Historical Backdrop of Yeshayahu 1/1/en
Chronology of Yeshayahu 1
Introduction
Four Kings
Sefer Yeshayahu opens with the time frame of his tenure as prophet:
חֲזוֹן יְשַׁעְיָהוּ בֶן אָמוֹץ אֲשֶׁר חָזָה עַל יְהוּדָה וִירוּשָׁלִָם בִּימֵי עֻזִּיָּהוּ יוֹתָם אָחָז יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ מַלְכֵי יְהוּדָה.
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.
However, the first actual dated prophecy is in 6:1:
בִּשְׁנַת מוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ עֻזִּיָּהוּ וָאֶרְאֶה אֶת אֲדֹנָי יֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא רָם וְנִשָּׂא וְשׁוּלָיו מְלֵאִים אֶת הַהֵיכָל.
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.
The previous chapters are not dated and therefore it is unclear during whose reign they were said and to what time period they refer.
A Few Parts
In order to best determine to whom Yeshayahu is speaking, commentators try to match the events and sins described in the chapter with those of the various kings.
- Verses 1-23 of rebuke which includes an account of theirs sins and description of the destruction.
- Account of sins – "וְהֵם פָּשְׁעוּ בִי" (2), "עָזְבוּ אֶת י"י" (4), "לֹא תוֹסִיפוּ הָבִיא מִנְחַת שָׁוְא" (13), "לִמְדוּ הֵיטֵב דִּרְשׁוּ מִשְׁפָּט" (17), "מְלֵאֲתִי מִשְׁפָּט צֶדֶק יָלִין בָּהּ וְעַתָּה מְרַצְּחִים" (21), "שָׂרַיִךְ סוֹרְרִים וְחַבְרֵי גַּנָּבִים... יָתוֹם לֹא יִשְׁפֹּטוּ וְרִיב אַלְמָנָה לֹא יָבוֹא אֲלֵיהֶם" (23), "כִּי יֵבֹשׁוּ מֵאֵילִים אֲשֶׁר חֲמַדְתֶּם" (29).
- There is a focus in the verses on interpersonal sins.
- Account of destruction – "אַרְצְכֶם שְׁמָמָה עָרֵיכֶם שְׂרֻפוֹת אֵשׁ" (7), "וְנוֹתְרָה בַת צִיּוֹן כְּסֻכָּה בְכָרֶם" (8).
- The destruction seems to be talking of the present, and not a warning of what will happen in the future.
- Verses 24-31 of consolation
- Yesahayahu 2:2 seems to be a continuation of the consolation in chapter 1 and there it says, "וְהָיָה בְּאַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים".
