IDENTIFICATION OF IMMANUEL IN THE CONTEXT OF ISAIAH 7:14 (3)

CHAPTER II

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Historical Background

The seventh chapter in the Book of Isaiah is begun by describing the military crisis that was confronting King Ahaz of the Kingdom of Judah. Around the year 732 B.C.E., the House of David was facing imminent destruction at the hands of two warring kingdoms: the Northern Kingdom of Israel, led by King Peqah ( ,(פֶּקַח) and the Kingdom of Syria (Aram), led by King Rezin ( רְצִין ). “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 toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it” (Isa 7:1).     

The historical setting of this text begins after King Jotham’s death as his son Ahaz feels the threat of the conquest  from Judah neighbour Syria and Ephraim. [1] Ahaz was distressed because Pekah, the king of Israel or the Northern kingdom and brother in blood, chose to align himself with the pagan king Rezin of Syria in threatening siege against the Holy city of Jerusalem. Rezin of Syria (Damascus) persuaded or coerced Pekah, the ruler of the kingdom of Samaria, to ally  with him an attack on Jerusalem with the purpose of forcing Ahaz to join their anti-Assyrian coalition. [2]  King Ahaz is terrified of impending invasion but God sent Isaiah with comforting word that the northen coalition will not succed to overthrow Ahaz (Isa 7:2-3, 7-9). [3]  

Ahaz was known as ungodly king-the most ungodly king to the date in the history of Judah. He was not a believer at all. He offered his own children as human sacrifices and built a pagan altar in the temple area. [4] He was a man who had been deliberately disobedient to God. Only such a man could reject the promise of help from God that was about to be extended to him.

Although Ahaz himself was a wicked king, the Lord had no intention of allowing the dynasty of David to become extinct (see Gen. 49:10; 2 Sam. 7:12, 13). [5] Fearing the invasion of his neighbors, Ahaz was inclined to call on the aid of the Assyrian conqueror, Tiglath-pileser. With this as the background, Isaiah tried to encourage all Judah, not be discouraged of the threatening of Rezin and  Pekah who aligned themselves to siege the Holy city of Jerusalem. Therefore Isaiah was sent to the king to inform him of the Lord’s purpose to preserve Judah and to defeat its invaders.

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[1]David L. McKenna, The Communcator’s Commentary, Old Testament, Volume 16a: Isaiah 1-39. (Dallas, Texas. Word Inc, 1993), p.125  

[2]Joseph Blenkinsopp, Isaiah 1-39: a New Translation with Introduction and Commentary,(New York, Random House inc.,2000) p.229  

[3]Joseph Blenkinsopp, Isaiah 1-39: a New Translation with Introduction and Commentary,(New York, Random House inc.,2000) p.229   

[4]See Rodney J. Decker. www.ntresources.com/documents/isa7_14.pdf

[5]The SDA Bible Commentary, v.4 (Washington, D.C., Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1976) P.132