THE MESSAGE TO AHAZ

7 This took place during the reign of Ahaz, son of Jotham, son of Uzziah king of Judah:c Aram’s King Rezin and Israel’s King Pekah son of Remaliah went to fight against Jerusalem,d but they were not able to conquer it.

2 When it became known to the house of Davide that Aram had occupied Ephraim,f the heart of AhazA and the hearts of his people trembled like trees of a forest shaking in the wind.

3 The Lord said to Isaiah, “Go out with your son Shear-jashubB,g to meet Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the upper pool,h by the road to the Launderer’s Field. 4 Say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Don’t be afraid or cowardlyi because of these two smoldering sticks, the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram, and the son of Remaliah. 5 For Aram, along with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has plotted harm against you. They say, 6 ‘Let’s go up against Judah, terrorize it, and conquer it for ourselves. Then we can install Tabeel’s son as king in it.’ ”

7 This is what the Lord God says:

It will not happen; it will not occur.j

8 The chief city of Aram is Damascus,

the chief of Damascus is Rezin

(within sixty-five years

Ephraim will be too shattered to be a people),

9 the chief city of Ephraim is Samaria,

and the chief of Samaria is the son of Remaliah.

If you do not stand firm in your faith,

then you will not stand at all.

THE IMMANUEL PROPHECY

10 Then the Lord spoke again to Ahaz: