Encountering the Book of Isaiah (Encountering Biblical Studies)

A Historical and Theological Survey

Beyer, Bryan E.

• Publisher: Baker Academic
• Year: 2007
• ISBN:
  9781441210708
• Topic: Teología y religión
• Subtopic: Estudios bíblicos

Bryan E. Beyer follows previous bestselling texts with this comprehensive introduction to the book of Isaiah. Here is a survey with depth, presenting the prophet's overarching themes and sweeping issues while including copious details that round out a study of the man and his work. Chapters begin with outlines and objectives that allow easy entry into the discussion and end with conclusions and study questions that aid comprehension and recall. Informative sidebars delve further into the language, theological connections, and controversies of Isaiah. This volume is useful to any serious student of the Bible.

1 Who Was Isaiah, and What Do We Know about Him and His Book?

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Outline

• Isaiah the Man

• Isaiah’s Times

Uzziah (2 Kgs 15:1–7; 2 Chr 26:1–23)

Jotham (2 Kgs 15:32–38; 2 Chr 27:1–9)

Ahaz (2 Kgs 16:1–20; 2 Chr 28:1–27)

Hezekiah (2 Kgs 18:1–20:21; 2 Chr 29:1–32:33)

Manasseh (2 Kgs 21:1–18; 2 Chr 33:1–20)

• Authorship and Date of the Book

• Dating Isaiah’s Ministry: Does Isaiah 6 Describe Isaiah’s Call?

• Isaiah’s Message

Forthtelling

Foretelling

Focus on Judah

Global in Scope

Isaiah’s Major Themes

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Objectives

After reading this chapter, you should be able to

1. List the basic facts regarding Isaiah’s personal life.
2. Summarize the historical setting in which Isaiah ministered.
3. Describe the major features and themes of Isaiah’s message.

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The year was 740 BC. Uzziah (also known as Azariah), Judah’s great king, had died after a fifty-two-year reign. Uzziah became king at age sixteen following his father Amaziah’s assassination. He had accomplished many great works on behalf of his people, defeating enemies, solidifying Judah’s borders, and enhancing Jerusalem’s defense.

Uzziah had begun well spiritually too. Late in his reign, however, he became proud and tried to burn incense in the temple—a task reserved for the priests—and God struck him with leprosy for his sin. Uzziah’s son Jotham served as co-regent of the kingdom of Judah during the last eleven years of Uzziah’s life. Now Uzziah had died; what would happen to Judah?

The death of a king and the accession of a new king was often a perilous time for a kingdom. Enemies might choose such a time to attack the kingdom, forcing the new monarch to prove his power immediately. New policies might affect government, taxes, the economy, and life in general. Citizens often became uneasy as they wondered how life might change under new leadership.

However, this time of uncertainty for God’s people was not a time of uncertainty for God. The sovereign Lord of history knew exactly what he was doing. He was preparing a messenger—a prophet—to bring his message to a people who desperately needed to hear it. Isaiah was that prophet.

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Isaiah the Man

Who exactly was the prophet Isaiah, and what do we know about him? His name means “Yahweh saves” and is related to the names Joshua and Hosea (see sidebar 1.1). The Bible reveals virtually nothing about Isaiah’s family of origin. Isaiah 1:1 says he was the son of Amoz, but we know nothing about Amoz—except, of course, that he was Isaiah’s father! Other scriptural references to Amoz—twelve more in all[1]—provide no additional information.

Rabbinic sources suggest Isaiah may have come from royal lineage.[2] He may have been the cousin of King Uzziah (or Azariah), who ruled as Judah’s king from 792 to 740 BC.[3] Some scholars have suggested such a relationship might explain why Isaiah apparently had regular access to Judah’s kings (Is 7:3–17; 37:6–7, 21–35). On the other hand, other prophets, such as Nathan, also enjoyed access to the court (2 Sm 7:2–17; 12:1–15; 1 Kgs 1:22–27). Kings might have had many reasons to consult prophets on a regular basis.

The book of Isaiah reveals Isaiah had at least two sons. One was Shear-Jashub, whose name means “a remnant will return.” Shear-Jashub appears in Isaiah 7:3, accompanying his father to an important meeting with Ahaz, Judah’s king, who was trying to determine how to deal with an impending threat from an Israelite-Syrian coalition (7:1–2). No doubt Isaiah brought his son to the meeting as a living object lesson to encourage the wavering king to take heart.

Isaiah’s second son was Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, whose name means “swift is the plunder, speedy is the prey.” His prophetic birth and naming appear in Isaiah 8:1–4 as a sign of Judah’s deliverance from the above-mentioned Israelite-Syrian coalition. Isaiah declared that before the child learned to cry out, “Mommy! Daddy!” the coalition’s threat would have disappeared.

The text does not mention Isaiah’s wife by name. Isaiah may in fact have had two wives if the prophecies of Immanuel and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz have a relationship to each other. If one takes the view that the names Immanuel (7:14) and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz (8:1–4) refer to the same child, that the Hebrew word ‘almah in 7:14 means “virgin,” and that the “prophetess” of 8:3 is Isaiah’s wife, then Shear-Jashub (7:3), who was present for Isaiah’s meeting with Ahaz, must have had a different mother. (Further discussion of these issues occurs in chap. 5.)

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Sidebar 1.1

Theophoric Personal Names in the Bible

Ancient Near Eastern names often included a divine name in them. Parents tended to give their children names that honored a deity they worshiped. In polytheistic societies, theophoric (god-bearing) personal names often provide insight into which deities are most popular with the general population.

In the Old Testament, two divine names are by far the most common. One is the name Yahweh, the other is ’el, translated “God.”

The divine name Yahweh usually appears in the shortened form -yahu at the end of a name or Yeho- at the beginning of a name. Each name contains the Lord’s name plus a descriptor highlighting one of his qualities. Consider the following examples:

English Form	Hebrew Form	Meaning
Isaiah	yisha ‘yahu	Yahweh saves
Jeremiah	yirmeyahu	Yahweh is exalted
Hananiah	hananyahu	Yahweh is gracious
Hezekiah	yehizqiyahu	Yahweh is my strength
Jehoahaz	yeho’ahaz	Yahweh has seized
Jehoiakim	yehoyaqim	Yahweh will establish
Jehoshaphat	yehoshaphat	Yahweh has judged
Uzziah	‘uzziyahu	Yahweh is my might
Zechariah	zekaryahu	Yahweh remembers
Zedekiah	tsidqiyahu	Yahweh is my righteousness

The Hebrew word ’el, which means “god” or “God,” also commonly occurs in personal names. As with the names that contain the name Yahweh, those that contain ’el also include a descriptor highlighting a divine quality or action. Again, consider the following examples:

English Form	Hebrew Form	Meaning
Daniel	dani’el	God has judged (or perhaps “God is my judge”)
Eleazar	’eli‘azar	My God has helped
Elijah	’eliyahu	My God is Yahweh (note the combination of both Yahweh and ’el)
Elimelech	’elimelech	My God is king
Elkanah	’elqanah	God has acquired
Ezekiel	yehizqi’el	God is my strength
Immanuel	immanu’el	God is with us
Ishmael	yishma’el	God has heard
Joel	yo’el	Yahweh is God (“Jo” is probably a shortened form of “yeho-”; see the preceding chart)
Nathaniel	netani’el	God has given

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Rabbinic tradition suggests Isaiah died a martyr’s death during the reign of King Manasseh, Hezekiah’s son.[4] According to the tradition, Isaiah was placed between two boards and sawn in two. Perhaps the writer of the book of Hebrews knew this tradition and was alluding to the prophet in his list of heroes of the faith (Heb 11:37).

Like other prophets, Isaiah possessed a heart devoted to God and a strong sense of calling. His dramatic encounter with the Lord, the Heavenly King (6:1–8), laid a foundation for his prophetic ministry. Isaiah’s impassioned messages revealed his own zeal for God as the prophet-messenger spoke the words God had given him.

Isaiah also possessed great courage and conviction. He is not known—as is the prophet Ezekiel—for his many symbolic prophetic actions, but he did lay aside his garments for three years as a sign of impending judgment against Egypt (20:1–6)....