---
title: "Bullinger"
description: "it came to pass in the days of. See note on Genesis 14:1 .  Ahaz. For the history explaining this prophecy see 2 Kings 15:37 - Isaiah 16:5 .  Rezin. See"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/bullingers-companion-bible-notes/isaiah/7"
---

**it came to pass in the days of.** See note on [Genesis 14:1](../../../kjv/genesis/14/1) .
**Ahaz.** For the history explaining this prophecy see [2 Kings 15:37](../../../kjv/2-kings/15/37) - [Isaiah 16:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/16/5) .
**Rezin.** See [2 Kings 16:5-9](../../../kjv/2-kings/16/5-9) .
**Pekah.** His was the last prosperous reign in Israel. It began in the last year of Uzziah, king of Judah.
**the son of Remaliah.** Repeated for emphasis in verses: [Isaiah 7:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/7/1) , [Isaiah 7:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/7/4) , [Isaiah 7:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/7/5) , [Isaiah 7:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/7/9) .
A murderer 2Ki 16:25 ).
**could not prevail against it.** Compare [2 Kings 16:5](../../../kjv/2-kings/16/5) .

**the house of David.** Not to Ahaz only, but to the house which had received the promise of Jehovah's protection ([2 Samuel 7](../../../kjv/2-samuel/7) ).
**Ephraim.** The leading tribe, put by Figure of speech *Synecdoche* (of Part), for the rest of the ten tribes. Sometimes called "Samaria" ([1 Kings 16:24](../../../kjv/1-kings/16/24) ).
**His** . i.e. Ahaz.
**wind.** Hebrew. *ruach.* App-9 .

**Shear-jashub** = the remnant shall return.
**highway.** Occurs in the "former" portion, here, [Isaiah 11:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/11/16) ; [Isaiah 19:23](../../../kjv/isaiah/19/23) ; [Isaiah 33:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/33/8) ; [Isaiah 35:8](../../../kjv/isaiah/35/8) ; [Isaiah 36:2](../../../kjv/isaiah/36/2) ; and in the latter portion, [Isaiah 40:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/40/3) ; [Isaiah 49:11](../../../kjv/isaiah/49/11) ; [Isaiah 57:14](../../../kjv/isaiah/57/14) (verb); [Isaiah 59:7](../../../kjv/isaiah/59/7) (paths); [Isaiah 62:10](../../../kjv/isaiah/62/10) (verb and noun).

**for** = because of. firebrands. Compare [Amos 4:11](../../../kjv/amos/4/11) .[Zechariah 3:2](../../../kjv/zechariah/3/2) . Not like the stump of Judah ([Isaiah 6:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/6/13) ).
**for** = consisting of.

**vex** = terrify.
**the son of Tabeal:** i.e. Rezin, king of Syria.

**the** = though the.
**Damascus:** which is soon to be spoiled.
**Rezin:** a firebrand soon to be quenched. He was the last independent king of Syria.
**and** = yet.
**threescore and five years.** To be made up thus: Ahaz 14 + Hezekiah 29 + Manasseh 22 = 65 (13 X 5). Fulfilled in 567-6 B.C.
**that it be not a people** = shall be no more a people. But Judah shall return ([Isaiah 6:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/6/13) ).

**If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.** Note the Figure of speech *Paronomasia* for emphasis and to attract attention to the importance of the sentence. Hebrew. *'im l'o tha'dminu, ki lo the'amenu,* which may be Englished thus: "If ye will not trust, ye shall not be trusted". Greek have no *belief. . .* find no relief; or, will not *understand. . . .* shall not *surely stand;* or, no *confiding* . . . no *abiding.* [Isaiah 7:17](../../../kjv/isaiah/7/17) shows that Ahaz did not trust.
**ye.** But specially referring to Ahaz. See note on "shall call" ([Isaiah 7:14](../../../kjv/isaiah/7/14) ).
**surely** = [know] that.

