YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE ISAIAH: THE PROPHET AND HIS DAY CHAPTERS 1-39 BOB UTLEY PROFESSOR OF HERMENEUTICS (BIBLE INTERPRETATION) STUDY GUIDE COMMENTARY SERIES OLD TESTAMENT, VOL. BIBLE LESSONS INTERNATIONAL: MARSHALL, TEXAS 2010 Copyright ©2001 by Bible Lessons International, Marshall, Texas (Revised 2006) All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any way or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. Bible Lessons International P. O. Box 1289 Marshall, TX 75671-1289 1-800-785-1005 ISBN The primary biblical text used in this commentary is: New American Standard Bible (Update, 1995) Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation P. O. Box 2279 La Habra, CA 90632-2279 The paragraph divisions and summary captions as well as selected phrases are from: 1. The New King James Version, Copyright ©1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 2. The New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Copyright ©1989 by the Division of Christian Education of National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U. S. A. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 3. Today’s English Version is used by permission of the copyright owner, The American Bible Society, ©1966, 1971. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 4. The New Jerusalem Bible, copyright ©1990 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.freebiblecommentary.org The New American Standard Bible Update — 1995 Easier to read: } Passages with Old English “thee’s” and “thou’s” etc. have been updated to modern English. } Words and phrases that could be misunderstood due to changes in their meaning during the past 20 years have been updated to current English. } Sentences beginning with “And” have often been retranslated for better English, in recognition of differences in style between the ancient languages and modern English. The original Greek and Hebrew did not have punctuation as is found in English, and in many cases modern English punctuation serves as a substitute for “and” in the original. In some other cases, “and” is translated by a different word such as “then” or “but” as called for by the context, when the word in the original language allows such translation. More accurate than ever: } Recent research on the oldest and best Greek manuscripts of the New Testament has been reviewed, and some passages have been updated for even greater fidelity to the original manuscripts. } Parallel passages have been compared and reviewed. } Verbs that have a wide range of meaning have been retranslated in some passages to better account for their use in the context. And still the NASB: } The NASB update is not a change-for-the-sake-of-change translation. The original NASB stands the test of time, and change has been kept to a minimum in recognition of the standard that has been set by the New American Standard Bible. } The NASB update continues the NASB’s tradition of literal translation of the original Greek and Hebrew without compromise. Changes in the text have been kept within the strict parameters set forth by the Lockman Foundation’s Fourfold Aim. } The translators and consultants who have contributed to the NASB update are conservative Bible scholars who have doctorates in Biblical languages, theology, or other advanced degrees. They represent a variety of denominational backgrounds. Continuing a tradition: The original NASB has earned the reputation of being the most accurate English Bible translation. Other translations in recent years have sometimes made a claim to both accuracy and ease of reading, but any reader with an eye for detail eventually discovers that these translations are consistently inconsistent. While sometimes literal, they frequently resort to paraphrase of the original, often gaining little in readability and sacrificing much in terms of fidelity. Paraphrasing is not by nature a bad thing; it can and should clarify the meaning of a passage as the translators understand and interpret. In the end, however, a paraphrase is as much a commentary on the Bible as it is a translation. The NASB update carries on the NASB tradition of being a true Bible translation, revealing what the original manuscripts actually say—not merely what the translator believes they mean. —The Lockman Foundation TABLE OF CONTENTS Brief Explanations of the Technical Resources used in This Commentary............ i Brief Definitions of Hebrew Verbal Forms that Impact Exegesis.................. iii Abbreviations Used in This Commentary.................................... ix A Word From the Author: How Can This Commentary Help You? ............... xi A Guide to Good Bible Reading: A Personal Search for Verifiable Truth .......... xiii Commentary Introduction to Isaiah .................................................1 Isaiah 1...........................................................11 Isaiah 2...........................................................41 Isaiah 3...........................................................55 Isaiah 4...........................................................65 Isaiah 5...........................................................71 Isaiah 6...........................................................89 Isaiah 7..........................................................101 Isaiah 8..........................................................111 Isaiah 9..........................................................125 Isaiah 10.........................................................133 Isaiah 11.........................................................143 Isaiah 12.........................................................153 Isaiah 13.........................................................157 Isaiah 14.........................................................165 Isaiah 15.........................................................179 Isaiah 16.........................................................185 Isaiah 17.........................................................191 Isaiah 18.........................................................199 Isaiah 19.........................................................205 Isaiah 20.........................................................215 Isaiah 21.........................................................219 Isaiah 22.........................................................227 Isaiah 23.........................................................239 Isaiah 24.........................................................247 Isaiah 25.........................................................257 Isaiah 26.........................................................265 Isaiah 27 ........................................................277 Isaiah 28.........................................................285 Isaiah 29.........................................................295 Isaiah 30.........................................................307 Isaiah 31.........................................................321 Isaiah 32.........................................................327 Isaiah 33.........................................................339 Isaiah 34.........................................................349 Isaiah 35.........................................................357 Isaiah 36.........................................................363 Isaiah 37.........................................................371 Isaiah 38.........................................................385 Isaiah 39.........................................................393 Appendix One: Introduction to Hebrew Poetry ...............................397 Appendix Two: Introduction to OT Prophecy ................................401 Appendix Three: A Brief Historical Survey .................................405 Appendix Four: Charts 1. OT Time Line.................................................411 2. Kings and Events of the Babylonian, Persian, and Greek Dynasties.......415 3. Kings of the divided Monarchy ...................................421 Appendix Five: Doctrinal Statement.......................................427 SPECIAL TOPICS TABLE OF CONTENTS Names for Deity, 1:1 ....................................................13 Bob’s Evangelical Biases, 1:3.............................................18 Election/Predestination and the Need for A Theological Balance, 1:3..............18 Righteousness, 1:4......................................................19 Sanctification, 1:4 ......................................................23 Lord of Hosts, 1:9 ......................................................25 The Remnant, Three Senses, 1:9...........................................26 Eastern Literature, 1:16 ..................................................29 Covenant, 1:19.........................................................31 Biblical Attitudes Toward Alcohol and Alcoholism, 1:22 .......................33 Fire, 1:31 .............................................................38 This Age and the Age to Come, 2:2.........................................44 Why Are End-Time Events So Controversial, 2:2..............................45 Judge, Justice, Judgment in Isaiah, 3:1 ......................................57 Glory, 3:8.............................................................60 Moon Worship, 3:18 ....................................................63 Jesus the Nazarene, 4:2 ..................................................67 The Two Books