1. Survey of the Old Testament
Chapter 28
Isaiah

2. The Writing of the Book
Unity of the book has been subjected to major scrutiny in history of interpretation
“Second" and "third" Isaiah hypotheses
Photo: The battering ram, such as the one depicted in this stone relief from the palace of Assyrian king Tiglath-Pileser III (a contemporary of Isaiah), was a formidable weapon against the gate of the city. Isaiah uses it in his imagery about the judgment of God: "See, the LORD is going to waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants… The city is left in ruins, its gate is battered to pieces" (Isa. 24:1,12).

3. The Background Invasion of Israel and Damascus by Tiglath-Pileser III
Fall of Samaria in 721 BC
Invasion of Judah by Sennacherib in 701 BC
Photo: "At that time Medocach-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent Hezekiah letters and a gift" (Isa. 39:1). This Babylonian king, pictured on this boundary marker, was involved in revolts against the Assyrian rulers and perhaps wanted Isaiah to join a rebellious coalition.

4. Purpose and Message Trustworthiness of Yahweh, the covenant God
1-39: indictment and judgment
40-66: forgiveness, deliverance, and restoration
Photo: "To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to? As for an idol, a craftsman casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it" (Isa. 4
0:18-19). The image making that Isaiah describes is depicted in this relief from the tomb of the Egyptian high priest Ankhmahor (about 2300 BC).  

5. Organization and Structure
Introduction
Commissioning of Isaiah
Account of Ahaz
Oracles against nations
Woe oracles
End of the Assyrian crisis
Babylonian crisis
Coming deliverance and judgment
Message to returned exiles

6. Major Themes Sons' Names as Signs The Servant The Holy One of Israel
Redeemer
Eschatology
Map: The Nations of Isaiah 13-23