Representing the northern kingdom of Israel.
Representing the northern kingdom of Israel.
Meaning a remnant will return.
Following some ancient versions; the Hebrew text reads, make the request deep.
See note Matt. 11:231d.
Meaning God with us. The actual fulfillment of this sign was the birth of a son by Isaiah’s wife (8:3). The ultimate fulfillment was the incarnation, in which Jesus Christ was born of the virgin Mary as a child of a dual nature, the divine nature and the human nature, issuing in Immanuel, i.e., God with us, for the salvation of God’s people, including those of Israel and those of the church (Matt. 1:20-23 and notes). Christ, the God-man, the mingling of God and man, who is the Shoot of Jehovah and the fruit of the earth (Isa. 4:2), is Immanuel, God with us (Matt. 18:20; 28:20). Immanuel is all-inclusive; He is first our Savior (Luke 2:11), then our Redeemer (John 1:29), then our Life-giver (1 Cor. 15:45b), and then the all-inclusive indwelling Spirit (John 14:16-20; Rom. 8:9-11). Actually, the content of the entire New Testament is an Immanuel (Matt. 1:23; 18:20; 28:20; Rev. 21:3), and all the believers in Christ, as the members of Christ, are a part of this great Immanuel, the corporate Christ (1 Cor. 12:12; Col. 3:10-11). The sign of Immanuel consummates in the New Jerusalem, which will be the aggregate of Immanuel, the totality of God being with us.
This indicates that the lands of the two kings whom Ahaz dreaded would be abandoned, made desolate, by the king of Assyria (v. 16). God sent the army from Assyria in the northeast to deal with the king of Aram and the king of Israel, who were threatening Ahaz (Isa. 7:17-25; 8:5-8).
Signifying the soldiers.
I.e., the Euphrates.
The hair on the head signifies glory (1 Cor. 11:7, 15), the hair on other parts of the body signifies strength, and the beard signifies dignity. Thus, the glory, strength, and dignity of Judah would be removed through the “razor” of the king of Assyria.