Isaiah 7

“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…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart…” Naming David and Ephraim keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Then said the LORD unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou, and Shear-jashub thy son, at the end of the conduit…” Naming Ahaz and Isaiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Thus saith the Lord GOD , It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Moreover the LORD spake again unto Ahaz, saying,” Naming Ahaz and Moreover keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above.” Naming Ask keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD .” Naming Ahaz keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he said, Hear ye now, O house of David; Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“For before the child shall know to refuse the evil, and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“The LORD shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father’s house, days that have not come, from the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep;” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give he shall eat butter: for butter and honey…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that every place shall be, where there were a thousand vines at a thousand…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“With arrows and with bows shall men come thither; because all the land shall become briers and thorns.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And on all hills that shall be digged with the mattock, there shall not come thither the fear of briers and thorns…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.