Reading for April 22nd

Read Isaiah 7.10-17. In 7.10-17: The king rejects a sign, showing that he had not abandoned his plan to seek help from Assyria. In verse 11: The sign indicated that the prophetic word would, in due course, be fulfilled. Sheol was the place to which the spirits of the dead descended and is here used for poetic emphasis. In verse 14: In spite of the traditional translation of the young woman as "virgin," the Hebrew noun implies no more than a woman of marriageable age. The prophet's right to confer the child's name indicates that she was probably his wife. In the context of concern about the future of the Davidic line, however, the child may be a royal heir, possibly Hezekiah, who succeeded Ahaz on the throne of Judah. The Later 'messianic" interprettation of prophecies relating to the Davidic kingship belongs to the period after this royal dynasty ceased to rule in Jerusalem (9.2-7; 11.1-5; 55.3-5). Immanuel, "God with us," is an exclamation used in worship to affirm God's presence and protection (see Ps 46.11). Ahaz had no need to seek help from assyria whenGod was his true helper. In verses 15-17 eating curds and honey and refusing the evil and choosing the good came at the time (1-2 years of age) when the child would begin to take solid food and respond to parental discipline. Within less than two years Judah's present enemies would have been forced to flee home. The day that Ephraim departed refers to the time when the united kingdom of Israel over which David and Solomon had reigned, split over allegiance to the Davidic dynasty (see 1 Kings 12.1-19). Comments or Questions..