Isa 7:4, 15, 22 | JFB | e4.org | 4. Take heed, &c.—that is, See that thou be quiet (not seeking Assyrian aid in a fit of panic). tails —mere ends of firebrands, almost consumed themselves (about soon to fall before the Assyrians, ), therefore harmless. smoking —as about to go out; not blazing. son of Remaliah —Pekah, a usurper ( ). The Easterners express contempt by designating one, not by his own name, but by his father's, especially when the father is but little known ( ).

‏ Isaiah 7:4

4. Take heed, &c.—that is, See that thou be quiet (not seeking Assyrian aid in a fit of panic).

tails—mere ends of firebrands, almost consumed themselves (about soon to fall before the Assyrians, Isa 7:8), therefore harmless.

smoking—as about to go out; not blazing.

son of Remaliah—Pekah, a usurper (2Ki 15:25). The Easterners express contempt by designating one, not by his own name, but by his father's, especially when the father is but little known (1Sa 20:27, 31).

‏ Isaiah 7:15

15. Butter—rather, curdled milk, the acid of which is grateful in the heat of the East (Job 20:17).

honey—abundant in Palestine (Jud 14:8; 1Sa 14:25; Mt 3:4). Physicians directed that the first food given to a child should be honey, the next milk [BARNABAS, Epistle]. HORSLEY takes this as implying the real humanity of the Immanuel Jesus Christ, about to be fed as other infants (Lu 2:52). Isa 7:22 shows that besides the fitness of milk and honey for children, a state of distress of the inhabitants is also implied, when, by reason of the invaders, milk and honey, things produced spontaneously, shall be the only abundant articles of food [MAURER].

that he may know—rather, until He shall know.

evil . . . choose . . . good—At about three years of age moral consciousness begins (compare Isa 8:4; De 1:39; Jon 4:11).

‏ Isaiah 7:22

22. abundance—by reason of the wide range of land lying desolate over which the cows and sheep (including goats) may range.

butter—thick milk, or cream.

honey—(See on Isa 7:15). Food of spontaneous growth will be the resource of the few inhabitants left. Honey shall be abundant as the bees will find the wild flowers abounding everywhere.