Trust in God’s sovereignty, not in shifting political alliances.
“Because Aram, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has planned evil against you, saying,” (v.5)
In this verse, the prophet Isaiah reports that the kingdom of Aram (ancient Syria, with Damascus as its capital) has joined forces with Ephraim—another name for the northern kingdom of Israel—and its king, Pekah, who is the son of Remaliah, to launch a hostile plot against Judah. Historically, this occurred during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah in the 8th century BC. Pekah ruled Israel from approximately 740 to 732 BC, while Aram wielded regional power centered around Damascus, north of Israel. Together, they formed an alliance often called the Syro-Ephraimite coalition.
This conspiracy served as a major threat to Judah. Aram, with its formidable military, and Israel, under Pekah’s leadership, aimed to attack Jerusalem and depose King Ahaz. The aggression stemmed from a desire to force Judah to join their revolt against the mighty Assyrian Empire, which was expanding rapidly. King Ahaz, described in 2 Kings 16, feared this alliance so greatly that he appealed to Assyria for help, rather than placing complete trust in the LORD’s deliverance. This distrust set the stage for Isaiah’s prophetic message, urging Ahaz to rely on God’s promises and not seek worldly alliances.
Overall, Isaiah 7:5 highlights the imminent danger and alarm surrounding Judah. The verse underscores humanity’s recurring struggle to trust in God when facing overwhelming threats and reveals that ignoring the LORD’s counsel can lead to disastrous entanglements with more powerful and exploitative nations.
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Isaiah 7:5 meaning
“Because Aram, with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has planned evil against you, saying,” (v.5)
In this verse, the prophet Isaiah reports that the kingdom of Aram (ancient Syria, with Damascus as its capital) has joined forces with Ephraim—another name for the northern kingdom of Israel—and its king, Pekah, who is the son of Remaliah, to launch a hostile plot against Judah. Historically, this occurred during the reign of King Ahaz of Judah in the 8th century BC. Pekah ruled Israel from approximately 740 to 732 BC, while Aram wielded regional power centered around Damascus, north of Israel. Together, they formed an alliance often called the Syro-Ephraimite coalition.
This conspiracy served as a major threat to Judah. Aram, with its formidable military, and Israel, under Pekah’s leadership, aimed to attack Jerusalem and depose King Ahaz. The aggression stemmed from a desire to force Judah to join their revolt against the mighty Assyrian Empire, which was expanding rapidly. King Ahaz, described in 2 Kings 16, feared this alliance so greatly that he appealed to Assyria for help, rather than placing complete trust in the LORD’s deliverance. This distrust set the stage for Isaiah’s prophetic message, urging Ahaz to rely on God’s promises and not seek worldly alliances.
Overall, Isaiah 7:5 highlights the imminent danger and alarm surrounding Judah. The verse underscores humanity’s recurring struggle to trust in God when facing overwhelming threats and reveals that ignoring the LORD’s counsel can lead to disastrous entanglements with more powerful and exploitative nations.