Because Syria hath taken counsel against thee, unto the evil of Ephraim and the son of Romelia, saying:
יַ֗עַן כִּֽי־יָעַ֥ץ עָלֶ֛יךָ אֲרָ֖ם רָעָ֑ה אֶפְרַ֥יִם וּבֶן־רְמַלְיָ֖הוּ לֵאמֹֽר׃
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
The prophet once more delivers the most profound affirmation of prophecy. As the audience stood in fear, confronted by calamities, they found their only solace in hopeful promises that surpassed their expectations. Recognizing their skepticism, the prophet offers a powerful indication that the predictions will indeed be fulfilled, unveiling the intentions of the opponents.
The son of Aramel and the son of Romelius conspired against you, suggesting, “Let us ascend to Judah; we can engage with them, and persuade them to ally with us, setting the son of Taveil as their ruler.” The Lord of hosts, however, declares that this plan will not succeed nor come to fruition. He makes it clear to Ahaz that he should not doubt the schemes devised against him, but at the same time, He assures him that he need not be overwhelmed by fear. Instead, acknowledging the truth of the conspiracies plotted by the two kings, He promises Ahaz assistance, enabling him to become more steadfast in his reliance on God, rather than be drawn into idol worship or the deceitful words of false prophets, who offer numerous falsehoods but withhold the truth.
Therefore, it is certain that these kings intend to join forces and persuade your people to abandon their loyalty, promoting the elevation of the son of Taveil as their king. Yet, the Lord affirms that this will not manifest. And who makes this promise? It is the Lord of hosts, the Sovereign of armies. If He chooses to grant victory to whomever He wills, who can alter His decree or oppose His divine purposes? Thus, He strengthens the faith of those who still harbor doubts, as it is not the healthy who need a physician, but the sick, as the Savior Himself stated (Matt. 9:12).
Moreover, it is important to note that the son of Aramel refers to the king of Syria, specifically Raasson, while the son of Romelius refers to Phakeus, who ruled over Israel, encompassing the ten tribes situated in Samaria.
Refer to Isaiah 7:1. Two minds that stand apart from the truth have conspired against the Church: the son of Aramlus, associated with a spirit of moral decay, which opposes the divine will, and the son of Romelius, embodying a corrupt form of circumcision that masquerades as wisdom. This latter seeks to mislead under the guise of profound teaching, steering believers away from the truth of God as revealed in the Church’s teachings, leading to a wicked conspiracy.
The schemes devised by the allied adversaries of the king of Judah and his kingdom will not prevail. This forms the latter part of the statement captured in these three verses, while the initial portion discloses the nature of their scheme—the scheme set forth by the son of Aramel, known as Rezin, the king of Syria, and the son of Romelius, identified as Pekah, the king of Israel. The Lord told Ahaz that they had gathered together in wicked counsel against him. They proposed, "Let us go against Judah, and once we have conferred with them, we will turn the people back to our cause." This indicates their intention to persuade the people of Judah to betray their rightful king, enticing them to join their faction.
If their plan were to succeed, it would appear straightforward for them to unseat Ahaz and place a certain son of Tabeel—a likely noble from Judah who had allied with them and agreed to serve them—to take his place in exchange for the royal authority promised to him. However, the Lord asserts this will not come to fruition; the conspiracies of the allied kings against Ahaz and his realm will fail. The Lord continues:
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS