Isaiah

Isaiah

Points of general interest:

Isaiah is on of the best known and most discussed Old Testament books for a variety of reason

1. It was one of the best preserved documents among the Dead Sea Scrolls - the Great Isaiah Scroll is really the prize of that collection

2. The role that it played in later Christian theology - it is one of the most often cited books in the New Testament (though not without controversy)

Overall literary structure

1. Traditionally read as a whole

2. Later divided into two or three parts

- Two part division: 1-39; 40-66

- Three part division: 1-39; 40-55; 56-66

3. More modern approach (Petersen)

a. 1-12 Oracles and narratives involving Isaiah

b. 13-23 Oracles against the nations

c. 24-27 Isaianic apocalypse

d. 28-32 Oracles involving Isaiah

e. 33-34 Prologue to Second Isaiah

f. 36-39 Historical narratives

g. 40-55 Second Isaiah

h. 56-66 Third Isaiah

Literary features

1. Poetic sections include but are not limited to:

- Oracles of judgment (28:14-22) and oracles of salvation (44:1-5)

- Woe oracles (Ch 5)

- Lawsuit (3:13-15)

- Exhortation (1:16-17)

- Royal poems, liturgical discourse, etc....

2. Prose sections

- 20:1-16 (Symoblic speech act)

- 6-8 (Isaiah and Ahaz)

- 36-39 (Isaiah and Hezekiah, virtual repetition 2 Kings 18:13-20:19)

Key interpretive issues

1. Isaiah 7:14 - "virgin"

- 'almah (Proverbs 30:19; Genesis 24:43)

- betulah

- LXX translates as parthenos - "virgin"

- Christian appropriation of the Old Testament

2. The identity of the Suffering Servant

- Servant songs - 42:1-4, 49:1-6, 50:4-11, 52:13-53:12

- In some places the servant is explicitly "Israel"

- In other places he looks like an individual

- Proposals have been: Israel, Isaiah, Moses ... Jesus

3. Monotheism

- 44:6

- 43:10