2. The family of David received a message that said, “The armies of Aram and Ephraim have joined together in one camp.” When King Ahaz heard this message, he and the people became frightened. They shook with fear like trees of the forest blowing in the wind.
3. Then the Lord told Isaiah, “You and your son Shear Jashub should go out and talk to Ahaz. Go to the place where the water flows into the Upper Pool, on the street that leads up to Laundryman’s Field.
4. “Tell Ahaz, ‘Be careful, but be calm. Don’t be afraid. Don’t let those two men, Rezin and Remaliah’s son, frighten you! They are like two burning sticks. They might be hot now, but soon they will be nothing but smoke. Rezin, Aram, and Remaliah’s son became angry
5. and made plans against you. They said,
6. “Let’s go fight against Judah and divide it among ourselves. Then we will make Tabeel’s son the new king of Judah.”’”
7. But the Lord GOD says, “Their plan will not succeed. It will not happen
8. because Aram depends on its capital Damascus, and Damascus is led by its weak king Rezin. And don’t worry about Ephraim. Within 65 years it will be crushed, no longer a nation.
9. Ephraim depends on its capital Samaria, and Samaria is led by Remaliah’s son. So you have no reason to fear. Believe this, or you will not survive.”
10. Then the Lord spoke to Ahaz again
11. and said, “Ask for a sign from the Lord your God to prove to yourself that this is true. You can ask for any sign you want. The sign can come from a place as deep as Sheol or as high as the skies.”
12. But Ahaz said, “I will not ask for a sign as proof. I will not test the Lord.”