The first historical work of Isaiah was a biog raphy of King Uzziah (comp. 2 Chron. xxvi :22. 'Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, did Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, write'). The second historical work of Isaiah was a biography of King Hezekiah, which was subsequently inserted in the annals of Judah and Israel. These annals consisted of a series of pro phetic monographs, which were received partly entire, and partly in abstracts, and are the chief source from which the information contained in the Chronicles is derived. In this work of Isa iah, although its contents are chiefly historical, numerous prophecies were inserted. Hence it is called in 2 Chron. xxxii:32, The l'ision of Isa iah. In a similar manner the biography of Solo mon by Ahijah is called in 2 Citron. ix :29, The Profihecy of Ahijah. The two historical works of Isaiah were lost. together with the annals of Judah and Israel, into which they were embod ied. \Vhatever these annals contained that was of importance for all ages, has been preserved to us by being received into the historical books of the Old Testament, and the predictions of the most distinguished prophets have been formed into separate collections. After this was effected, less care was taken to preserve the more diffuse annals, which also comprehended many statements, of value only for particular times and places.
3. The Book of Isaiah. (1) Structure and Content. At the very first glance the Book of Isa iah is seen to consist of three very distinct parts. It is divided into 66 chapters. Of these, chapters i-xxxv constitute a more or less homogeneous collection and are distinctly prophetic. Chapters xxxvi-xxxix contain a historical sketch of some events during Hezekiah's reign, and chapters xl lxvi constitute another homogeneous collection, and are as distinctly prophetic as chapters i-xxxv.
The first of these sections may be further subdivided into five groups of prophetic dis courses as follows: (a) Chapters i-xii, dealing generally with the political, social and moral conditions in Judah during the time of the threatened Assyrian and Syrian invasions. Chap ter i has been quite properly entitled The Great Arraignment. It contains a severe denunciation of the lukewarmness and formalism of the people as well as of the princes and rulers. Chapters ii-iv constitute a connected discourse, opening with a glowing picture of the future exaltation of Zion, then showing by way of contrast its present need and low moral condition, and clos ing with another picture of its future glory. Chapter v presents in a parable—that of the vine—the care of Jehovah for Judah. Chapter vi gives an account of the vision in the last year of Uzziah's life with which the prophet's minis try began. Chapters vii, x :4, consist of a series of oracles delivered during the reign of Ahaz.
The remainder of chapter x (verses 5-34) is a dis course against Assyria. Chapter xi predicts the advent of the Messiah, and chapter xii is a short psalm of thanksgiving to Jehovah. (b) Chapters xiii-xxiii contain a series of so-called "Bur dens," i. e., denunciatory oracles on the nations dwelling in Palestine and adjacent countries. The first of these oracles is entitled the Burden of Babylon, and occupies chapters xiii and xiv; the second is the Burden of Moab, in chapters xv and xvi ; the third, the Burden of Damascus, in chapter xvii; the fourth, the Burden of Ethio pia, in chapter xviii ; the fifth, the Burden of Egypt, in chapter xix. This section is interrupted here by the insertion of a historical fragment, chapter xx, after which come the sixth Burden, e., that of the "Wilderness of the Sea," chap ter xxi :1, to; the seventh, i. e., the Burden of Dumah, xxi :it-t2 ; the eighth, i. e., the Burden of Arabia, xxi :13-17; the ninth, i. e., the Burden of the Valley of the Vision (Judah), chapter xxii ; and the tenth, i. e., the Burden of Tyre, chapter xxiii. (c) Chapters xxiv-xxvii are of the nature of an eschatological vision. They depict the final judgment and consummation of all things brought about by the confusion, desola tion, and collapse of the world, out of which, however, Israel is saved and its dead are raised to life again. (d) Chapters xxviii-xxxiii haye been entitled the "Book of Zion." They con tain discourses addressed directly to Zion, ad monishing and warning it by the example of Samaria (chapters xxviii and xxix), pointing out the folly of an Egyptian alliance (chapters xxx and xxxi), promising a restoration to ideal conditions (chapter xxxii), and denouncing the conquering Assyrian (chapter xxxiii). (e) Chap ters xxxiv and xxxv give a picture of the re demption of Israel, the judgment of Edom, and the return of the captives home.
The second main division of the book narrates Sennacherib's invasion and demand for the sub mission of Hezekiah, and the disastrous ending of the invasion (comp. 2 Kings xvii :30 ; xx the sickness of Hezekiah (chapter xxxviii), and the mission of Merodach Baladan to Hezekiah (chapter xxxix).
The third division of the book, comprising xl lxvi, has been called the Book of Consolations. Its standpoint is the end of the Babylonian exile, B. C. 550-54o, and it is designed evidently to com fort and encourage the captives and assure them of speedy restoration to their native land. The prophecy is continuous and, although capable of minute and detailed analysis, it cannot he sub divided into oracles and discourses as readily as the first section. The best analysis made is that into three parts, i. e. 0) chapters xl-xlviii, (2) chapters xlix-lix, and (3) chapters lx-lxvi.