Isaiah 7:4

“And say unto him, take heed, and be quiet, &c.] Or “keep” thyself, not within the city, and from fighting with his enemies, but from unbelief, fear, and dread; or, as the Septuagint version, “keep” thyself, “that thou mayest be quiet”f122; be easy, still, and silent, and see the salvation of God: the Jewish writers interpret the first word of resting and settling, as wine upon the lees: (see <244811>Jeremiah 48:11): fear not; this explains the former: neither be fainthearted; or “let thy heart soft”f123, and melt like wax, through dread and diffidence: for the two tails of these smoking firebrands: meaning the two kings of Syria and Israel: and so the Targum, “for these two kings, who are as…”

“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 (Kg2 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 (Sa1 20:27, Sa1 20:31).”

“Take heed - Hebrew ‘Keep thyself;’ that is, from fear. Neither be fainthearted - Hebrew, ‘Let not thy heart be tender;’ that is, let it not be easily moved; be strong, fearless. For the tails ... - There is much beauty and force in this comparison. The “design” of Isaiah is to diminish the fear of Ahaz. Instead, therefore, of calling them “firebrands” - burning and setting on fire everything in their way - he calls them the “tails, that is, the ends,” or remains of firebrand - almost consumed themselves, and harmless. And instead of saying that they were “burning and blazing,” he says that they were merely “smoking” - the half-burned, decaying remains of what might have been once formidable.…”

“Be quiet - Settle thy mind by the belief of that joyful message which I am now to deliver thee from the Lord. Fire - brands - They are not whole fire - brands, but small pieces or ends of them, taken out of the fire, in which there is more smoak than fire. They have more of shew and terror, than of strength. Pekah, king of Israel, he calls only the son of Remaliah, to intimate, that he was unworthy the name of king, as having got that title by usurpation, and the murder of his master, Kg2 15:25. Isaiah 7:6”

“7:4 he doesn’t need to fear: This was a “fear not” prophecy (common in Isaiah) in which the Lord assured his people of his presence and purpose. • two burned-out embers: If Ahaz had God’s perspective, he would have seen that Rezin and Pekah were minor threats who were about to be extinguished.”

“Take heed: Isa 30:7, Isa 30:15; Exo 14:13, Exo 14:14; Ch2 20:17; Lam 3:26 fear not: Isa 8:11-14, Isa 35:4, Isa 41:14, Isa 51:12, Isa 51:13; Mat 10:28, Mat 24:6 neither be fainthearted: Heb. let not they heart be tender, Deu 20:3; Sa1 17:32 the two tails: Isa 7:8, Isa 8:4; Kg2 15:29, Kg2 15:30; Amo 4:11 Isaiah 7:5”

“No means were left untried. "And say unto him, Take heed, and keep quiet; and let not thy heart become soft from these two smoking firebrand-stumps: at the fierce anger of Rezin, and Aram, and the son of Remaliah." The imperative השּׁמר (not pointed השּׁמר, as is the case when it is to be connected more closely with what follows, and taken in the sense of cave ne, or even cave ut) warned the king against acting for himself, in estrangement from God; and the imperative hashkēt exhorted him to courageous calmness, secured by confidence in God; or, as Calvin expresses it, exhorted him "to restrain himself outwardly, and keep his mind calm within." The explanation given by Jewish expositors to…”