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- The symbolic import of the name is explained in the sequel.
If this "upper pool" was (as seems most likely) the present Birket-el-Mamilla, the "dragon
well" of Nehemiah 2:13, and "serpent's pool" of Josephus (War; V. 3, 2), it lay in the
north-west of the city. The "pool," which is only a reservoir for rain-water, is partly hewn
in the rock and lined with stone. From its eastern side an outlet channel or "conduit"
opened, winding somewhat to the south of the Jaffa gate, eastwards into the city, where at
present it debauches into "the Pool of the Patriarch" (the Hammam-el-Batrak), the
Amygdalon [Tower] Pool of Josephus.*
- It is also called the Pool of Hezekiah, as supposed to have been made by that king.
Professor Socin (Badeker, Palaest. p. 121) throws some doubt on the identification of the
upper pool with El-Mamilla; but it is unhesitatingly adopted by Muhlan, in his excellent
article on Jerusalem (Rheim, Hand-W. i. p. 691a).
From the manner in which the locality is mentioned, we infer that the king was wont to
pass that way, possibly on an inspection of the north-western fortifications.* The
prophet's commission to Ahaz was threefold. He was to admonish him to courage (Isaiah
7:4), and to announce that, so far from the purpose of the allies succeeding, Ephraim
itself should, within a given time, cease to be "a people."**
- It could scarcely have been to stop the waters of the fountains without the city, since
there are not any fountains there, and "the pool" was one for rain-water.
** In our view the fulfillment of this prophecy was in the transplanting to Samaria of a
foreign population in the days of Esar-haddon (Ezra 4:2); and not, as has lately been
suggested, in the appointment of an Assyrian prefect of Samaria, which would scarcely
fulfill: "Ephraim shall be broken, that it be not a people" (Isaiah 7:8).
Lastly, he was to give "a sign" of what had been said, especially of the continuance of the
house of David. This was, in contrast to the king's unbelief, to point from the present to
the future, and to indicate the ultimate object in view - the birth of the Virgin's Son,
Whose name, Immanuel, symbolized all of present promise and future salvation
connected with the house of David.*
- This is not the place to attempt a detailed explanation - or rather vindication of the
Messianic prophecy, Isaiah 7:14. We will only say that the intermingling of elements of
the present in the verses following the prophecy is, in our view, characteristic of all such
prophecy. See remarks in the sequel.
The result was what might have been expected from the character of Ahaz. As, with ill-
disguised irony, he rejected the "sign," implying that his trust was in the help of Assyria,
not in the promise of God, so he persevered in his course, despite the prophet's warning.
(^)