Explain the historical context of the Immanuel sign? Be specific with the political circumstances and persons involved.
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Course
Theology
Institution
Theology
God's promise to protect Judah from their enemies and provide them with an easy victory in battle is symbolized by the sign of Immanuel. King Ahaz of Judah was first terrified by the combined might of Israel and Syria. As "the sign of Immanuel," the Lord shows Ahaz a prophecy of future events. Isa...
Explain the historical context of the Immanuel sign? Be specific with the political
circumstances and persons involved.
God's promise to protect Judah from their enemies and provide them with an easy victory
in battle is symbolized by the sign of Immanuel. King Ahaz of Judah was first terrified by the
combined might of Israel and Syria. As "the sign of Immanuel," the Lord shows Ahaz a
prophecy of future events. Isaiah 7-8 shows how the kings of Israel and Damascus tried to
convince Ahaz to join their resistance against the Assyrian invasion. God has sent this as a sign
that He will defend Judah from their enemies and that they will soon enjoy the victory. In
addition, it was a source of encouragement for the people of Judah since it was a sign that God
would save them from their enemies1. The prophet Jeremiah has conveyed this promise.
There was a Syro-Ephramite crisis under the reign of Ahaz when Damascus and Israel
allied against Judah. Kings Rezin of Damascus, Pekah of Samaria, and Ahaz of Jerusalem played
pivotal roles in this conflict. Assyrian vassal states Syria and Israel sought autonomy. Ahaz, the
ruler of Judah, was threatened with an attack on Jerusalem and the installation of a puppet ruler
as part of their alliance to combat the Assyrian monarch (Isaiah 7:6). After the attack, Ahaz and
his people were terrified, but God sent Isaiah to reassure them that they had nothing to worry
about from the coalition. When King Ahaz approached Assyria for help, God sent Isaiah to
reassure him that the alliance between Syria and Israel would not hold. The country of Judah
would be safe from Israel's and Syria's plots, according to God's promise.
1
Lovell, Nathan. "Immanuel in Imperial Context: Isaiah, God, and History." Bulletin for Biblical
Research 32, no. 2 (2022): 123-140.https://doi.org/10.5325/bullbiblrese.32.2.0123
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