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Most of the beginning history is taken from New Bible Companion A guide to understanding each book of the Bible and how it relates to Scripture as a whole. An excellent companion to any version of the Bible. Quotations taken from the New International Version. Robert B. Hughes and J. Carl Laney Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Wheaton, Illinois, And notes from The Believers Study Bible.

AUTHOR: Isaiah: The problem of the unity of Isaiah is inextricably related to the question of the book's authorship, and has been the focus of more scholarly discussion than any other single question regarding the prophetic books of the Old Testament. Since the denial of Isaianic authorship of chapters 40-66 in 1775, critical scholars have generally considered the book as two separate works; and in 1892, the work was further divided. Chapters 40-55 were designated "Deutero-Isaiah," written in Babylon in 549-538 B.C., and chapters 56-66 were called "Trito-Isaiah," written by another unknown author in Palestine in 460-445 B.C. Isaianic authorship was also denied for the following passages: 11:10-16; 12:1-6; 13:1-14:23; 15:1-16:12; 21:1-10; 24:1-27:13; 34:1-35:10; 36:1-39:8; 40:1-66:24, a total of almost two-thirds of the book.

Although the arguments are impressive to some, each has been persuasively challenged by conservative scholars who maintain the unity of Isaianic authorship for the entire book: (1) The tradition of one Isaiah appears as early as the apocryphal Ecclesiasticus 49:17-25 (c. 185 B.C.). (2) The superscription in 1:1 stands for the entire book. (3) All parts (i.e., chs. 1-39; 40-55; 56-66) bear marks of Isaiah's style. (4) It is impossible to be satisfied with only three divisions if the stylistic criterion is consistently applied. (5) Some of the questioned chapters (i.e., chs. 36-39) serve as a bridge between the earlier Assyrian and the later Babylonian periods; hence, to deny Isaianic authorship for these is to leave the two greater parts of the book (i.e., chs. 1-35 and 40-66) without a literary and historical transition. (6) New Testament references attest to Isaianic authorship for the whole (cf. Matt. 3:3; 8:17; 12:17; Luke 3:4; 4:17; John 1:23; 12:38; Acts 8:28; Rom. 10:16-20), and Jesus attests that Isaiah wrote 53:4 (Matt. 8:17), 44:1 (Matt. 12:17), 61:1 (Luke 4:17), and 53:1 (John 12:38). (7) The literary unity is attested by the frequency of such words as "thornbush," "delusions," "dross," which occur in both sections. "Holy One of Israel" is used twelve times in chapters 1-39 and thirteen times in chapters 40-66, but only six times in all the rest of the Old Testament. (8) Passages in Zechariah, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Nahum reflect upon chapters 40-66, indicating that this part was in existence at the time of their prophetic work. (9) The author of chapters 40-66 is a Palestinian who is not familiar with Babylon, but who speaks familiarly of Jerusalem (41:19; 44:14). In fact, "all you ends of the earth" and "from a far country" are clearer when spoken from a Palestinian viewpoint than from a Babylonian one (45:22; 46:11), and the expression "from there" does not suggest a Babylonian origin (52:11).

It has been maintained traditionally that Isaiah, the son of Amoz, who prophesied in Jerusalem during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, is the author of the book which bears his name. Tradition states that Isaiah, born in 760 B.C., was a brother of Amaziah of Judah. This would make him a cousin of the kings previously named, during whose reign he prophesied. Isaiah (yeshayahu, Heb.), whose name means "the Lord saves," or "salvation of Yahweh," was a younger contemporary of both Amos and Hosea. Isaiah was married to a woman called "the prophetess" (8:3) who bore him two sons, whose names are object lessons: (1) "Shear-Jashub" (7:3), literally "A Remnant Shall Return," meaning that out of God's judgment a remnant would be saved; and (2) "Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz" (8:3), literally "Speed the Spoil, Hasten the Booty," signifying the removal of Syria and Israel as enemies of Judah by the Assyrians (8:4). His call came in the year that King Uzziah died, c. 740 B.C. (6:1).

DATE: c. 700 B.C.: It has generally been held that Isaiah began his ministry in the last year of Uzziah's reign, 792 (767)-740 B.C., and continued at least until shortly after the invasion by Sennacherib in 701 B.C. (36:1; see chart, "The Divided Kingdom," 1 Kings 12:20). This would mean that his active ministry spanned a period of about forty years. However, in 37:38 Isaiah records the death of Sennacherib, which occurred in 681 B.C., indicating that Isaiah outlived Hezekiah, who died in 686 B.C. This is confirmed by 2 Chronicles 32:32, where it is stated that Isaiah wrote the history of Hezekiah (chs. 36-39), thus extending his ministry into the reign of Manasseh, the successor of Hezekiah. According to Hebrew tradition, Isaiah suffered martyrdom by being sawn in two during the reign of the wicked king Manasseh (cf. Heb. 11:37). The reign of Manasseh is not mentioned in the superscription; hence, Isaiah's visions were no doubt limited to the period of the kings listed therein, ending with Hezekiah, although his writings would extend to 681 B.C. (37:38). According to this view, the latter chapters of Isaiah (chs. 40-66) belong to the reign of Hezekiah after 701 B.C. and perhaps include a part of the reign of Manasseh.

