Chapter 27 - Isaiah of Jerusalem

Amos and Hosea in the northern kingdom and, somewhat later, Isaiah and Micah in the southern kingdom.

Moral decay, oppression of the poor, arrogance of the wealthy...

Historical context: II Kings 15:1-20:19 (In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign...)

Syro-Ephraimitic War - war between Judah and the allies, Syria and Ephraim (Israel)

Ahaz (Judah) asks for Assyria's assistance against the Syro-Ephraimitic alliance and becomes a vassal of Assyria. Hoshea (Israel) wants an alliance with Egypt but Assyria (Shalmaneser) takes out Israel first... puts an end to Israel as a separate nation forever.

The Samaritans become a symbol to Jews of all that is vile, polluted, and contemptible and yet Samaria was the capital of Israel. Samaritans are neither Israelites nor pagans.

Hezekiah does a cleaning... religious reforms, high places torn down, Canaanite symbols destroyed, etc.

Isaiah: chapters 1-39, 40-55, 56-66 = I Isaiah, II Isaiah, III Isaiah

I Isaiah - pre-exilic writings

1st major division:1-12, 2nd major division: 13-23, 3rd major division: 28-31 - 24-27 an apocalyptic section from later, 34-36, 36-39 a Deut. history that duplicates II Kings 18:13-20:19.

...The ox knows his master, the donkey his owner's manger, but Israel does not know, my people do not understand. Stupid people!

Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! Bad people!

Why should you be beaten anymore? <- I've been whacking on you for some time now but it ain't getting through.

Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

parthenos versus almah - virgin versus young woman

The gift of a son - this one, unlike the one who was born of the "young woman," is a messianic figure. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace - God made flesh? No.

Interesting to read this through Jewish eyes instead of Christian eyes.

YHWH is the reason for being and YHWH is the one whom we should trust.

No reference to the covenant with Moses. All attention directed to the covenant with David.