Introduction to Part One of the Book of Isaiah

All of the oracles collected in chapters 1–12 of the book of Isaiah relate to the moment of decision that the Judeans faced as the Assyrian empire encroached on the kingdoms to its west. (See the introduction to the book of Isaiah.) However, these oracles are not in chronological order. Many of them come from a time when the nation was being devastated by invaders, but these could come either from the reign of Ahaz, when Aram and Israel invaded Judah, or from the reign of Hezekiah, when the Assyrians invaded the land. These oracles are sequenced instead on the basis of similarities in their language, themes, and imagery. This collection begins with two series of six oracles, in 1:1–2:5 and 2:6–4:5. In each series, the first five oracles speak of Yahweh’s judgment against the Judeans, while the sixth oracle presents a hopeful picture of the future. To highlight its special character, the sixth oracle in the first series has a special heading referring again to Isaiah. It was a popular device of Hebrew literature to create a list or group of six things and then increase the total to seven. (For example, Proverbs 6:16 says that there are six things that Yahweh hates, but then increases that number to seven.) So readers of the book would have been expecting a seventh oracle after the first series, and their expectation would have been heightened when a second series of six oracles followed instead. This calls great attention to the oracle in 5:1–7, the “Song of the Vineyard,” which serves as a seventh and concluding oracle for both series. In it, Yahweh demonstrates clearly that he has given the Judeans every chance to repent and obey him, but they have not, so now they deserve judgment and punishment.

Introduction to Isaiah 1

Structure and Formatting

Chapter 1 of the book of Isaiah presents the first five oracles in the first series of oracles against the Judeans. 1. Book title (1) 2. Five oracles in the first series of six oracles about Judah 1. The Judeans are like an animal that does not know its owner (2–3) 2. The Judeans are like someone beaten all over his body (4–9) 3. The Judeans are observing forms of worship but acting evilly (10–17) 4. Yahweh warns the Judeans to obey, not rebel (18–20) 5. Yahweh compares the Judeans to impure things (21–31)

Translation Issues in This Chapter

Words, phrases, and images that connect oracles

One organizing principle of the oracles in this book is that an oracle that ends with a certain image will often be followed by an oracle that begins with the same image. For example, the oracle in 1:4–9 ends with a comparison to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the oracle in 1:10–17 begins with the same comparison. Near the end of that oracle, Yahweh tells the Judeans that their hands are full of blood, and the image of red color also occurs near the start of the following oracle, when Yahweh tells them that though their sins may be like scarlet or crimson, they will become white like snow or wool. Try to translate these oracles in such a way that these connections will be clear.