Isaiah 1:1

PREFATORY.

1. The vision This is a programme word a title applying to this entire book of prophecies, spoken or written during the reigns herein mentioned. The word denotes a supernatural perception, inspiration, revelation, prophecy; here taken collectively for a body of prophecies.

Isaiah the son of Amoz Or Isaiah’s origin nothing is certainly known beyond what is stated in this verse. Nothing whatever is known of his father, Amoz, though many of the Church Fathers supposed him to be the prophet Amos, an error caused, possibly, by the Greek word in the Septuagint being “Amos” for both Amoz and Amos. So noble a character had little need to be known other than as simple “Isaiah.” To this prophet has always been assigned the pre-eminence among the so-called prophets of the Old Testament scriptures. Till the time of Semler (1725-1791) his sole authorship of this book was little called in question. The portion then questioned is the last twenty-seven chapters. Eichhorn and others vigorously continued the dispute, resting their objections on internal reasons purely, such as philological peculiarities, archaisms, and words used once only, and that in the questioned chapters. Gesenius, Ewald, and some lesser lights, have pressed this evidence also against the genuineness of other chapters; for an example, Isaiah 13:1 to Isaiah 14:23; also, Isaiah 21:6-10. The ground of opposition is largely the supernatural element in prophecy. It is claimed that what is herein predictive can be accounted for by mere statesmanlike prevision; that, at least, the last twenty-seven chapters are a later production, written at or after the Babylonian captivity. Other pieces of this collection, beside those named, on one or another ground of criticism are denied to Isaiah as the author. Against all this, Drechler, Delitzsch, Hengstenberg, Alexander, Prof. Harman, and others, protest staunchly; and with candour, great learning, and acute criticism, utterly overthrow the opposition. Keil, in his Introduction to the Old Testament, (Eng. trans, in Clark’s Theol. Library,) and Kay, in his Introduction to Isaiah, ( Speaker’s Commentary,) give excellent aid to one in search of the facts on this subject: the one discusses generally, but thoroughly, in the interest of unity of authorship in Isaiah; and the other is a valiant demolisher of philological difficulties raised against this unity of authorship.

Concerning Judah and Jerusalem These prophecies all had a bearing, direct or remote, on the people of Judah. Though several were uttered with reference to immediately outlying peoples and to foreign nations, they also had alternate reference to the Jews.

The question as to what time this chapter relates, is difficult to settle. Is it the first prophecy written by Isaiah? Or is it rather a comprehensive introduction, covering by anticipation the average character of the people and age for the entire term of the prophet’s career? The latter is more likely to be the true view, because the more reasonable one.

Throughout the chapter the prophet’s central thought is God’s covenant with Israel as a nation, as seen in Leviticus 26:0, in Deuteronomy 28-32, and in Solomon’s prayer, 1 Kings 9:9.