The translation of verses 17-25 should not present great problems, but there is uncertainty about their overall meaning. This has bearing on where to place verse 17 in relation to the context. Most versions link verse 17 to the paragraph that contains the Immanuel prophecy and begin a new paragraph with verse 18. Several versions, such as New Jerusalem Bible and Bible en français courant, even begin a new section with verse 18. This is a valid option too. Like Good News Translation, some place verse 17 in a paragraph of its own.
Some interpret verse 17 as a promise of good times to come to Judah, as a result of the defeat of Syria and Israel announced in verse 16 (so New Jerusalem Bible footnote). Some even see verses 18-25 as an elaboration of the judgment that will come on the two enemy nations rather than on Judah. However, most commentaries and versions treat verses 17-25 as a passage detailing judgment on Judah, with the danger for Judah coming from Assyria, the empire that caused the destruction of Syria and Israel. Good News Translation makes this interpretation clear by saying in verse 17 “The LORD is going to bring on you … days of trouble…” and by linking verses 18-25 to this verse with “When that time comes…” (similarly Contemporary English Version). According to this traditional view, Yahweh promises to destroy the land of Judah’s two enemies (verse 16), then reminds Judah that they will suffer the same fate as them (verses 17-25). Translators will need to decide whether to accept a positive view of verses 17-25, or the more traditional interpretation.
The LORD will bring … such days: The verb bring is literally “cause to come.” The object of this verb is days, which refers to future events. Since the likely interpretation of this verse is that these events will be troubling, days may be rendered “days of trouble” (Good News Translation) or “time of trouble.” The verb bring has another object at the end of the verse, namely, the king of Assyria. This object carries the threat of doom or judgment (see the comments below).
Upon you and upon your people and upon your father’s house refers to Ahaz himself, the people of Judah, and his royal family. They all will feel the effects of what Yahweh will do. The noun father in your father’s house can refer to the ancestor King David or Ahaz’s own father. Good News Translation appropriately translates “the whole royal family.”
As have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah refers back to the split between the two kingdoms following the death of King Solomon. The division between the ten tribes that formed the northern kingdom of Israel and the two tribes forming the southern kingdom of Judah took place under Jeroboam~I. That event was regarded as a tragedy by the southern group in particular. Here Yahweh promises to cause trouble for Judah, trouble that will be worse than that division or any other problem encountered over the past 300 years. Instead of Ephraim, translators may say “the kingdom of Israel” (Good News Translation) or “the land of Israel,” and Judah may be rendered “the kingdom of Judah” or “the land of Judah.”
The king of Assyria: As noted above, this is the second object of the verb bring. Some commentators consider this phrase to be an addition that should not be in the text. However, there is no valid reason to exclude it, even though it stands a long way from its verb. The prophet may have placed it at the end to achieve some dramatic effect, drawing special attention to the source of the trouble that is coming. Isaiah warns Ahaz that Yahweh will send the Assyrian army against Judah. Here the king of Assyria means “the Assyrian army under the command of the king,” but this does not need to be made explicit. Assyria was the dominant world power at the time of Isaiah’s preaching. The Babylonians conquered it in 612 B.C. Its capital city Nineveh was by the Tigris River.
For the translation of this verse we suggest:
• Yahweh is going to bring upon you, your nation and your dynasty a time like nothing you have known since Israel split apart from Judah—he will do this by means of the king of Assyria.”
• Yahweh will cause you to endure a time of trouble. You, Ahaz, your people and your family, all will suffer a time more troubling than any other since Ephraim divided itself from Judah. That trouble will come from the king of Assyria.”
Quoted with permission from Ogden, Graham S. and Sterk, Jan. A Handbook on Isaiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2011. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .