A Redactional Study of the Book of Isaiah 13-23

Jongkyung Lee

Oxford Theology and Religion Monographs

Argues that a series of programmatic additions were made to the oracles concerning the nations in Isaiah 13-23 during the late-exilic period by the same circle of writers who were responsible for Isaiah 40-55
Explains that these additions were made to create continuity between the ancient oracles against the nations from the Isaiah tradition and the future fate of the same nations as the late-exilic redactor(s) foresaw
Shows that the additions portray a two-sided vision concerning the nations

A Redactional Study of the Book of Isaiah 13-23

Jongkyung Lee

Oxford Theology and Religion Monographs

Description

A Redactional Study of the Book of Isaiah 13-23 argues that a series of programmatic additions were made to the oracles concerning the nations in Isaiah 13-23 during the late-exilic period by the same circle of writers who were responsible for Isaiah 40-55. These additions were made to create continuity between the ancient oracles against the nations from the Isaiah tradition and the future fate of the same nations as the late-exilic redactor(s) foresaw. The additions portray a two-sided vision concerning the nations. One group of passages depicts a positive turn for certain nations while the other group of passages continues to pronounce doom against the remaining nations. This double-sided vision is set out first in Isaiah 14 surrounding the famous taunt against the fallen tyrant. 14:1-2, before the taunt, paints the broad picture of the future return of the exiles and the attachment of the gentiles to the people of Israel. After the taunt and other sayings of YHWH against his enemies, 14:26-27 extends the sphere of the underlying theme of 14:4b-25a, namely YHWH's judgement against boastful and tyrannical power(s), to all nations and the whole earth. The two sides of this vision are then applied accordingly to the rest of the oracles concerning nations in chapters 13-23. To the nations that have experienced similar disasters as the people of Israel, words of hope in line with 14:1-2 were given. To the nations that still possessed some prominence and reasons to be proud, words of doom in line with 14:26-27 were decreed.

A Redactional Study of the Book of Isaiah 13-23

Jongkyung Lee

Oxford Theology and Religion Monographs

Abbreviations
1:Introduction and survey of scholarship
2:Introducing the theme of the nations joining the people of Israel (Isaiah 14:1-2)
3:Philistia may take refuge in Zion (Isaiah 14:32b)
4:Cush will come to Zion with a tribute (Isaiah 18:7)
5:Zion should receive the outcasts of Moab (Isaiah 16:1-4a)
6:Introducing the theme of YHWH's plan against the nations (Isaiah 14:26-27)
7:Who planned this judgement against Tyre? (Isaiah 23:8-9, 11)
8:Egypt will be in dread because of YHWH's hand against it (Isaiah 19:16-17)
9:Passages outside of chs 13-23 that express inclusivity towards the nations
10:Summary and conclusion
Bibliography

A Redactional Study of the Book of Isaiah 13-23

Jongkyung Lee

Oxford Theology and Religion Monographs

Author Information

Jongkyung Lee, independent scholar

Jongkyung Lee is an independent scholar.

A Redactional Study of the Book of Isaiah 13-23

Jongkyung Lee

Oxford Theology and Religion Monographs

Reviews and Awards

"This book is to be credited for leaving virtually no textual stone unturned...[readers] will discover in this work a useful guide to the problems of the Hebrewtext and the scholarship surrounding them." - Jacob Stromberg, Duke University, Review of Biblical Literature

"L. presents a coherent hypothesis, which all who engage in redaction-critical scholarship should appreciate." - John Jarick, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament

"Lee's Monograph is to be congratulated for many worthwhile arguments and scholarly contributions. It is a welcome and indispensable work not only for those who study the book of Isaiah but also for those who study all prophetic literature." - Hyun Chul Paul Kim, Recensiones

"Jongkyung Lee's redactional study of Isaiah 1323 is a great contribution in the field of redaction criticism and to the study of Isaiah." - Antony Dhas Prakasam, The Catholic Biblical Quarterly

"Lee's work represents a helpful contribution towards the continuing effort to uncover how the composite book of Isaiah developed. He has drawn our attention to an oft-neglected portion of the book in that discussion." - J. Todd Hibbard, Reading Religion