In Jesus’ parables, the judgment is often pictured as a harvest. That metaphor works because harvest involves separation of tares and wheat, of grain and chaff. Yet, it is a somewhat ambiguous image, since harvest is also a time of rejoicing and feasting. Isaiah 17:4-6 brings out another . . . . Continue Reading »
INTRODUCTION From the beginning of Isaiah, the immediate political threat to Judah has been the anti-Assyrian alliance of Israel and Aram (cf. Isaiah 7-8). In the burden concerning Damascus, Isaiah prophesies the collapse of that alliance and judgment on Ephraim who has “forgotten the God of . . . . Continue Reading »
The oracles in Isaiah 13-19 are geographically organized. The fist is Babylon, sometimes conceived as a “northern” nation (cf. Jeremiah 1). Philistia (14:28-32) is to the West, between Israel and the sea, and Moab and Syria (chs. 15-17) are on the east. Then Isaiah turns attention to . . . . Continue Reading »
The oracle against Moab is organized in a fairly neat chiastic structure: A. Oracle against Moab - wailing and lamentation, 15:1-4 B. “My heart cries,” 15:5 C. Green things wither, 15:6 D. Riches of Moab taken away, 15:7-9 E. Refuge for outcasts in tent of David, 16:1-5 D’. Pride . . . . Continue Reading »
When the Lord devastates Moab, the fugitives from Moab will flee to Zoar (Isaiah 14:5). It’s a meaningful flight, for Zoar is a city near Sodom, toward which Lot fled when the Lord destroyed the cities of the plain. Now the cities of the plain of Moab are being destroyed, and people flee . . . . Continue Reading »
The last two lines of Isaiah 14:29 create a dense web of allusiosn. This burden is delivered “in the year king Ahaz died,” which links the prophecy back to the call of Isaiah in the year Uzziah died (6:1). Seraphs appear in both chapters (“flying serpent” in 14:29 is saraph . . . . Continue Reading »
Isaiah uses the image of “root” a number of times in his prophecy (the word appears 7x). From the root of Jesse a Branch grows (11:1, 10). In chapter 14, the root that struck Philistia produces serpentine fruit that will cut Philistia to the root (vv. 29-30). In these early uses of the . . . . Continue Reading »
In a post some months ago, I suggested that Isaiah 1:2-6 was a unit of the opening chapter. After further examination, it seems that 1:2-4 forms a separate section to itself (David Dorsey makes this same division). The verses are not perfectly symmetrical, but they are sufficiently so to indicate . . . . Continue Reading »
INTRODUCTION In the “burden” of Babel, Isaiah sketched the big picture of political history. In the burdens concerning Philistia and Moab, he prophesies that Yahweh will be faithful to His promise to David and will make Zion a refuge, not only for Israel but for the Gentiles. THE TEXT . . . . Continue Reading »
Isaiah famously prophesies about the Branch ( netzer ) that will spring from Jesse’s root, life from the dead tree of the Davidic line. There is another branch in Isaiah: The king of Babel who tries to climb above the clouds but then falls to earth is never going to find a glorious resting . . . . Continue Reading »
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