Charles Spurgeon Commentary Isaiah 7:16

"For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land whose two kings thou abhorrest shall be forsaken." — Isaiah 7:16 (ASV)

This was the authoritative sign. Judah could not be destroyed, for our Lord was to spring from Judah; and this was the sign that Judah must stand, because Immanuel must be born of that nation, and the time for this great event was fixed by the Lord. Until a child is a few years old, he does not distinguish between good and evil; but in a shorter time than it would take a child to reach the age of responsibility, God intended to cut off both those kings, and he did so.

This was a very wonderful prophecy, and ought to have filled Ahaz with great delight, and with confidence in God; but it did nothing of the kind.

Now we are going to read more of the story of this king Ahaz.