"Isaiah" is a book of the Old Testament.
It is one of the three major prophetic books, along with the books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
To learn more about the other two books,
Please read these articles.
The Bible is about the prophet Isaiah in the 8th century B.C. and consists of 66 chapters in total.
What are the contents of the Book of Isaiah?
What are the contents of the Book of Isaiah?
Some scholars who embrace higher criticism (critical investigation of the origins of a document) have a theory that considers:
| Chapters 1-39 | 1st Isaiah |
|---|---|
| Chapters 40 and below | 2nd Isaiah |
| Chapters 56 and below | 3rd Isaiah |
The position of the multiple Isaiah theory can be largely divided into the first half and the second half.
Therefore, some scholars call the first half, chapter 39, the "Book of First Isaiah."
On the other hand, from the standpoint of higher criticism,
Only this "First Isaiah" was written by the prophet Isaiah himself in the 8th century B.C.
They think so.
First Isaiah (chapters 1-39)
The prophet Isaiah repeatedly
Son of Amot
so called by God,
He is the son of the prophet Amos.
Father Augustine wrote so in his book "The Kingdom of God."
After the activities of the prophet Amos,
About 10 years or so later, Isaiah was called by God?
He is considered so.
Isaiah also differed from the other prophets, Amos and Hosea, in the following characteristics.
| Prophets | Location of activity | Main contents |
|---|---|---|
| Amos Hosea | Active in the Northern Kingdom of Israel | Mainly in the tradition of the Exodus |
| Isaiah | Active in Jerusalem, capital of Judah in the Southern Kingdom (court prophet) | Tradition of the Davidic Royal Family and the Choice of Zion (Jerusalem) |
When you saw this table,
Oh no, I really don't know much about the history of the Kingdom of Israel...
If you are not familiar with the history of the Kingdom of Israel, please refer to this article.
What is the "Kingdom of Israel"?
The prophet Micah, who was active in the southern kingdom of Judah at about the same time as Isaiah, differed from Isaiah in that he also prophesied the complete destruction of Jerusalem.
Also, Isaiah's activities in Jerusalem is considered below.
There would probably have been access to real political power.
The prophet Isaiah is credited with playing a role at the accession of King Hezekiah, king of Judah.
The following is a summary of each chapter.
| Chapter 1 | Criticism of sacrificial rituals as found in the Book of Amos. |
|---|---|
| Chapter 2 | Human arrogance and war are condemned (one of the key themes of Isaiah's prophecy). |
| Chapter 6 | The article on vocation |
| Chapters 7-8 | Immanuel Prophecy |
| Chapters 13-14 | Prophecy concerning Babylonia |
| Chapters 24-27 | Implicit (after the Babylonian Captivity) |
| Chapters 34-35 | Similar to 2nd Isaiah |
| Chapters 36-38 | Depict the invasion by Sennacherib, King of Assyria |
The chapters are not necessarily compiled chronologically.
The vocation article should rightly be placed first.
But in fact it is placed in chapter 6.
Second Isaiah (chapters 40 and below)
In chapter 45:15, we find a reference to the "hidden God."
The best known reference in 2 Isaiah is to the "servant of the Lord."
It is commonly known that in the "Second Isaiah" there is a passage called the "Song of the Servant."
Who is the "servant"?
The issue is still controversial.
The "Song of the Servant" is a very important passage that gives meaning to the suffering.
The sacrifice of a "servant" or death that atones for sins was emphasized in Christianity as a prophecy of Jesus Christ.
Synopsis of Isaiah the Prophet
Isaiah is a prophet in the Old Testament.
His name means "Yahweh is salvation" in Hebrew.
Yahweh is a word meaning God.
To learn more about Yahweh,
What does Yahweh mean in religion?
God used to be called "Yahweh". What is Yahweh that is common to all religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam? It's a surprisingly deep story!
Please refer to this article.
In the Orthodox Church, he is considered a saint.
According to "Isaiah," Isaiah was married, and his wife Tzipora was called the Woman Prophetess.
He gave each of his two sons symbolic names by divine revelation.
Isaiah denounced the injustice of the Kingdom of Judah and warned of exile to Babylon.
The Kingdom of Judah? Babylon?
If you are wondering so, please read the "Babylonian Captivity."
What is Babylonian Captivity in history?
The Babylonian Captivity led to the birth of Judaism. How did the Jewish people strengthen their religious ties? This article explains them in detail!
Also, Isaiah foretold below in the book of Isaiah.
Babylon will fall into the hands of Cyrus and Zion (the historical place name for the Jerusalem region of Israel) will be restored!
He also announced the prophecy about the Messiah (the anointed one) and conveyed hope for the future.