Contents

Preface

Abbreviations

Preliminary Matters

Introduction

1. History of Research

2. Layout of the Monograph

3. Terminology

1. AUTHORSHIP, DATING, REDACTIONALDEVELOPMENT AND FINAL FORM

Introduction

1. Authorship of Isaiah 40–55

1.1. A Prophetic Individual or a Group of Prophets?

1.1.1. Isaiah 40:6–8

1.1.2. Isaiah 42:24b; 45:15–17; 47:4; 48:16b; 53:1–12

1.1.3. Isaiah 51:9–11, 17–21

1.1.4. Isaiah 49:4, 5b; 50:4–11

1.1.5. Conclusion

1.2. A Female Author of Isaiah 40–55?

1.3. A Temple-Singer Author of Isaiah 40–55?

1.4. Summary

2. Geography and Date

3. The Final Form of Isaiah 40–55: A Rhetorical Unity

4. The Final Form of Isaiah 40–55: A Reading Drama

5. Conclusion

2. LIFE IN JUDAH AND BABYLONIN THE SIXTH CENTURY BC

Introduction

1. Life in Judah during the Exile: The Biblical Accounts

2. Life in Judah: The Archaeologicaland Sociological Evidence

3. The Literary Ability of the People of Judah

4. Life in Babylon: The Textual Evidence

5. Life in Babylon: The Archaeological Evidence

6. Conclusion

3. ISAIAH 40–55 AND BABYLONIAN INFLUENCE

Introduction

1. Methods in Comparative Studies

2. Neo-Babylonian Imperialism

3. Akkadian Influence in Isaiah 40–55: Loanwords and Literary Style

3.1. Loanwords

3.2. Akkadian Influence over the Language of Isaiah 40–55

3.3. Isaiah 44:28–45:8 and the Cyrus Cylinder

3.4. The “Self Predication” Formula

3.5. The Trial Speeches

3.6. Excursion:The Quality of the Hebrew Language of Isaiah 40–55

3.7. Akkadian Influence—Conclusion

4. Specific Texts in Isaiah 40–55

4.1.The so-called Idol-Fabrication Passages

4.1.1. Isaiah 40:18–20

4.1.2. Isaiah 44:14

4.2. Babylon in Isaiah 40–55

4.2.1. Isaiah 44:24–25 and 47:12–15—Magic and Diviners

4.2.2. Isaiah 46:1–4

4.2.3. Isaiah 47

4.2.4. Isaiah 48:14, 20

4.3. Enûma Elîs and YHWH’s Incomparability

5. Couleur Locale (Isaiah 44:27; 45:1–3)

6. Conclusion

4. A JUDAHITE PERSPECTIVE IN ISAIAH 40–55

Introduction

1. Passages that Betray a Judahite Point of Reference

1.1. Isaiah 41:8–10

1.2. Isaiah 41:25

1.3. Isaiah 43:1–7

1.4. Isaiah 43:14

1.5. Isaiah 45:13

1.6. Isaiah 46:11

1.7. Isaiah 49:12

1.8. Isaiah 49:17

1.9. Isaiah 52:11

1.10. Conclusion

2. Temple and Sacrifices

2.1. Isaiah 40:16

2.2. Isaiah 43:23–24, 28

2.3. Conclusion

3. Conclusion

5. THE EXODUS MOTIF AND THE JOURNEY THROUGH THE WILDERNESS MOTIF

Introduction

1. History of Interpretation: The Centrality of the Exodus Theme

2. History of Interpretation: The Peripheral Character of the Exodus Theme

3. Exegesis of the Passages Said to Contain References to a Second Exodus

3.1. Isaiah 40:3–5, 9–11

3.1.1. The Return of the Exiles

3.1.2. A Metaphorical Reading of Isaiah 40:1–11

3.1.3. God’s Triumphant Return

3.2. Isaiah 41:17–20

3.3. Isaiah 42:10–16

3.4. Isaiah 43:2

3.5. Isaiah 43:16–21

3.6. Isaiah 48:20–21

3.7. Isaiah 49:7, 8–12

3.8. Isaiah 49:24–26

3.9. Isaiah 50:2–3

3.10. Isaiah 51:9–16

3.11. Isaiah 52:4–6

3.12. Isaiah 52:10–12

3.13. Isaiah 55:12–13

4. Conclusion

6. ISAIAH 40–55 AS A JUDAHITE READING DRAMA:PRELIMINARY ISSUES

Introduction

1. Personification and Historical Reality

2. Metaphors and Geographic Setting

