Isaiah 7:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The prophet explains that the people will depart from the city, but after sixty-five years, the entire nation will be laid waste; their adversaries will seize control and carry them away, and prior to this captivity, they shall have nothing more than what they currently hold.

Following Pekah’s death in Samaria, Hosea, the son of Elah, a wicked ruler given to idolatrous practices, ascended to the throne. During Hosea’s rule, Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, besieged Samaria, capturing Hosea and forcing him into servitude. After ravaging the entire region and removing the Israelites, he settled his own peoples from Halah and the cities of Sepharvaim in their place. It is suggested that these may have been tribes from Persia, as noted in the accounts of the kings.

This historical narrative serves as a reminder, as the prophet proclaims: ‘And the Lord saith, this counsel shall not remain, neither shall it be fulfilled: but the head of Aram shall be Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin: but yet six hundred and five years, the kingdom of Ephraim shall be emptied of men.’ The complicated wording can be rearranged to clarify: the leader of Aram, which refers to Syria, is Damascus, and the leader of Damascus is Rezin, meaning that the one who reigns over both the region and the city is their king. Moreover, the kingdom of Ephraim will dwindle in population, as it is destined to decline significantly in sixty-five years. Similarly, the head of Aram, Damascus, and the head of Damascus, Rezin, shall also face a decline. Tiglath-Pileser captured Damascus and Rezin, while Shalmaneser took Hosea, the king of Ephraim, which signifies that Samaria, the center of Ephraim, will experience a loss in its populace. The king of Ephraim is referred to as Samaria, reflecting the fact that Samaria was the principal city of the region.

When the prophet mentions Ephraim, he indicates Israel. The head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah, referred to as Pekah. This concept of dwindling is echoed throughout the message. The prophet further insists: ‘and if ye do not believe, ye cannot understand.’ This statement holds profound truth; those who reject God’s words through disbelief are unable to grasp their meaning. Thus, we must wholeheartedly embrace the revelations from God and readily accept His promises and declarations, for through such faith, understanding will flourish within us, and His wisdom will illuminate our minds.

To genuinely perceive the divine Scriptures, one must have faith, for as the prophetic declaration asserts, ‘unless ye believe, ye cannot understand.’

Ultimately, the complete removal of the remnants of Israel transpired under King Assargaddon of Assyria-Babylon during Manasseh's reign. Indeed, sixty-five years had passed: 15 years of Ahaz, 29 years of Hezekiah, and 21 years of Manasseh. Some, including Jerome, trace the start of these 65 years to the prophecy of Amos concerning the Israelites' exile, delivered during the reign of Ozias, king of Judah, 65 years prior to Samaria's downfall. The fate of nations, including those of Israel, Syria, and Judah, is determined by the will of the Lord Almighty. However, recognizing this truth requires faith. As the Lord states, addressing the disbelief of Ahaz and others who failed to acknowledge the supreme power of the one true God, understanding cannot be attained without belief.