War Against Jerusalem

2 Nephi 17:1

The King of Syria and the King of Israel (Ephraim) unsuccessfully attack King Ahaz at Jerusalem (Judah).

And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin, king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.

2 Nephi 17:2

Ahaz (Judah, the house of David) frightfuly learns that Syria has joined forces with Ephraim.

And it was told the house of David, saying:

“Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.”

2 Nephi 17:3–6

God tells Isaiah to go and meet Ahaz, the king of Judah, to tell him to not be afraid and to warn him about Rezin (Syria) and Pekah (Ephraim) who are plotting to depose Ahaz and replace him with the Son of Tabeal as a puppet king.

Then said the Lord unto Isaiah:

“Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the fuller’s field; And say unto him:

“Take heed,
and be quiet;
fear not,
neither be faint–hearted
for the two tails
of these smoking firebrands,
for the fierce anger
of Rezin with Syria,
and of the son of Remaliah.

“Because Syria, Ephraim,
and the son of Remaliah,
have taken evil counsel against thee, saying:

“Let us go up against Judah
and vex it,
and let us make
a breach therein for us,
and set a king in the midst of it,
yea, the son of Tabeal.’””

2 Nephi 17:7–9

God assures Isaiah that Rezin of Damascus (Syria) and Pekah of Samaria (Ephraim) will soon fall.

Thus saith the Lord God:

“It shall not stand,
neither shall it come to pass.

“For the head of Syria is Damascus,
and the head of Damascus, Rezin;
and within three score and five years
shall Ephraim be broken that it be not a people.

“And the head of Ephraim is Samaria,
and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son.

“If ye will not believe
surely ye shall not be established.”

2 Nephi 17:10–11

The Lord tells Ahaz to ask for an extravagant sign.

Moreover, the Lord spake again unto Ahaz, saying:

“Ask thee a sign of the Lord thy God; ask it either in the depths, or in the heights above.”

2 Nephi 17:13–17

The Lord promises to give a sign anyway: A virgin will give birth to a son.

And he said:

“Hear ye now, O house of David; is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?

“Therefore, the Lord himself shall give you a sign— Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and shall bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil and to choose the good.

“For before the child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that thou abhorrest shall be forsaken of both her kings. The Lord shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon thy father’s house, days that have not come from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah, the king of Assyria.”