Introductory Issues

Pastor Bill Farrow

Isaiah 1:1

1The 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.

The vision - The first verse evidently is a title, but whether to the whole book or only to a part of it has been questioned. As it stands here, however, it seems clearly intended to include the entire book, because it embraces all that was seen during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah; that is, during the whole prophetic life of the prophet. The same title is also given to his prophecies in 2 Chr. 32:32: ‘Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah, and his goodness, behold they are written in the vision of Isaiah.’ One writer supposes that the former part of this title, ‘the vision of Isaiah,’ was at first affixed to the single prophecy contained in the first chapter, and that the latter part was inserted afterward as an introduction to the whole book. This might have been done by Isaiah himself if he collected his prophecies into a volume, or by some other inspired man who collected and arranged them; (see the Introduction to Isa. 36).

The word “vision,” denotes properly that which is seen, from the verb, “to see, to behold.” It is a term which is often used in reference to the prophecies of the Old Testament; (Num. 12:6; 24:4; 1 Sam. 3:1; Ps. 89:19; Dan. 2:19; 7:2; 8:1; Nahum 1:1; Gen. 15:1; Isa. 21:2; 22:1). Hence, the prophets were anciently called “Seers,” as those who saw or witnessed events which were yet to come; (compare 1 Sam. 9:9): ‘He that is now called a prophet was beforetime called a “Seer;”’ (1 Sam. 9:11, 18-19; 1 Chr. 9:22; 29:29; 2 Kings 18:13). In these visions the objects probably were made to pass before the mind of the prophet as a picture, in which the various events were delineated with more or less distinctness, and the prophecies were spoken, or recorded, as the visions appeared to the observer. As many events could be represented only by symbols, those symbols became a matter of record, and are often left without explanation.

Of Isaiah - The name Isaiah is from the combination of two Hebrew words meaning “salvation, help, deliverance” and “Jehovah”, and together means ‘salvation of YAHWEH,’ or ‘YAHWEH will save.’ The Vulgate (the ancient Latin version) renders it “Isaias”; the Septuagint has: ÇóáÀáò  Eesaias, “Esaias.” This is also retained in the New Testament; (Matt. 3:3; 4:14; 12:17; 15:7; Mark 7:6; Luke 4:17; John 12:39; Acts 8:28; Rom. 9:27, etc). It was common among the Hebrews to incorporate the name YAHWEH, or a part of it, into their proper names; (see the note at Isa. 7:14). Probably the object of this was to express veneration or regard for him - as we now give the name of a parent or friend to a child; or in many cases the name may have been given to record some signal act of mercy on the part of God, or some special interposition of his goodness. The practice of incorporating the name of the God that was worshipped into proper names was common in the East. Thus the name “Bel,” the principal idol worshipped in Babylon, appears in the proper names of the kings, as Belshazzar, etc.; (compare the note at Isa. 46:1). It is not known that the name was given to Isaiah with any reference to the nature of the prophecies which he would deliver; but it is a remarkable circumstance that it coincides so entirely with the design of so large a portion of his predictions. The substance of the latter portion of the book, at least, is the salvation which YAHWEH would effect for his people from their oppressors in Babylon, and the far mightier deliverance which the world would experience under the Messiah.

The son of Amoz - The Jews after the death of Solomon were divided into two kingdoms; the kingdom of Judah, and of Israel, or Ephraim. The southern, less ungodly kingdom of Judah included the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. Benjamin was a small tribe, and it was not commonly mentioned, or the name was lost in that of Judah. The northern kingdom of Israel, or Ephraim, included the remaining ten tribes. Few of the prophets appeared among them; and the personal ministry of Isaiah does not appear to have been at all extended to them, but remained entirely among the southern two tribes.

Jerusalem - The capital of the kingdom of Judah. It was on the dividing line between the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. It is supposed to have been founded by Melchizedek, who is called king of Salem (Gen. 14:18), and who is supposed to have given this name “Salem” to it. This was about 2000 years before Christ. About a century after its foundation as a city, it was captured by the “Jebusites,” who extended its walls and built a citadel on Mount Zion. By them it was called Jebus. In the conquest of Canaan, Joshua put to death its king (Josh. 10:23), and obtained possession of the town, which was jointly occupied by the Hebrews and Jebusites until the latter were expelled by David, who made it the capital of his kingdom under the name of “Jebus-Salem,” or, for the sake of easier pronunciation by changing a single Hebrew letter, “Jerusalem.” After the revolt of the ten tribes, it of course became the capital of the kingdom of Judah. It was built on hills, or rocks, and was capable of being strongly fortified, and was well adapted to be the capital of the nation. The vision which is here spoken of as having been seen respecting Judah and Jerusalem, actually and properly pertains only to this chapter; (see Isa. 2:1).

In the days of Uzziah - In the time, or during the reign of Uzziah; (2 Chr. 26). He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty-two years. It is not affirmed or supposed that Isaiah began to prophesy at the commencement of his reign. The first part of the long reign of Uzziah was prosperous. He gained important victories over his enemies, and fortified his kingdom; (2 Chr. 26:5-15). He had under him an army of more than three hundred thousand men. But he became proud - attempted an act of sacrilege - was smitten of God, and died a leper. But though the kingdom under Uzziah was flourishing, yet it had in it the elements of decay. During the previous reign of Joash, it had been invaded and weakened by the Assyrians, and a large amount of wealth had been taken to Damascus, the capital of Syria; (2 Chr. 24:23-24). It is not improbable that those ravages were repeated during the latter part of the reign of Uzziah; (compare Isa. 1:7).

Jotham - He began to reign at the age of twenty-five years, and reigned sixteen years; (2 Chr. 27:1-2).

Ahaz - He began to reign at the age of twenty, and reigned sixteen years. He was a wicked man, and during his reign the kingdom was involved in crimes and calamities; (2 Chr. 28).

Hezekiah - He was a virtuous and upright prince. He began his reign at the age of twenty-five years, and reigned twenty-nine; (2 Chr. 29).