3. Geography and Theology

4. Outline of Chapters 7–9

7. JACOB-ISRAEL IN ISAIAH 40–55

Introduction

1. Isaiah 40:27

2. Isaiah 41:8–16

3. Isaiah 42:18–27

4. Isaiah 43:1–7

5. Isaiah 43:22–28

6. Isaiah 44:1–5

7. Isaiah 44:21–23

8. Isaiah 45:4

9. Isaiah 45:14–19

10. Isaiah 45:25

11. Isaiah 46

12. Isaiah 48

13. Isaiah 49:1–6

14. YHWH, the God of Israel-Jacob(Isaiah 44:6; 45:15; 47:4; 48:17; 49:7; 49:26; 52:12; 55:5)

15. Conclusion

8. ZION-JERUSALEM IN ISAIAH 40–55

Introduction

1. History of Research

1.1. Zion-Jerusalem in Isaiah 40–55: Physical City or Symbol?

1.2. Zion, a Symbol of the Exilic Community?

1.3. Zion-Jerusalem, a Symbol of the Post-ExilicJudahite Community of Returned Exiles?

1.4. Conclusion

2. Exegetical Overview

2.1. Zion-Jerusalem as God’s People—Isaiah 40:1–2; 51:16, 22; 52:9

2.2. Zion-Jerusalem as the Recipient of Comfort—Isaiah 51:3; 51:19; 54:11–17

2.3. Zion-Jerusalem and the Herald—Isaiah 40:9; 41:27; 52:7–9; 44:26, 28

2.3.1. Isaiah 41:27

2.3.2. Isaiah 52:7–9

2.3.3. Isaiah 40:9

2.3.1.1. Apposition: Zion, the Messenger of the Good News

2.3.3.2. Genitive Construction: Zion as the Recipient of the Good News

2.3.3.3. Zion, the Messenger and the Recipient

2.3.3.4. Conclusion

2.3.4. Isaiah 44:26, 28

2.3.5. Conclusion

2.4. Personified Zion-Jerusalem—Isaiah 49:14–26; 50:1; 51:17–52:3; 54:1–10

2.4.1. Isaiah 49:14–26

2.4.2. Isaiah 50:1

2.4.2.1. Excursion: Zion’s Children

2.4.3. Isaiah 51:17–52:3

2.4.4. Isaiah 54:1–10

2.4.5. Conclusion

3. The Judahite Timbre of Zion’s Voice

4. Conclusion

9. GOD, THE PROPHET AND THE SERVANT—COMPETING JUDAHITE PERSPECTIVES

Introduction

1. The Servant

1.1.The Servant and Zion-Jerusalem

1.2. Geographical Information in the Servant Songs

1.3.TheTheology Expressed by the Servant Within Isaiah 40–55

1.4.The Portrayal of the Servant and the  of Lamentations 3

2. The Prophetic Persona

3. The Theology of God’s Voice in Isaiah 40–55 and Ezekiel

5. Conclusion

6. Excursus: Did Ezekiel and Isaiah 40–55 Influence Each Other?

10. ISAIAH 40:1–11—THE PROLOGUE OF ISAIAH 40–55

Introduction

1. Isaiah 40:1–11—A Prologue

2. Isaiah 40:1–11—A Literary Unit

3. Allusions in Isaiah 40:1–11 to the Rest of Isaiah 40–55

3.1. Isaiah 40:1–11—A Conglomeration of Themes from Isaiah 40–55

3.2. A Corresponding Epilogue to Isaiah 40:1

3.3. Conclusion

4. Exegetical Consequences

5. Conclusion

11. ISAIAH 40–55 AND LAMENTATIONS

Introduction

1. Inner-Biblical Textual Allusions

2. Allusions in Isaiah 40–55 to Lamentations: History of Research

3. Reading the Allusions to Lamentations through Judahite Eyes

3.1. Comfort My People—Isaiah 40:1; 49:13 and 51:12

3.2. Forsaken and Childless to Remembered and Mother—Isaiah 49:14–26

3.2.1. Zion’s Abandonment and Restoration—Isaiah 49:14

3.2.2. Zion’s Motherhood and her Children’s Return—Isaiah 49:17–33

3.2.3. Conclusion

3.3. Jerusalem’s Starving and Dying Children—Isaiah 51:17–23

3.4. The Return of the Exiles

3.4.1. Isaiah 51:11–12 and Lamentations 1:2–4

3.4.2. Isaiah 52:1, 11 and Lamentations 4:15–17

4. Conclusion

CONCLUDING REMARKS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

SOURCE INDEX

AUTHOR INDEX

SUBJECT INDEX