ISAIAH,
BOOK
OF
befallen
him
in
so
far
that
he
then
occupies
the
lower
office
of
secretary
(362
372).
23^-".
An
elegiac
poem,
closing
(v.")
as
it
begins
(v.Ot
on
the
approaching
fall
of
Phoenicia:
the
occasion,
according
to
some,
Deing
the
siege
of
Tyre
(w.^-
^)
by
Shalmaneser,
between
B.C.
727
and
723:
according
to
others,
the
destruc-tion
of
Sidon
fw.2-
*■
12)
in
b.c.
348.
After
its
fall
Tyre
will
rise
again
and
serve
Jahweh
(w.'^-^^);
of.
19.
Chs.
24-27.
An
apocalyptic
vision,
in
which
we
see
universal
catastrophe
(241-235,
which
extends
to
the
super-natural
rulers
or
patron
angels
of
the
nations
(24^1;
cf.
270i
followed
by
the
reign
of
Jahweh,
who
to
His
coronation
feast
invites
all
nations;
death
is
abolished
and
sorrow
banished
(25^-8).
The
Jews,
hidden
during
the
time
of
judgment
(2620-27i),
return
from
their
dispersion
one
and
all
to
Jerusalem
(27"').
Interspersed
are
songs
or
hymns
(25^'i-^-n
261-"
272-5).
Difficiflt
of
interpretation
as
apocalypses
are
wont
to
be,
and
in
parts
obscured
by
very
seriotis
textual
corruption,
it
is
yet
clear
that
this
is
a
ijost-exilic
work
(cf.
e.g.
27i2t-);
and
the
occurrence
of
striking
ideas,
such
as
those
of
rraurrection
(261^),
immor-tality
(25^),
and
patron
angels,
which
occur
elsewhere
in
the
OT
only
in
its
latest
parts,
suggests
a
relatively
late
point
even
in
this
period.
Chs.
28-33.
A
group
of
prophecies
brought
together
probably
by
an
editor
on
account
of
the
similar
opening
of
the
sections
with
'
Woe
'
(seeabove).
In
this
section
there
is
a
constant
and
remarkable
alternation
between
menace
and
denunciation
of
Judah,
and
consolation
of
her,
which
at
times
takes
the
form
of
menace
to
her
foes.
Looked
at
from
this
standpoint,
this
booklet
falls
into
the
following
sections,
of
which
the
references
to
the
sections
of
promise
are
here
given
in
brackets,
28i-*
(286-
«),
28'-22
(2S^-^^),
29'
-8
17)
(298,
and
possibly
parts
of
29>-7,
according
to
inter-pretation),
299-1^(2917-2*),
301-"
(3018-33).
311-*
(31S-9),
321-8
(329"
32«-20)
(33).
jn
gome
cases
it
will
be
seen
that
the
promise
follows
abruptly
on
the
threat,
and
con-siderably
lessens
the
force
of
the
latter.
The
menaces
and
denunciations
seem
clearly
to
be
the
work
of
Isaiah,
though
some
Question
his
authorship
of
329-"
(g,
parallel
to
3"-4i);
but
of
late
several
scholars
have
attributed
the
entire
group
of
promises
to
later
writeis,
and
a
larger
number
do
not
bonsider
ch.
33
to
be
the
work
of
Isaiah.
In
anj;
case,
the
section
has
merely
an
editorial
unity,
and
is
not
all
of
one
period:
28i-*
would
appear
to
have
been
composed
before
the
fall
of
Samaria
in
722;
the
majority
of
the
re-maining
menaces,
particularly
those
which
denounce
the
resort
to
Egypt
for
help,
may
best
be
referred
to
the
period
immediately
b^ore
Sennacherib's
invasion
in
b.c.
701.
Chs.
34.
35.
The
future
of
Edom,
on
whom
vengeance
is
to
be
taken
(34^)
for
its
treatment
of
Zion
(?
in
586)
,
and
the
future
of
the
Jews
contrasted.
Not
earlier
than
the
Exile,
which
is
presupposed
(351"),
and
probably
depended
on,
and
therefore
later
than,
chs.
40-55.
Chs.
36-39.
Cf.
art.
Kings
[BooKSOP],
It
is
now
generally
agreed
that
the
editor
of
the
Book
of
Isaiah
derived
this
section
from
2
Kings.