**Moreover.** It seems as though Isaiah wanted to see what Ahaz would say to [Isaiah 7:9](../../../kjv/isaiah/7/9) .
**spake.** This identifies the words with Jehovah Himself, and not merely with Isaiah. It shows the vast importance of the coming prophecy.
**again** = added. Literally added to speak. Occurs in this connection only again in [Isaiah 8:5](../../../kjv/isaiah/8/5) in this book.

**sign.** Hebrew. *'oth* , a present visible token or pledge, as in [Genesis 1:14](../../../kjv/genesis/1/14) . Ex. [Isaiah 4:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/4/4) ; Isa 4:9 ; Isa 12:13 ; and especially [Isaiah 8:18](../../../kjv/isaiah/8/18) . This word is used eight times in the "former" portion (here; [Isaiah 7:14](../../../kjv/isaiah/7/14) ; [Isaiah 8:18](../../../kjv/isaiah/8/18) ; [Isaiah 19:20](../../../kjv/isaiah/19/20) ; [Isaiah 20:3](../../../kjv/isaiah/20/3) ; [Isaiah 37:30](../../../kjv/isaiah/37/30) ; [Isaiah 38:7](../../../kjv/isaiah/38/7) , [Isaiah 38:22](../../../kjv/isaiah/38/22) ); and three times in the "latter" portion ([Isaiah 44:25](../../../kjv/isaiah/44/25) ; [Isaiah 55:13](../../../kjv/isaiah/55/13) ; [Isaiah 66:19](../../../kjv/isaiah/66/19) ). See App-79 and compare Hezekiah's sign ([Isaiah 38:7](../../../kjv/isaiah/38/7) ).
**God.** Hebrew. *Elohim.* App-4 .
**either.** Ahaz was not limited, and therefore without excuse.

**I will not ask.** He had already made up his mind to appeal to Assyria, and had probably sent messengers to Tiglath-Pileser ([2 Kings 16:7](../../../kjv/2-kings/16/7) . [2 Chronicles 28:16](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/28/16) ). His self-hardening is masked by his apparently pious words.
**the LORD.** Hebrew. *Jehovah.* (with *'eth)* = Jehovah Himself. App-4 .

**he:** i.e. Jehovah by the prophet; thus identifying Himself with this important prophecy.
**men.** Hebrew, plural of *'en6sh.* App-14 .

**the LORD*.** One of the 134 passages where Jehovah, in the primitive text, was altered by the *Sopherim* to "Adonai". See App-32 .
**a virgin.** Hebrew the virgin: i.e. some definite well-known damsel, whose identity was then unmistakable, though unknown to us. See [Matthew 1:21-23](../../../kjv/matthew/1/21-23) , [Luke 1:31](../../../kjv/luke/1/31) . See App-101 .
**virgin** = damsel. Hebrew. *ha-'almah* . It occurs seven times ([Genesis 24:43](../../../kjv/genesis/24/43) .[Exodus 2:8](../../../kjv/exodus/2/8) . [Psalms 68:25](../../../kjv/psalms/68/25) .[Proverbs 21:19](../../../kjv/proverbs/21/19) . [Song of Solomon 1:3](../../../kjv/song-of-solomon/1/3) ; [Song of Solomon 6:8](../../../kjv/song-of-solomon/6/8) , and [Isaiah 7:14](../../../kjv/isaiah/7/14) ). The Hebrew for virgin (in our technical sense) is *bethulah* , and occurs fifty times (2 x 52, see App-10 ). Its first occurrence is [Genesis 24:16](../../../kjv/genesis/24/16) , where, compared with Isa 7:43 , it shows that while every *Bethulah* is indeed an *Almah* , yet not every *Almah* is a *Bethulah* . The prophecy does not lose its Messianic character, for Mary, in whom it was fulfilled, is designated by the same holy inspiring Spirit as " *parthenos* " (not *gune)* . As a sign to Ahaz this damsel was an *almah* . As a sign, when the prophecy was fulfilled (or filled full), it was Mary, the *parthenos* or virgin.
**shall conceive, and bear** = is pregnant and beareth. Reference to Pentateuch. The two words occur together only here, [Genesis 16:11](../../../kjv/genesis/16/11) , and [Judges 13:5](../../../kjv/judges/13/5) , [Judges 13:7](../../../kjv/judges/13/7) ; and [Isaiah 7:12](../../../kjv/isaiah/7/12) shows that birth was imminent. Perhaps the *Almah* was "Abi" ([2 Kings 18:2](../../../kjv/2-kings/18/2) ; [2 Chronicles 29:1](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/29/1) ), but the son was not necessarily Hezekiah. See App-101 .
**Immanuel** = "GOD (' *El)* with us". Most codices, and six early printed editions, give it as two words. Some, with two early printed editions, as one word.

