John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 7:6

"Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set up a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeel;" — Isaiah 7:6 (ASV)

Let us go up. That is, Let us make an invasion. The word נקיצנה (nekitzennah) is translated by some as Let us distress or afflict, an interpretation also suggested by the word's derivation. However, in this particular conjugation, it more accurately means “to stir up and arouse.” While I do not dismiss the former interpretation, I prefer the latter because it aligns better with the passage's scope.

Furthermore, I understand the word arouse to mean disturb and to cause revolutions—as we commonly say, to raise disturbances—thereby preventing the kingdom's tranquility from being preserved.

Let us open it to us. The following word, נבקיענה (nabkignennah), is interpreted by some as Let us break into it. Others translate it as Let us cause it to break up to us. I have translated it as Let us open, because בקע (bakang) also signifies what we commonly express by the phrase, to make a breach or opening.

Now, the way to open up the entrance to Judea was to rush through its fortifications by force of arms or, through the influence of fear, to induce timid and fickle persons to revolt. For as long as they remained loyal, entrance could not be gained; but when everything was disturbed by insurrections, an entrance could be made, making it easy to break through into the strongest and best-fortified places.

Thus, these two kings hoped that as soon as they entered Judea, they would immediately terrify the whole nation by the size and power of their army, so that there would be no ability or inclination to resist. When they assembled such a prodigiously numerous army, it is not likely that they relied on a long siege, for Jerusalem was strongly fortified. Instead, they thought that the inhabitants of Jerusalem would be terrified and alarmed at the sight of their forces and would be induced to surrender immediately. Yet, I leave it to every person to adopt whatever interpretation of these words he pleases, for regardless of the sense put upon them, the Prophet's meaning is not in doubt.

The son of Tabeal. Who this Tabeal was cannot easily be determined from history. He was probably some Israelite, an enemy of the house of David, whom those kings wished to install as one of their own dependents.