The
only
section
of
these
chapters
not
found
in
Kings
is
389-2",
which
the
editor
apparently
derived
from
a
collection
of
liturgical
poems
(cf.
382*').
The
ascription
of
this
psalm
to
Hezekiah
(389)
\g
much
questionea.
Chs.
40-66.
Once,
perhaps,
attributed
to
Jeremiah,
but
from
the
beginning
of
the
2nd
cent.
b.c.
(see
above)
to
the
close
of
the
18th
cent,
a.d.,
these
chapters
were
re-garded
as
the
work
of
Isaiah.
Since
the
close
of
the
ISth
cent,
the
evidence
of
their
later
orip;in,
which
is
remarkably
clear,
has
been
increasingly,
till
it
is
now
generally,
ad-mitted.
But
till
within
the
last
15
years
the
chapters
were
commonly
regarded
as
a
unity;
now
it
is
by
many
admitted
that
chs.
40-55
and
56-66
belong
to
different
periods,
the
former
to
the
end
of
the
Exile,
the
latter
(in
the
main)
to
the
age
of
Ezra.while
some
cany
disintegration
considerably
further.
It
is
impossible
to
enter
further
into
details
here.
(a)
Chs
.
40-55
.
These
chapters
presuppose
that
the
writer
and
those
whom
he
addresses
lived
during
the
period
of
the
Babylonian
Exile;
they
predict
as
imminent
the
close
of
the
Exile,
and
return
of
the
Jews.
In
detail
observe
that
Zion
Ues
waste
and
needs
rebuilding
(44^8
49U-21
513.
17-23
527-12
54)
,
whereas
Babylon
is
exalted,
but
is
shortly
to
be
brought
low
(47.
461'-)-
Cyrus
himself,
mentioned
by
name
in
44^8
451,
and
quite
clearly
referred
to
in4126ff
•
,
is
not
the
subjectof
prediction;
he
is
already
well
known
to
the
prophet
and
his
audience
(or
readers);
his
future
career
is
predicted.
By
observing
what
part
of
Cyrus'
career
was
already
over,
and
,'what
stillfuture
to
the
prophet
as
he
wrote,
his
book
can
be
dated
somewhat
precisely.
Cyrus
appeared
shortly
before
650
in
Persia
to
the
E.
of
Babylon;
in
549
he
conquered
Media
to
the
N.
of
Babylon,
and
in
538
he
captured
Babylon.
ISAIAH,
BOOK
OF
Is
41*
refers
to
Cyrus
as
ruling
both
to
the
N.
and
E.;
the
prophet
then
writes
after
the
conquest
of
Media;
but
he
predicts
thefall
of
Babylon,
and
therefore
writes
before
that
event.
Between
549
and
538,
and
probably
nearer
the
latter
.
date,
the
prophecy
was
written.
Speaking
generally,
chs.
40-55
are
dominated
by
one
niUngpurpose,namely,to
rouse
the
exiles
outof
their
despon-dency,
and
to
fire
them
with
enthusiasm
for
what
the
writer
regards
as
their
future
destiny,
the
instruction
of
the
world
in
Jahweh's
ways
and
will,
—
in
a
word,
in
true
religion.
For
this
purpose
he
emphasizes
and
illustrates
the
omnipotence
and
omniscience
of
Jahweh,
and
the
futility
of
the
gods
of
the
nations.
Again,
the
passages
dealing
with
the
'
Servant
of
the
Lord'
(wh.
see)
are
but
one
form
in
which
he
develops
his
main
theme;
for
the
Servant
is
Israel.
The
only
sins
of
the
people
on
which
his
purpose
allows
him
to
lay
stress
are
those
of
despondency
and
unbelief;
he
is
aware,
indeed,
that
there
have
been
other
sins
in
the
past,
but
as
to
these
his
message
is
that
they
are
pardoned
(402)
_
These
chapters,
then,
though
the
progress
of
thought
in
them
may
be
less
in
a
straight
hue
than
circular,
are
closely
knit
together.
But
when
we
turn
to
—
(b)
Chs.
56-66,
the
contrast
is
great:
this
may
be
seen
by
a
brief
summary.
Thus
(1)
56i
-8
describes
the
terms
on
which
the
eunuch
and
the
foreigner
may
be
admitted
to
the
Jewish
community,
and
enforces
the
observance
of
the
Sabbath;
(2)
569-5721
describes
and
denounces
an
existing
state
of
society
in
which
the
watchmen
of
the
people
are
neglectful,
from
which
the
righteous
perish,
and
in
which
the
people
generally
resort
to
various
illegitimate
rites:
(3)denunciation
of
people
sedulous
in
fasting,
but
given
to
inhumanity
and
(cf.
