Isaiah 7

Isaiah 7:1

And it came to passe] The fifth Sermon.

in the dayes of Ahaz] In the third, or the beginning of the fourth yeare of his reigne. For within the fourth of his reigne was Pekah slaine, 2 Kings XV. 30, 33. in the twentieth yeare of Jotham, reckoning so both the four yeares of Jotham in his father Uzziahs life-time, and the sixteen yeares of his reigne after the death of his father. Or rather, reckoning from the beginning of Jothams sixteen. And so this will fall out in the fourth of Ahaz. See my Observations on 2 King. I. pag. 103. Of the death of Ahaz, See chap. XIV. 28.

that Rezin] Rezin and Pekah severaly by themselves, had made some attempt against Iudah, in the end of Iothams, or the very beginning of the reigne of Ahaz, and then mightily prevailed, 2 Kings XV. 37. 2 Chron. XXVIII. 5, 8. But now joyntly they bend their forces together, to make a full conquest: yet in this prevaile not; And so 2 Kings XVI. 5. One Rezon was the first King of Syria, 1 Kings XI. 23.

Isaiah 7:2

Syria] See the Observations on 2 Sam. VIII. 5.

as the trees] Their hearts quaked and quivered, as an aspin leafe. And the rather, because of what they had formerly suffered from them severaly. Which put them instantly upon dispatching of messengers, for aide, unto the King of Assyria, which God sends here to disswade them from, 2 Kings XVI. 7, 8.

Isaiah 7:3

Shear-jashub] Signifies the remnant shall returne. This name given him in a prophetical way: as that of his other sonne, chap. VIII. 3. and those of Hosheah, chap. I. 4, 6, 9. Here brought with Esay, because he was to make use of him in his message to Ahaz, v. 16.

upper poole] The very place where Rabshakeh afterwards stood, ch. XXXVI. 2. 2 Kings X. 17. See the Observations on Neh. III. 1. And the Annotations on this text of Esay.

Fullers field] See the Observations on Neh. III. 1.

Isaiah 7:6

the sonne of Tabeel] Uncertaine who. But whoever, a King to hold from and under them.

Isaiah 7:8

within sixty five yeares] From the fourth of Ahaz, to the four and twentieth of Manasseh, wherein he was carried to Babylon, by Esarhaddon, 2 Chron. XXXIII. 11. who withal swept away the remainder of those that Shalmaneser had left, Ezra IV. 2. are 65. years.

Isaiah 7:9

and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s sonne] Pekah. And he was slaine by Hoshea. And Rezin by Shalmaneser; both almost presently after; 2 Kings XV. 30. and chap. XVI. 9. See my observations on 2 Kings I.

Isaiah 7:11

Ask thee a signe] Seeing thou still remainest staggering and doubtful, for all this. A great grace offered to a gracelesse man.

Isaiah 7:12

I will not ask] Not as loath to tempt God; though he pretend that. But because he beleeved nothing of that the Prophet spake, and was resolved to go on another way, contrary to the Prophets minde; to seek help of the Assyrian, and not to rely on God and his help.

Isaiah 7:13

O house of David] Speaking as to him, so to his traine and attendants; alike herein faulty as he was.

weary my God] In distrusting him, and me his messenger?

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore] Or, Neverthelesse. Though you are unworthy of it by your refusal.

a signe] Such as never any was before it, or since.

a Virgin] This fell out in many ages after. And so things to ensue afterwards, are sometimes given for signes: as chap. XXXVII. 30. Exod. III. 12. Jer. XLIII. 9, 10. and LI. 63. By this signe God shewes that he can do a greater thing, then he promised to Ahaz, to save him by his help against those two Kings. And this signe indeed is the foundation of all Gods promises, and of the fulfilling of them; In this Sonne all the promises of God being Yea and Amen. This here is applied to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Matth. I. 18, 23. Luke I. 27, 35.

and beare a Sonne] A Virgin still, in, and after the birth; which continues on the strangenesse of this miraculous signe. Not yet but that otherwise he was borne in the ordinary maner, by the opening of the womb, Luke II. 22, 23.

Isaiah 7:15

Butter and honey] Meats that young children affect.

shall he eate] The Virgins Sonne.

that he may know] That he may grow up, and attaine to yeares of discretion, &c. Luke II. 52.

Isaiah 7:16

For before the childe] A childe: or rather, pointing to Shear-jashub. For no other use appears of his being there with his father, but this alone. See chap. VIII. 4.

Isaiah 7:17

The Lord shall bring] The Prophet now proceeds to foretel him, a farre worse evil then that he now feared, that should befall him and his, from the Assyrians themselves, whom he now so much rested upon.

King of Assyria] King or Kings collectively.

Isaiah 7:18

flie] Egyptians; or others neighbouring to them, 2 King? XXII. 33, 35.

Isaiah 7:19

holes of the rocks] As Bees do. Whence is that of honey out of the rock, Psalme LXXXI. 16. Deut. XXXII. 13.

Isaiah 7:20

that is hired] Ezek. XXIX. 18, 19. Or rather, 2 Kings XVI. 7, 8. So that Ahaz in issue, did but hire a razor to shave himself, and his estate.

The river] Euphrates.

Isaiah 7:21

And it shall, &c.] The condition of those that shoule be left in the Land, after this shaving.

a young cow and two sheep] That had numbers of them, before the plundering.

Isaiah 7:22

abundance of milke] Through the depopulation, and great paucity of inhabitants; and large pasturage occasioned thereby.

Isaiah 7:23

where there were a thosand vines, &c.] The richest and fruitfulest places, for want of husbanding and manuring, should be overgrowne with uselesse and harmful trash, ver. 24.

Isaiah 7:24

with arrowes] To defend themselves against wilde beasts, and other harmful creatures as might lurk there.

Isaiah 7:25

And on all hills] Such places on the hills, which the rich had by undue inclosures, fenced in for pleasure or profit, that such fences being now cast downe, they should lie open to cattel, great and small, to grase upon, and trample downe at pleasure.