THEME: Judgment and Redemption: The preaching of the prophets -- especially Amos, with his emphasis upon the judgment of God, and Hosea, with his stress upon the love of God -- provided background for and gave balance to the message of Isaiah. His message is presented against the background of Israel's greatest period of prosperity after the "Golden Age of Israel" under David and Solomon. Prosperity, the promotion of agriculture, the enlargement of the kingdom, the strengthening of the fortifications of Judah, the reorganization of the army, and the commercial activities in Arabia and elsewhere precipitated immorality, excessive drinking, display of wealth, ritualism, idolatry, perversion of justice, oppression of the poor, false prophets, immoral priests, greed, hunger, and a great chasm between rich and poor. Therefore, Isaiah stressed (1) salvation by faith (e.g., 7:9; 28:16; 30:15), (2) the holiness of God and ethical living (e.g., 6:1-8; 37:23), (3) the offense of man's sins (e.g., 1:2-4; 29:13-17), (4) the certainty of judgment (chs. 1-35), and (5) the assurance of redemption for a repentant remnant (e.g., 1:9, 19; 10:19-22; 46:3, 4; 65:8-10).

Of all the books in the Old Testament, only the Psalms contain a larger number of messianic predictions than Isaiah. Isaiah sets forth every aspect of the glory and ministry of Christ: (1) His incarnation (7:14; 9:6), (2) His youth (7:15; 11:1; 53:2), (3) His mild manner (42:2), (4) His obedience (50:5), (5) His message (61:1, 2), (6) His miracles (35:5, 6), (7) His sufferings (50:6), (8) His rejection (53:1-3), (9) His shame (53:4-6), (10) His vicarious death (53:10), and (11) His resurrection and ascension (52:13).

Overview: Isaiah 1 is an introductory message containing the themes of the entire book: the sinfulness of Israel, the tender appeals of God, certain judgment, and promised blessings of restoration. All the promises for Judah and Jerusalem can be found in summary form in the first chapter of Isaiah.

1:1 AUTHOR, DATE, ADDRESSEES

Isaiah prophesied during the reigns of four different kings, and he addressed the problems and people of those reigns. Uzziah (791-739 B.C.), also known as Azariah, was a good king. Jotham (750-731 B.C.) was also a good king. Ahaz (743-715 B.C.) was wicked and idolatrous. Hezekiah (728-686 B.C.) was a godly king and a religious reformer.

1:2-31 THE COMPLAINT IS DEVELOPED

Isaiah is first presented in his role as a prosecuting attorney in behalf of God, indicting the sinful nation for breaking the law of the Mosaic covenant (1:2-3). The "heavens" and "earth" were called upon as "witnesses" against the covenant breakers (cf. Deut. 4:26; 30:19). Five terms are used for sin in 1:4 to describe the sinful condition of the people of Judah. "Sinful" means "to miss the mark"; "guilt" is "to bend or twist aside"; "evil-doers" are those who "do harm and injury"; "corruption" means "to ruin, to destroy"; and "spurned" means "to be estranged or to revolt." The title "the Holy One of Israel," which is almost unique to Isaiah, appears twenty-four times in the book.

The sickness described here is a metaphor for sin (1:5-6). God had disciplined the nation, but the people had not repented and been healed. During Isaiah's lifetime, the land of Judah was devastated by foreign armies that God used to discipline his people (1:7-9). The expression "Daughter of Zion" refers to the city of Jerusalem, which was being personified as a young woman (1:8).

In 1:11-15, God was not rejecting the Levitical blood sacrifices. He only rejected the religious hypocrisy that usually went along with them. Many brought sacrifices to God, but their worship was merely external and they lacked sincere love for God (cf. 1 Sam. 15:22; Jer. 7:21-23; Hos. 6:6; Amos 5:21-24). The "New Moon" (1:13) was a minor religious festival celebrating the appearance of a new moon (cf. 1 Chron. 23:31). Isaiah was not suggesting salvation by works (1:16). He simply emphasized the Lord's promise to cleanse those who come to him by faith and through the appointed way of sacrifice (Isa. 1:18; cf. Lev. 4:20).