561-8)
profanation
of
the
Sabbath;
(4)
59,
a
denunciation
similar
to
the
preceding,
followed
(w.i^*'-2i)
by
a
theophany
in
which
Jahweh
appears
as
a
man
of
war
(cf.
631-^);
(5)
chs.
60-62,
the
future
glory
of
Zion;
(6)
631-8,
Jahweh's
day
of
vengeance
against
Edom
(cf.
ch.
34);
(7)
63^-64,
a
liturgical
confession;
(8)
the
contrasted
characters
and
destinies
of
the
apostates
and
the
loyal;
the
idolatrous
cults
(cf.
569-5721)
of
the
former.
The
difference
of
outlook,
subject,
and
treatment
between
chs.
40-55
and
chs.
56-66
is
obvious,
and
must
not
be
dis-regarded.
In
itself
such
difference
need
not
necessarily
imply
difference
of
authorship,
though
it
certainly
suggests
that
we
have
to
do
with
different
works
,
even
if
of
the
same
author.written
with
a
different
purpose
and
under
different
conditions.
And
there
are
other
tacts
which
confirm
this
suggestioi}.
Thus
a
number
of
passages
on
the
most
obvidus
and
natural,
if
not
the
only
possible,
interpretation
imply
the
existence
of
the
Temple
and
the
presence
of
the
speaker
and
his
audience
in
Jerusalem,
and
consequently
that
the
Exile
is
over
(or
not
yet
begun);
see
56^-
'
(cf.
442*)
60^
[in
chs.
60-62
the
waUs
of
Jerusalem
require
rebuilding
(6019,
cf.
61*),
as
they
still
did
in
the
days
of
Nehemiah
(Neh
1-3),
but
the
Temple
is
apparently
already
there]
66^
618.
jji
57S-7
it
ig
imphed
that
the
persons
addressed
are
hving
in
a
country
of
torrent
valleys
and
lofty
hills
such
as
Judah
was
and
Babylon
was
not.
The
general
social
con-dition
implied
is
more
easily
and
naturally
explained
of
the
Jews
in
Palestine
than
in
Babylon;
for
example.the
tribunals
are
administered,
though
unjustly,
by
Jews
(59''-9'
")
and
there
are
'watchmen'
(prophets)
and
'shepherds'
(rulers).
The
presence
of
such
passages
as
57^-'
was
very
naturally
and
rigntlyused
by
those
who
defended
the
unity
of
the
Book
of
Isaiah
as
proof
that
the
passages
in
question
were
not
written
in
the
Exile;
but,
of
course,
such
passages
could
not
annul
the
even
clearer
evidence
of
the
exilic
origin
of
chs
.
40-55.
For
a
time
other
scholars
saw
in
those
parts
of
chs.
56-66
which
imply
residence
in
Palestine
proof
of
the
embodi-ment
in
chs.
40-66
of
pre-exilic
literature.
But
a
clearer
view
of
the
histdty
of
the
Book
of
Isaiah
shows
that
a
theory
that
such
passages
are
post-exilic
is
equally
legitimate.
Whether
pre-exilic
or
post-exilic
must
be
determined
by
other
considerations.
The
present
tendency
is
to
regard
the
whole
of
chs.
56-66
as
post-exilic,
and
most
of
it,
if
not
the
whole,as
belon^np
to
the
age
of
Ezra
and
Nehemiah,to
which
such
characteristics
as
the
stress
laid
on
the
observance
of
the
Sabbath
and
the
interest
in
the
question
of
the
admission
of
strangers
to
the
community
very
naturally
point.
If
this
view
is
correct,
we
have,
for
example
in
661-8
60-62,
the
work
of
broader-minded
and
less
exclusive
contemporaries
of
Ezra
and
Nehemiah.
It
is
exceedingly
unfortunate
that
the
RV
does
not
distinguish
the
poetical,
which
are
by
far
the
larger,
parts
-of
the
Book
of
Isaiah
from
the
prose.
But
this
defect
is
made
good
in
Cheyne's
translation
(Polychrome
Bible),
which
must
on
every
ground
be
recommended
as
one
of
the
most
valuable
aids
to
the
study
of
the
