Is Isaiah 7:22 a promise of abundance, a restoration of the land, or a continuation of the threat of invasion and devastation? Are curds and honey the food of Israel in Yahweh’s fruitful land, or the food of the beleaguered remnant?

Both. And the proof is in verse 18. Yahweh is bringing bees from Assyria to Judah. Bees are a nuisance and a hoard of bees on everything and everywhere is worse than a nuisance. It is a plague of bees.

But bees leave behind honey. After the invasion of the Assyrian bees comes a land of honey. Civilization will limp along. There will be no cultivation of vines, few flocks and herds. Briers and thorns will be everywhere. But there will be honey.

Out of the eater came something to eat; out of the strong came something sweet.