The orphan and the widow were regarded as the defenseless in Israelite society (1:17; cf. Deut. 10:18; 24:19). There was a lament over the moral decline of God's people (Isa. 1:21-23). The "wine diluted with water" (1:22) is probably a reference to wheat beer. The "therefore" (1:24) refers to all that has preceded, principally the description of the nation's sinful condition. After disciplinary judgment (1:25) comes restoration (1:26). Isaiah carries the reader from history to eschatology, predicting kingdom blessing for the redeemed (1:27) and future judgment for the wicked (1:28-31).

(Isa 1:1 KJV) The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

Rev 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

Isaiah saw a vision, John had a vision or revelation, and Isaiah saw a country that needed to repent or be loss, destroyed. John saw a world that was in danger of total destruction. I too see a world with a lot of religious ideals; denominations, churches, more bibles and translations that a two-year-old should be able to learn. But our hearts are far from him. What kind of vision do you have? We need preachers that can see what is going on around us, that see what Isaiah and John saw. A vision for their community, a vision for the poor, blind, sick, old, widows children and most of all the lost. We need Sunday school Teachers that have a vision for the class that they teach as well as a desire to study Gods word. We need men and women with a vision to be deacons and deaconesses to support and help the pastors. We need lay folks that have a vision for the church.

(Isa 1:2 KJV) Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me.

(Isa 1:3 KJV) The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master's crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.

(Isa 1:4 KJV) Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the LORD, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward.

(Isa 1:5 KJV) Why should ye be stricken any more? ye will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint.

(Isa 1:6 KJV) From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

(Isa 1:7 KJV) Your country is desolate, your cities are burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate, as overthrown by strangers.

(Isa 1:8 KJV) And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.

(Isa 1:9 KJV) Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

Thank God for a few people with vision, love, and a desire to be like Christ. Those who have a life of Prayer and study and a desire to uplift others and bring Glory to God are all that keeps the world from the end.

(Isa 1:10 KJV) Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

Will our leaders listen, will our leaders repent, will our preachers start preaching the word, will Christians start living according to the word, will you seek change in your life or do you think it is for everyone else? Are you a part of the remnant or the majority?

(Isa 1:11 KJV) To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

(Isa 1:12 KJV) When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?

(Isa 1:13 KJV) Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

I see a God that is tired of our playing Revival. He is tired of our playing church. He is sick of our playing Christian. He is tired of our playing at preaching, with our big words and fancy building while we charge for bible classes and tapes. You think God put a price that is paid out of the pocket for what he gives. O foolish people, what he gave he gave freely why do we make it cost so much, Jesus paid it all.

(Isa 1:14 KJV) Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

We set aside our days to play holy, when we should be living it every day. Then when a problem comes you call on his name, when you have yourself in debt and haven't given to feed the hungry or put a bible in a hand, or help to upkeep the house of God so one will have a place of refuge, then you call on him. We have our Easter and Christmas services and celebrate lent, put ashes on your forehead and your heart is far from him. Except you repent you will die! You will go to HELL, get mad, call me a lie, tell me what you want but the truth is the truth. Get up out of your easy chair of life and get on your knees while there is still time. I tell you the Lord is coming, you must repent, make your wife, kids, husbands, mother, dad, neighbors, mad if you must but tell them you love them enough to say repent. Will you let your child be lost because you were not willing to love them that much now? Give a transplant that counts, a new heart, yours first then lead them to Jesus.

(Isa 1:15 KJV) And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

But I go to church, I raise my hands, I fall, Wash you, you must turn your self from sin, Jesus cleanses us from our sin but we must keep our selves clean. You must stop the sin in your life, Cease to do evil. What is not right is sin or evil.

(Isa 1:17 KJV) Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Preachers you think the answer is in knowing Greek and Hebrew, and taking another class, the answer is on your knees and learning his word. Give it a try, ask God for what to say instead of reading last years dry notes, preach with power comes form prayer and study.

(Isa 1:18 KJV) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

If we could get people to quite fighting and fussing about foolish things and get them to learn to use reason with each other. You can try to make people to your mold. But why not pray for them, set an example for them, show them the word and could it be some would come.

(Isa 1:19 KJV) If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

(Isa 1:20 KJV) But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

You can run but you can't hide.

(Isa 1:22 KJV) Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:

(Isa 1:23 KJV) Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

Some go to church, and play the role that appears like a Christian for some hope of gifts and rewards, while we sat and uphold the sin of leaders, cheat on tax's, steal from God, how many Pastors have to work on a secular job because God's people refuse to obey the Word.

(Isa 1:24 KJV) Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:

(Isa 1:25 KJV) And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:

(Isa 1:26 KJV) And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.

(Isa 1:27 KJV) Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.

(Isa 1:28 KJV) And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.

(Isa 1:29 KJV) For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.

Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. Gal 6:8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

(Isa 1:30 KJV) For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.

(Isa 1:31 KJV) And the strong shall be as tow, and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them.