Syro-Ephraimite War

The Syro-Ephraimite War took place in the 8th century BC, when Assyria was a great regional power. The smaller nations of Syria (often called Aram) and the northern Kingdom of Israel (often called Ephraim because of the main tribe) formed a coalition in defense against the oncoming threat. They had previously been tributary nations to Assyria, and they finally decided to break away. The southern kingdom of Israel, known as Judah, refused to join the coalition. Judah was ruled by King Ahaz. In 735 BC Syria, under Rezin, and Israel, under Pekah, attempted to depose Ahaz through an invasion. Judah was being defeated and, according to 2 Chronicles, lost 120,000 troops in just one day. Many significant officials were killed, including the king's son. Many others were taken away as slaves. (Telling of the same war, 2 Kings 16:5 states that Rezin and Pekah besieged Jerusalem but failed to capture it.)

During the invasion, the Philistines and Edomites were taking advantage of the situation and raiding towns and villages within the Southern Kingdom. Ahaz called out to Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria for help. The Assyrians defended Judah, conquering Israel, Syria, and the Philistines, but the post-war alliance only brought more trouble for the king of Judah. Ahaz had to pay tribute to Tiglath-Pileser III with treasures from the Temple in Jerusalem and the royal treasury. He also built idols of Assyrian gods in Judah to find favor with his new ally.

The Immanuel child
The Immanuel child prophecy of the book of Isaiah is closely related to the Syro-Ephraimite War. Isaiah 7-12 is portrayed as happening concurrently to the Syro-Ephraimite war. The Hebrew prophet Isaiah tells the Judean King Ahaz that the invasion will be unsuccessful and tells him to ask God for a sign. Ahaz refuses, claiming he does not want to test God (Deut 6.16). Isaiah then announces that God himself will choose the sign: "A young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (meaning 'God is with us'). He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted." (Isaiah 7:14-16 Revised Standard Version). The significance is that Assyria will not overtake Judah because God is with them. Ahaz's refusal to select the sign will lead Assyria directly to the gates of Judah.

The next chapter details another prophecy about a child by the name of Maher-shalal-hash-baz (meaning 'Quick to plunder, speedy to spoil'). Isaiah then explains that the significance of this name is that before this child can speak, Assyria will plunder both Syria and Ephraim.

Isaiah concludes these prophecies concerning his children (Shear-Jashub (meaning 'a remnant returns', Isaiah 7.3), Immanuel (meaning 'God is with us'), and Maher-shalal-hash-baz (meaning 'quick to plunder, speedy to spoil') by saying, 'Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.' (Isaiah 8.18 NIV) Interestingly enough, the context continues into chapter 9 which also uses a birth of a child as its object.