John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 7:1

"And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it." — Isaiah 7:1 (ASV)

And it came to pass. Here, a remarkable prophecy is related about the wonderful deliverance of Jerusalem when it appeared to have been utterly ruined. Now the Prophet explains all the circumstances, so that through them the miracle may be more fully displayed, and to make it clear that the city has been preserved not by the wisdom or power of man, but by the favor of God.

For the people were so ungrateful that, at the end of this event, they would not have understood that they had been delivered by the hand of the Lord if all the circumstances had not been explicitly recalled to them. And indeed, there were very few people who, in the hour of danger, ventured to hope for what Isaiah promised, because they judged themselves and the state of public affairs by present appearances.

Therefore, to make known the remarkable kindness of God, he enters into all the details, so that they may perceive from what danger and by whose hand they have been delivered. Let us also understand that this kindness was shown to ungrateful people, so that the Church might be preserved, and so that Christ might later appear.

It should be noted that the Prophet speaks of the second war, which was fought by Rezin and Pekah; this can easily be inferred from the sacred history. In the former war, Ahaz was defeated, and a great multitude were taken captive, who were eventually restored by the Israelites when the Prophet, in God's name, commanded it to be done.

Having again gathered an army (2 Kings 16:5), the kings of Israel and Syria attacked Ahaz, because they thought he had been exhausted by the former war and had no power to resist. The mention of this second war is intended to show the greatness of the miracle. Ahaz had no strength left to resist such a great multitude, as the flower of the whole nation had been swept away by the former war, and the people who remained were completely dispirited and not yet recovered from the terror of their recent defeat.

Therefore, the goodness and power of God are displayed all the more, in that, pitying such great distress, he gave assistance to his people and, in a moment, rescued them from the jaws of death when everyone considered their situation hopeless.

Went up. This may be regarded as a statement and summary of the whole event. He mentions the topics he is about to discuss and, in characteristic Hebrew expressions, briefly touches on those matters which he will later explain more fully and in detail. From the outset, he states the result: namely, that the expedition of the two kings was unsuccessful. Later, he will give the reasons why Jerusalem could not be stormed; but before doing so, he briefly notes King Ahaz's plan or design.