1. AUTHOR. — Isaiah, son of Amoz.

2. DATE. — During the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. About 758–698 B. c.

3. PLACE. — The author belonged to the kingdom of Judah. Probably most of his prophecies were delivered in the temple court.

4. HISTORICAL OCCASION. — Most of his book was occasioned by the events connected with the reigns of Ahaz and Hezekiah. The former refused to trust in Jehovah, making an alliance with Assyria, because of which Isaiah predicts the punishment of Judah; the latter was king when the As Syrians attacked Judah, and was delivered because he trusted in Jehovah. At this. time Isaiah was a prophet of hope. He belongs to what is called the Assyrian period.

5. LEADING TOPIC — Condemnation for sins, threat of punishment, with the promise that a remnant shall be saved. The scope of the prophecy is wide, including the captivity, restoration, supremacy of the kingdom, reaching the highest Messianic conceptions of the Old Testament in the person of Immanuel and the suffering Servant.

6. CHIEF PURPOSE. — To show that the chosen people were to be punished for their sins, but to assure the true Israel that this would not prevent the fulfillment of the purpose of God to save a people that would be holy; that the Messianic age would come when peace and righteousness would prevail.

7. GENERAL ANALYSIS.

Part I. Closely connected with Judah's history, Ch. 1-39.

(a) Rebuke, threat, promise, Ch. 1–12.

(b) Prophecies about hostile nations, Ch.13–23.

(c) Certainly of punishment with promise of future glory, Ch. 24–35.

(d) Historical — Hezekiah's deliverance, Ch. 36–39.

Part II. Mostly concerned with the Messianic times, Ch. 40–66.

(a) God's people to be delivered, Ch.40–48.

(b) The mission of the Servant, Ch. 49–57.

(c) Triumphant, Zion -honored, supreme, Ch. 58–66.

8. POINTS OF ESPECIAL INTEREST. — The wickedness of the Israelites; the captivity determined; restoration assured; hostile nations to be punished; Israel, God's servant among the nations; the promised supremacy of God's people; the kingly and servant idea of the Messiah.

9. SPECIAL SINS CONDEMNED. — Of the Israelites: Idolatry, forsaking Jehovah, oppression. Of the Gentiles: Proud, haughty persecution of God's people.

10. NATIONAL HOPES PRESENTED. — Israel to be restored after captivity; made supreme over enemies; a time of peace under a divinely sent king.

11. MESSIANIC IDEAS. Immanuel, born of a virgin; a divinely appointed king, whose reign would bring peace; the Servant of God, giving light to the nations, and suffering for the sins of man; a time when the Gentiles would turn to Jehovah, and righteousness would prevail.

12. RELATION TO OTHER. O. T. BOOKS. — It stands at the summit of prophecy. It develops principles only partly unfolded by earlier prophets, and presents most fully the purposes of God concerning his people. It has been well called the “Gospel of Isaiah.”

13. TOPICS FOR SPECIAL STUDY. — The condition of the Assyrian power at the time of Isaiah; condition of Egypt; the reigns of Ahaz and Hezekiah.