Isaiah: An Introduction and Study Guide: A Paradigmatic Prophet and His Interpreters

by Christopher B. Hays, Christopher B. Hays, Adrian H. Curtis (Editor)

C. L. Crouch and Christopher B. Hays introduce the Book of Isaiah in its diverse historical contexts, tracing its origins and development over several beginning with the career of the prophet Isaiah ben Amoz in eighth century Jerusalem, continuing with a late seventh century edition and the further revisions made in the late sixth century, and concluding with final shaping during the Persian Period.

At each stage Crouch and Hays pay close attention to the historical, cultural, and theological conversations that influenced the book's aims and interests. Crouch and Hays discuss the theological and literary continuities among the book's contributors, as well as where language and concerns differed from generation to generation. They also consider the reception history of Isaiah and what the text has meant to people through history.

With suggestions of further reading at the end of each chapter, this guide will be an essential accompaniment to study of the Book of Isaiah.

138 pages, Hardcover

Published August 25, 2022

About the author

Christopher B. Hays is D. Wilson Moore Professor of Old Testament and Ancient Near Eastern Studies and chair of biblical studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is a Research Associate of the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He is ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Hays holds a PhD in Religion from Emory University, an MA in Egyptology from UCLA, and an MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Reviews

[Erik Champenois · Rating 5 out of 5]

This T&T Clark's Study Guide to Isaiah is exactly what I had been looking for. It steers a nice middle way between a book that speaks too generically to a general audience and a 500-100+ 1-2 volume in-depth commentary. This study guide is focused on source criticism and presents a basic academic overview of the Book of Isaiah and its likely composition at four different points in history. It covers the original prophet Isaiah in the 8th century, later edits reflecting the messianic hopes around King Josiah in the 7th century, Second Isaiah in the 6th century, and finally Third Isaiah in the 5th century.

The book compellingly shows why certain chapters or passages were likely composed at different points in history. It address contextual history for each period and then reviews the theology of each period. I particularly enjoyed the coverage of how Second Isaiah addresses and responds to (First) Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the Book of Lamentations. Second Isaiah (and parts of Third Isaiah) truly are some of the most beautiful, comforting, and inspiring prophetic writings in the Hebrew Bible. The book also helpfully shows how Third Isaiah was written to respond to the disappointments of returnees from Babylon who expected, based on Second Isaiah, a more glorious restoration than what actually happened. Second and Third Isaiah also present a more universalist view of the history of Israel, one that reaches to all nations, and in Third Isaiah even includes the foreigner and the eunuch as part of the House of Israel.

To truly understand the Book of Isaiah one has to understand what the book is not about as well as what the book is about. Instead of being about the distant future (though a few places do speak with incipient apocalyptic language) and instead of being a book that Christians, Mormons, or others should backread their theology and beliefs into, Isaiah is really about Isaiah's own time(s), the times the book was written. It provides hope and comfort, indignation and condemnation, to the people living around the time the book was written. While Christians can apply the book of Isaiah in new directions based on Christian belief, one first needs to understand the book based on its own time-bound ancient Jewish perspectives. (As one who reads the Book of Mormon as sacred scripture, I note that Nephi "likens" Isaiah to his people, and I think this means one needs to understand the text on its first before applying to other times/traditions). This introduction and study guide is highly recommended to anybody wanting to understand Isaiah better - preferably alongside a good translation, such as Robert Alter's.