Post by Nephi –
As I mentioned in the previous post, God sent Isaiah to Ahaz to warn him against the alliance with Syria and Israel against Assyria because in a short time Assyria would destroy both Syria and Israel. And if you remember Isaiah gave the sign of Immanuel as I discussed.
Another sign given of the imminent destruction of the alliance was when Isaiah gave his newborn son the name of Maher-shalal-hash-baz. I can’t imagine growing up with that kind of name so it must have been important to Isaiah and the Lord. In Hebrew that name literally means “the spoil speeds, the prey hastens.” This was an apparent allusion to the impending Assyrian destruction of the Syro-Ephraimite confederacy.
Isaiah gave several promises and prophesies about deliverance if Ahaz obeyed and destruction if he didn’t. These included the prophecy of his son as I mentioned just minute ago, where the child’s name would mean that Syria and Israel would soon be destroyed. It included the prophecy about the waters of Shiloah which was part of an elaborate water system in Jerusalem which was a metaphor of the serenity and peace if they trusted in the Lord, but if they reject the Lord, they would experience the mighty waters of the Assyrians. You might wonder if the waters of Shiloah were visible when Isaiah was meeting with Ahaz. It is very clear that human alliances are vain compared to having God with us.
Isaiah then, as instructed by the Lord, took a great scroll and wrote these prophecies as a permanent record to be read again in the future. He wanted all to know that these prophecies were written down as a witness that Isaiah was indeed a prophet writing the words of the Lord. He gave these scrolls to his disciples so they could be read in the future.
Another thing Isaiah warned against was seeking signs from dead spirits, mediums and witchcraft.
We know these prophecies came to pass. Ahaz did not join the alliance but rather than trust in the Lord he made an alliance with Assyria and eventually emptied the temple treasury to send tribute to Assyria. Both Syria and Ephraim were conquered. Syria never recovered and Ephraim was conquered again about 10 years later when many of the inhabitants were taken into exile to Assyria.
We also know that Ahaz’s son Hezekiah, who was a righteous king of Judah later revolted against Assyria by refusing to send tribute and Assyria came and destroyed many of the cities of Judah yet somehow Jerusalem was not destroyed, at that time anyway.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 18:1 – 22)
