city (“Onom.” art. “Ager Fullonis.”).

Take heed – Hebrew ‘Keep yourself;’ that is, from fear.

Neither be fainthearted – Hebrew, ‘Let not your heart be tender;’ that is, let it not be easily moved; be strong, fearless.

For the tails ... – There is much beauty and force in this comparison. The design of Isaiah is to diminish the fear of Ahaz.

Instead, therefore, of calling them firebrands – burning and setting on fire everything in their way – he calls them the tails, that is, the ends, or remains of firebrand – almost consumed themselves, and harmless.

And instead of saying that they were burning and blazing, he says that they were merely smoking – the half-burned, decaying remains of what might have been once formidable.

The prophet also is just about to announce their approaching destruction by the Assyrians . He, therefore, speaks of them as already almost extinguished and incapable of doing extensive injury.

Son of Remaliah – Pekah (Isaiah 7:1). ‘It is by way of contempt that the king of Israel is not called by his own name. The Hebrews and Arabians, when they wish to speak reproachfully of anyone, omit his proper name and call him merely the son of this or that, especially when his father is but little known or respected. So Saul names David, in contempt, the son of Jesse; (1 Samuel 20:27, 1 Samuel 20:31).’ – “Hengstenberg.”

And vex it — Margin, ‘Weaken it.’ Probably the word means to throw into consternation or fear by besieging it — Gesenius.

And let us make a breach in it — Let us break down the walls, etc.

And set a king — Subdue it, and make it tributary to the allied kingdoms of Syria and Ephraim.

The son of Tabeal — Nothing more is known of this person. He might have been some disaffected member of the royal family of David who had sought the aid of Rezin and Pekah, and who would be allied to them, or tributary to them. It is possible that he already had a party in Jerusalem in his favor. . Probably, the two kings wished to cut off such portions of the territory of Judah as would be convenient to them and to set a king over the remainder who would be under their control; or to divide the whole between themselves by setting up a king who would be tributary to both.