Conduit of the Pool

Yahweh instructs Isaiah to meet Ahaz at the “conduit of the upper pool” (7:3; Heb. te’alat habberekah ha’elyon ). It’s the same place where the Rabshakeh will later confront Hezekiah (Isaiah 36:2). The location underscores the contrast of Ahaz and his son.

The name of the location resonates with promise. Berekah means “pool” here, but resonates with the much more common word for “blessing” or “benediction.” The word for “high” (Heb. elyon ) is the Gentile name for Yahweh (Genesis 14) and also describes the status that yahweh has planned for Israel among the nations (Deuteronomy 26:19; 28:1). Besides, the pool is near the highway – a highway of washing – and no prophet employs the image of Yahweh’s (and the remnant’s) highway more than Isaiah (11:16; 40:3; 49:11; 62:10).

I don’t propose this as a translation of the phrase, but “conduit of the blessing of the High One” is a fair interpretive paraphrase.