And thou shalt say to him: See thou be quiet: fear not, and let not thy heart be afraid of the two tails of these firebrands, smoking with the wrath of the fury of Rasin king of Syria, and of the son of Romelia.
וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֵ֠לָיו הִשָּׁמֵ֨ר וְהַשְׁקֵ֜ט אַל־תִּירָ֗א וּלְבָבְךָ֙ אַל־יֵרַ֔ךְ מִשְּׁנֵ֨י זַנְב֧וֹת הָאוּדִ֛ים הָעֲשֵׁנִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה בָּחֳרִי־אַ֛ף רְצִ֥ין וַאֲרָ֖ם וּבֶן־רְמַלְיָֽהוּ׃
5 Church Fathers comment on this verse
The prophet ventured forth to uplift their spirits and instill hope for what lies ahead. He urges them to settle their hearts and not be fearful, referring to the kings as charcoal heads to convey their might and steadfastness. He further implies that they are ‘smoking,’ suggesting they are on the verge of being snuffed out.
The Lord is undeniably kind and full of mercy, desiring that all people come to salvation and the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4). He establishes all things with great wisdom, simplifying the path to salvation for everyone (1 Tim. 4:4). This is evident in the events that unfolded; Ahaz, a man steeped in idolatry and wickedness, found himself in dire circumstances. Observing his plight, the Compassionate One recognized his deep suffering and swiftly indicated the possibility of redemption. He offered assistance on the condition that Ahaz renounce his idolatrous practices, commit to forsaking his former sins, and accept the light of true divine wisdom.
The prophet was thus instructed to approach him alongside Jasub, whose name means ‘forsakenness,’ serving as a symbolic representation for Ahaz, indicating that a faithful remnant of Judah would be saved. In this moment, the prophet becomes a reflection of God and confidently proclaims the promise of aid at the entrance of the village near the spring known for its purity. This spring symbolizes the life-giving waters of holy baptism, guiding us to both the path of righteousness and to a renewal that cleanses us from all impurities. Consequently, the promise remains steadfast and can be perceived as a personal assurance, subtly alluding to the expansive promise fulfilled in Christ.
The prophet advises Ahaz to remain silent and unafraid, cautioning against becoming weary from the burdens he bore. This call for calm and to live untroubled, along with a directive to avoid overwhelming fears, showcases a caring invitation to obedience, urging Ahaz to honor God's words and accept their truth. He refers to those who conspire against him as beings destined for imminent demise, drawing a parallel to trees or heads that smoke after being removed from fire, suggesting that soon they will be extinguished.
Understanding the deep fear and despair of Ahaz's people, particularly following their defeat by Phakeus, where a staggering one hundred and twenty thousand Jews succumbed in a single day, he reassures them. He proclaims that when his fury subsides, healing will follow, indicating that their fall came as a result of his wrath leading them into the hands of adversaries. Yet, even amidst his anger, the Lord assures that he will restore those who have suffered; for the One who allowed them to face calamity will surely bring them solace through His divine kindness and compassion.
It is thus stated, “Say unto Ahaz, Take heed that thou keep silence.” This counsel serves as a reminder for us to vigilantly protect our hearts (cf. Proverbs 4:23). When a mighty warrior stands guard, safeguarding his domain, his possessions remain secure (cf. Lk. 11:21). He remains quiet, having expelled rebellion and dissent, resisting the pull of fear and soul weariness, instead fortified by a spirit of resilience. We must not be intimidated by these two smoke-filled trees.
This admonition encourages us not to fear the deceptive reasoning and blasphemies proclaimed by outsiders, these being the two trees, or more accurately, two heads, that have forfeited their life-giving vigor and strength, lacking the bright flame but instead manifesting only dark smoke that tarnishes and corrupts those who encounter them, drawing forth tears from the eyes of those who draw near. To understand the dangers of these smoking heads, which arise from their noxious fumes, recall what Solomon conveys: “As the green grapes are harmful to the tooth and the smoke to the eyes, so is the law transgression to those who do it” (Proverbs 10:26). The green grapes symbolize the sinfulness of corrupted actions, while the smoke represents the peril of false knowledge, which distorts our sharp insight. When it is proclaimed that the fury of My wrath shall be, I will bring healing once more. This means that after administering just chastisements, when I assess that sufficient correction has been made, I will not forsake them to the burden of punishment, much like a physician reassures a patient: “Once I have performed the necessary surgery and cauterization, I will not neglect the wound or the site of the cauterization. For as soon as the purpose of the painful treatment is fulfilled, I will promptly attend to the rest and restore wholeness.”
The Lord instructed Isaiah to go and meet Ahaz, accompanied by his son Jasub, who remained. He was to convey a message to him, urging him not to be afraid, lest his spirit be troubled by the impending threat from these two fiery forces. At that time, the house of David, the kingdom of Judah, and its king were filled with fear because the Syrians and the Ephraimites had united to besiege Jerusalem. Just as a tree is swayed by the wind, so too was the house of Judah shaken. Then, the Lord spoke to Isaiah, saying, "Go out with your son Jasub." The significance of Isaiah’s words during this moment is unique among the prophets. He refers to the kings of Syria and Samaria as the ends of the head, highlighting their intent to wage war against the ultimate authority. He describes them as smoking heads, acknowledging their attempt to confront the One who is a consuming fire, as stated in Deuteronomy 4:24.
To comfort Ahaz, the prophet needed to convey that the threats he feared were not as formidable as he imagined. The fierce passion that fueled their plot against Judah would soon be doused, much like a burnt-out ember. The confederate kings who menace Ahaz with annihilation would find themselves imperiled by the Assyrians, who are poised to dismantle the realms of Israel and Syria. News of this impending peril would lead the allies to delay their invasion. Initially, it is true that they may inflict some damage on Judah, but a remedy for this affliction is already at hand: once the fury of My anger has been satisfied, I shall provide healing, saith the Lord. The Lord will transform His indignation towards Judah into compassion, redirecting it towards the Syrians and Israelites.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS