Isaiah 7:1,2 - Aram has allied itself with Ephraim

7:1

Judah’s first danger came not from Assyria, but from Aram and Israel (ie the northern kingdom). Aram and Israel wanted Judah to join them in fighting Assyria. It was apparent that Assyria was set on conquest and they wanted to do something about it. These two nations were more immediately in line for attack than Judah. However, their attack on Jerusalem failed.

7:2

Ephraim is another name for the northern kingdom of Israel. The house of David is Judah. Ahaz, who was at the beginning of his reign, was shaken by the news of the attack. It is important in reading the prophets that we realise that their words were not spoken in a vacuum, but in real historical situations, and appreciating this helps us to better understand the meaning and significance of what the prophets say.