Overview Isaiah 56-66

Chiasm

Many scholars have noticed a chiastic structure to these chapters. Emmerson has provided a very detailed layout, but such a level of detail is somewhat forced, and this is demonstrated by the non-sequential ordering of some of the chiastic sections.

More plausible is Owalt’s chiasm which divides these chapters into 7 sections. Each pair of parallel sections will be addressed in turn to give an overview of the whole.

Unity and Composition of Isaiah

Döderlein (1775) and Eichhorn (~1780) initially suggested major division at ch40 – 2 authors (8th 6th cent)

Duhm (1982) added 56 as next division – 3 authors.

Grounds for Disunity

Historical Setting (Driver 1898)

There is a shift in historical context between chs 39 and 40. 1-39 focus on the Assyrian threat whereas 40ff major on Babylon:

1. Jerusalem has fallen (587bc)- 44:26b, 58:12; 61:4; 63:18; 64:10
2. the people are in exile and are suffering at the hands of the Babylonians – 42:22; 47:6.
3. there is hope of return, soon – 40:2; 48:20.
4. the prophet personally addresses the people in exile -48:8.