Introduction to DeuteroIsaiah

1
Introduction to Deutero-Isaiah

• John Mayo and Eric Olsen
• Group III
• 7 May 2007

2
On Deutero-Isaiah Himself

• We know very little about Deutero-Isaiah
• We do not know his name, even!

3
On Dt. Isaiah Himself (2)

• Call of the prophet
• Is. 401 Comfort, give comfort to my people, says
  your God.
• Is. 402 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and
  proclaim to her that her service is at an end,
  her guilt is expiated Indeed, she has received
  from the hand of the LORD double for all her
  sins.
• Is. 403 A voice cries out In the desert prepare
  the way of the LORD! Make straight in the
  wasteland a highway for our God!
• Is. 404 Every valley shall be filled in, every
  mountain and hill shall be made low The rugged
  land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a
  broad valley.
• Is. 405 Then the glory of the LORD shall be
  revealed, and all mankind shall see it together
  for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
• Is. 406 A voice says, Cry out! I answer, What
  shall I cry out? All mankind is grass, and all
  their glory like the flower of the field.
• Is. 407 The grass withers, the flower wilts,
  when the breath of the LORD blows upon it. So
  then, the people is the grass.
• Is. 408 Though the grass withers and the flower
  wilts, the word of our God stands forever.

4
On Dt. Isaiah Himself (3)

• What have we learned?
• 3 distinct recounts (401-2, 3-5, 6-8)
• Worshiper of YHWH (Lord)
• Beginning to despair somewhat- reason he
  questions calling to prophecy
• People loose hope in Babylon- see God as having
  abandoned
• Has overcome this to preach the word of God which
  stands forever

5
Time of Dt.-Isaiah

• C. 550 BCE- latter exilic period
• Cyrus, King of Persia, is definitely on the
  march- hope to the exiles
• Traditionally thought composed in Babylon
• Evidence of contact with the gola (exiles) of
  Babylon
• Baltzer (2001) proposes it was performed in
  Babylon, but composed elsewhere.

6
The Message of Dt.- Isaiah

• The salvation of Israel promised to Moses is now
  extended to the whole world.

7
The Message of Dt. Isaiah

• 1. Promise of Salvation- Yahweh will save his
  people
• 2. Usual proclamation of salvation by prophet.
• 3. Praise of Yahweh
• 4. Strong polemic attack against foreign nations
  and foreign gods.
• 5. Trial speeches against Israel for their past
  sins
• 6. Cries of Exultation
• 7. Servant Songs

8
Servant Songs Introduction

• 4 texts
• First identified by Duhm
• Is. 421-7
• Is. 491-7
• Is. 504-9
• Is. 5213-5312