**Butter** = Curds. See [Genesis 18:8](../../../kjv/genesis/18/8) , [Deuteronomy 32:14](../../../kjv/deuteronomy/32/14) , &c.
**that he may know** = up to the time of his knowing: i.e. the prophecy shall come to pass while still a babe. See [Isaiah 7:16](../../../kjv/isaiah/7/16) .
**choose.** See note on [Isaiah 1:29](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/29) .

**For before.** This was the sign to Ahaz and all present. Compare the further sign, [Isaiah 8:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/8/4) , and see App-101 .
**child** = sucking child.
**the land** = the soil.
**abhorrest:** or vexest.
**shall be forsaken.** So it came to pass two years later. Compare [2 Kings 15:30](../../../kjv/2-kings/15/30) ; [2 Kings 16:9](../../../kjv/2-kings/16/9) . See note on [Isaiah 1:4](../../../kjv/isaiah/1/4) .
**of** = because of. Connect this with "abhorrest", not with "forsaken".
**both her kings:** i.e. Pekah and Rezin ([Isaiah 7:1](../../../kjv/isaiah/7/1) ).

**the king of Assyria.** This was fulfilled in [2 Kings 16:7](../../../kjv/2-kings/16/7) , and [2 Chronicles 28:19](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/28/19) , [2 Chronicles 28:20](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/28/20) .

**rivers of Egypt.** Reference to Pentateuch. Hebrew. *ye'or* . Twenty-nine times in. Genesis and Exodus (only twice in plural. [Exodus 7:19](../../../kjv/exodus/7/19) ; [Exodus 8:5](../../../kjv/exodus/8/5) ).

**thorns** = the thorn bushes.
**bushes** = the pastures.

**hired.** By Ahaz himself.

**And it shall come to pass.** Note the Figure of speech *Anaphora* , commencing verses: [Isaiah 7:21](../../../kjv/isaiah/7/21) , [Isaiah 7:22](../../../kjv/isaiah/7/22) , [Isaiah 7:23](../../../kjv/isaiah/7/23) , emphasizing the points of the prophecy.
**shall nourish, &c** .: i.e. no longer a land of olives and oil, but a poor pasturage. Compare [Jeremiah 39:10](../../../kjv/jeremiah/39/10) .

**abundance of milk.** Not because of the number of the cattle, but on account of the fewness of the people.
**butter and honey.** Not corn and wine and oil.
**in** = in the midst of.

**silverlings** = shekels: i.e. as rent. Compare [Song of Solomon 8:11](../../../kjv/song-of-solomon/8/11) .

**shall be digged** = should be digged (but were to go out of cultivation).
**shall not come thither** = thou wilt not come thither: i.e. venture to walk (without weapons, [Isaiah 7:24](../../../kjv/isaiah/7/24) ) where thou wast wont to plough in peace.
**the fear of** = for fear of.
**sending forth** = letting loose, or driving forth.
**treading** = trampling down.

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