The Book of Isaiah contains prophetic messages concerning Judah, Israel, surrounding nations, judgment, restoration, and the Messiah. Its later chapters especially proclaim comfort, redemption, and God’s salvation.
Definition
The Book of Isaiah is a collection of prophetic messages concerning Judah, Israel, foreign nations, judgment, restoration, and the Messiah. Its earlier sections address the prosperity and coming desolation of Judah and Israel, while its later sections proclaim comfort, redemption, and salvation.
Biblical Usage
The book announces the child Immanuel, further promises concerning the coming ruler, judgments on surrounding nations, the Assyrian invasion, and the fulfillment of prophecy. Its final major section is presented as a prophecy of comfort and restoration for God’s people.
Historical Background
The book is commonly arranged in major sections: chapters 1–5 reflect the reigns of Uzziah and Jotham; chapters 6–12 include messages during Ahaz; chapters 13–35 contain burdens and prophecies concerning nations and Assyria; chapters 36–39 relate to Hezekiah; and chapters 40–66 form a later prophetic section.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Smith's Bible Dictionary
I. Chapters 1-5 contain Isaiah’s prophecies in the reigns of Uzziah and Jotham, foretelling that the present prosperity of Judah should be destroyed, and that Israel should be brought to desolation. In chs. 6, 7 he announces the birth of the child Immanuel, which in ch. 9 is more positively predicted. Chs. 9-12 contain additional prophecies against Israel, chs. (Isaiah 10:5-12) (6) being the most highly-wrought passages in the whole book. Chs. 13-23 contain chiefly a collection of utterances, each of which is styled a “burden,” fore-telling the doom of Babylon, Philistia, Moab, Ethiopia, Egypt and Tyre. The ode of triumph in ch. (Isaiah 14:3-23) is among the most poetical passages in all literature. Chs. 24-27 form one prophecy, essentially connected with the preceding ten “burdens,” chs. 13-23, of which it is in effect a general summary. Chs. 23-35 predict the Assyrian invasion, and chs. 36-39 have reference to this invasion; prophecies that were so soon fulfilled. (2 Kings 19:35) II. The last 27 chapters form a separate prophecy, and are supposed by many critics to have been written in the time of the Babylonian captivity, and are therefore ascribed to a “later Isaiah;” but the best reasons are in favor of but one Isaiah. This second part falls into three sections, each consisting of nine chapters:—
