Yeshayahu's Mission in Chapter 6/2

Yeshayahu's Mission in Chapter 6

Exegetical Approaches

This topic has not yet undergone editorial review

Initiation to Prophecy

The chapter describes Yeshayahu's appointment where he was prepared for and received his prophetic mission.

Sources:Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Shemot15:9About Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael Shemot, RashiYeshayahu 1:1Yeshayahu 6:1, 5, 7-13About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, Ibn EzraYeshayahu 1:1Yeshayahu 6About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, RidYeshayahu 6About R. Yeshayah of Trani, ShadalYeshayahu 6About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto

"אֶת מִי אֶשְׁלַח...  וָאֹמַר הִנְנִי שְׁלָחֵנִי" – Rashi and the Rid point to these words as proof that the chapter speaks of Yeshayahu's appointment as prophet.

Chronology of the chapters – This position assumes that the book is achronological and must explain why Chapter 6 does not open the book:

• Relayed later – Shadal posits that though Chapter 6 was the first prophecy that Yeshayahu received, it was only relayed later, after the prophecies of Chapters 2-5.
• Thematic order preferred – Alternatively, it is possible that thematic order took precedence over chronological order. Chapters 1-5 describe the nation's sins, while Chapter 6 (through12) focus on their punishment. When speaking to his contemporaries, Yeshayahu could open with a prophecy of doom, since they were well aware of their misdeeds.  Yet, when ordering his prophecies for future generations, it made sense for the prophet to begin with the nation's sins, giving the reader background to understand why the decree of destruction was deserved.

"בִּשְׁנַת מוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ עֻזִּיָּהוּ" – Since Yeshayahu 1 opens by sharing that Yeshayahu prophesied in the reigns of Uziyahu, Yotam, Achaz and Chizkiyahu, some question how this could be true if Yeshayahu was first initiated into prophecy with Uziyahu's death.  These commentators offer various solutions to the problem:

• Rashi and the Rid suggest that the phrase "בִּשְׁנַת מוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ עֻזִּיָּהוּ" refers to the year when Uziyahu was struck with tzara'at and metaphorically died, rather than to the year of his actual death. As such, Yeshayahu was initiated in the middle of Uziyahu's reign and prophesied for several years before his death.
• Ibn Ezra, instead, clarifies that the verse speaks of the year (and not the day) of Uziyahu's death, which allows for several months worth of prophecies.
• Finally, Shadal asserts that the opening "בִּשְׁנַת מוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ עֻזִּיָּהוּ" refers to the date that Yeshayhau relayed the prophecy, not the year in which he received it.¹ He adds that other prophecies might have been received during the reign of Uziyahu but not recorded for future generations.

Unique Mission

Sources:R. Eliezer of BeaugencyYeshayahu 1:1Yeshayahu 6About R. Eliezer of Beaugency, RadakYeshayahu IntroductionYeshayahu 6About R. David Kimchi, Abarbanel

Re-initiation to Prophecy

¹ This, however is somewhat difficult considering the continuation of the verse, "וָאֶרְאֶה אֶת אֲדֹנָי יֹשֵׁב עַל כִּסֵּא רָם וְנִשָּׂא" from which it sounds that the date refers the receiving of the vision.