\\INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 7\\

This chapter contains a prophecy of the preservation of the kingdom of
Judah, from its enemies; a confirmation of it by a sign; and a
prediction of various calamities that should come upon it, antecedent
to the accomplishment of that sign. The enemies of Judea are named, and
the besieging of Jerusalem by them, and the date of it, which was
without effect, are mentioned, \\#Isa 7:1\\ the fear and dread which
seized the house of David upon the news of this confederacy,
\\#Isa 7:2\\ the orders given by the Lord to the Prophet Isaiah, to
take with him his son, and meet Ahaz, at a certain place pointed at,
\\#Isa 7:3\\ whose errand was to comfort him, and exhort him to be
quiet and easy; since the conspiracy formed against him should be
fruitless, and the kingdom of Israel should be broken to pieces,
\\#Isa 7:4-9\\ after which the king is put upon asking a sign of the
Lord, for the confirmation of it; which he refusing to do, under a
pretence of tempting the Lord, is reproved; and a sign nevertheless is
given; which is that of the birth of the Messiah of a virgin, who would
be truly God, as his name Immanuel shows, and truly man, as his birth,
his food, and gradual knowledge of good and evil, prove,
\\#Isa 7:10-15\\ yea, it is suggested that the deliverance of Judea
from the two kings of Syria and Israel should be very speedy; even
before the young child Isaiah had with him was capable of knowing to
refuse evil, and chose good, \\#Isa 7:16\\ but as a chastisement of the
house of David for their incredulity in this matter, and slight of the
divine goodness, various things are threatened to befall them, before
the birth of the Messiah; even such as had not been since the revolt of
the ten tribes; as that their enemies, the Assyrians and others, should
come upon them in great numbers, and fill all places, so that they
would be in the utmost distress, and not be able to escape,
\\#Isa 7:17-19\\ there would be a great consumption of men of all
sorts, high and low, signified by shaving off the hair of the head,
beard, and feet; so that the few that remained would enjoy plenty,
\\#Isa 7:20-22\\ and for want of men to till the land, it would be
covered with thorns and briers; and because of wild beasts, the few men
in it would be obliged to defend themselves with bows and arrows,
\\#Isa 7:23,24\\ and yet, after this, the land should become fruitful
again, before the Messiah's coming, \\#Isa 7:25\\, as some interpret
it.