Yeshayahu's Mission in Chapter 6/1/en

Yeshayahu's Mission in Chapter 6

Introduction

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A Unique Vision

Descriptions of theophanies are somewhat rare in Tanakh, making Yeshayahu's vision of Hashem in Chapter 6 somewhat unique. Yeshayahu views Hashem sitting on His throne, surrounded by angels who laud Him.  At the sound, the House trembles and fills with smoke. Yeshayahu reacts:

EN/HEע/E

(ה) וָאֹמַר אוֹי לִי כִי נִדְמֵיתִי כִּי אִישׁ טְמֵא שְׂפָתַיִם אָנֹכִי וּבְתוֹךְ עַם טְמֵא שְׂפָתַיִם אָנֹכִי יוֹשֵׁב כִּי אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ י"י צְבָאוֹת רָאוּ עֵינָי. (ו) וַיָּעׇף אֵלַי אֶחָד מִן הַשְּׂרָפִים וּבְיָדוֹ רִצְפָּה בְּמֶלְקַחַיִם לָקַח מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. (ז) וַיַּגַּע עַל פִּי וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֵּה נָגַע זֶה עַל שְׂפָתֶיךָ וְסָר עֲוֺנֶךָ וְחַטָּאתְךָ תְּכֻפָּר. (ח) וָאֶשְׁמַע אֶת קוֹל אֲדֹנָי אֹמֵר אֶת מִי אֶשְׁלַח וּמִי יֵלֶךְ לָנוּ וָאֹמַר הִנְנִי שְׁלָחֵנִי.

What prompts this unique revelation? Most prophecies in Tanakh are not preceded by visions of God, so why is this one?  Does Hashem's question "Who shall I send" suggest that it constitutes Yeshayahu's initiation into prophecy? If so, though, why does it not open the book?

Yeshayahu's Reaction

Yeshayahu's reaction to the initial vision of Hashem is somewhat perplexing:

• "אוֹי לִי כִי נִדְמֵיתִי" – How are we to understand this distraught cry of Yeshayahu?  What does the word "נִדְמֵיתִי" mean?  What aspect of seeing Hashem makes the prophet so upset?
• "כִּי אִישׁ טְמֵא שְׂפָתַיִם אָנֹכִי" – Why does Yeshayahu consider himself a "man of impure lips"?
• "וּבְיָדוֹ רִצְפָּה" – What is signified by the coal which is placed on Yeshayahu's lips? When the angel says that his action has removed Yeshayahu's sin ("וְסָר עֲוֺנֶךָ וְחַטָּאתְךָ תְּכֻפָּר"), to what sin is he referring?
• "אֶת מִי אֶשְׁלַח" – Why does Hashem asked for volunteers for this mission? Does not Hashem usually choose his messengers on his own?  Why is Yeshayahu so eager to comply?¹

The Mission

As soon as Yeshayahu accepts his mission, Hashem tells him:

EN/HEע/E

(ט) ...לֵךְ וְאָמַרְתָּ לָעָם הַזֶּה שִׁמְעוּ שָׁמוֹעַ וְאַל תָּבִינוּ וּרְאוּ רָאוֹ וְאַל תֵּדָעוּ. (י) הַשְׁמֵן לֵב הָעָם הַזֶּה וְאׇזְנָיו הַכְבֵּד וְעֵינָיו הָשַׁע פֶּן יִרְאֶה בְעֵינָיו וּבְאׇזְנָיו יִשְׁמָע וּלְבָבוֹ יָבִין וָשָׁב וְרָפָא לוֹ.

(9) And He said: 'Go, and tell this people: Hear ye indeed, but understand not; And see ye indeed, but perceive not. (10) Make the heart of this people fat, And make their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they, seeing with their eyes, And hearing with their ears, And understanding with their heart, Rreturn, and be healed.'

With what is Yeshayahu being tasked?

¹ Other leaders, such as Moshe, Gidon and Yirmeyahu, hesitate before accepting the mission thrust upon them by Hashem.