Manasseh of Judah

The 40th chapter of Isaiah is difficult to interpret because of the ambiguity of the text. This chapter has caused numerous scholarly discussion leading to many different interpretations of the chapter. This paper will focus on verses one through eleven, answering questions regarding some of the difficulties of the text. A few questions that will be addressed are the following: Who is the speaker of the text? Is there multiple speakers in this passage? What is the main point of the message? Who…

Within the book of Isaiah there are three main geopolitical events which take place; as these events occur Isaiah plays a role in these eighth century conflicts as his message from God advises the people in power. These messages had a different meaning to the people around him than it does to the audience who reads the book of Isaiah today. The Syro-Ephraimite War, The Threatened Conquest of Egypt and Ethiopia (714 BCE),and Sennacherib's Siege (701 BCE) all add historical context to the message…

The downfall of Judah was a complex and lengthy political ordeal documented over several books of the Old Testament. Two prophets who give their own detailed reasoning for this downfall are Ezekiel and Jeremiah. Both prophets lived during a tumultuous transitionary period of Judah’s history during which Babylon began a systematic deportation and exile of Judah’s citizens. Where the prophets differ, however, is in their message to the elite of Judah in its waning days and their eventual exile.…

I will be interpreting the article Mother-Child Narratives and the Kingdom of God: Authorial Use of Typology as an Interpretive Device in Samuel-Kings by Christopher Jero. In his article Jero uses three narratives, The Hannah Narrative, Solomons Judgement and the Elisha and the Shunnamite Woman to show how these mother child narratives reveal the history of Samuel-Kings. The Hannah narrative details a woman who longs for a son further representing Israel’s longing for a king. Solomon’s judgement…

Introduction & Main Theme The historical interlude, Isaiah chapters 36-39, surrounds the military might of two parties: Hezekiah, king of Judah and the Assyria king Sennacherib. The Assyrian king sends his messengers to Hezekiah to frighten him to distance himself from God and to rely upon Assyria. Isaiah is called in to prophesize to Hezekiah. God gives him signs. Sennacherib ends up dying. Hezekiah also suffered from an illness, which he recovered in his health by God. Ironically, he…

Throughout time we humans as a civilization we always strive for a better existence. During the 20th century in America there was much conflict surrounding social, economic and political issue that enamored the country for a very long time indeed and still to this day affects us. This is why the industrial revolution in America was prosperous, but like anything else in the world what goes up must come down. During this time period many Americans were trying to find there way throughout life and…

nations that God explicitly warned them against. His reference to thieves by night (v5) seems to give the reader the impression that Israel and Judah were the victims in this destruction. Obadiah spins the narrative that Edom was complicit because they did nothing to help, and/or avert their destruction. Edom was not the issue. The reason that Israel and Judah were destroyed and placed in exile was due to their idolatry. They refused to listen to the voice of the prophets and their warnings that…

More punishment is promised in 1 Kings chapter 14 as there is the first mention of the Israelite’s use of sacred poles since the split of the kingdom. Traditionally, these ‘sacred poles’ are understood as poles or idols used to worship false gods in general. The text in chapter 14 verses 15 and 16 says this provokes Yahweh to anger and that he will basically abandon Israel for the sins of Jeroboam. Then it flat out blames Jeroboam since he caused Israel to commit this sin collectively as a…

delivered words of confrontation, exhortation, and warning. This made Isaiah unpopular among the people (Radmacher, Allen & House, 2007, p. 1037). Isaiah’s message was delivered during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, and all the kings of Judah who reigned from 792 B.C. until 687 B.C (Hays, 2010, p. 96). Isaiah gave the Israelites hope when he prophesied for them to return back to Babylon. The prophecy sustained faith and hope to the Israelites, especially Ezra and Nehemiah…

Nehemiah, but there were also many other ones where the people would show weakness but then bounce back with great faith. The two stories of Nehemiah and Jonah are similar in ways such that the great city of Nineveh was stricken with sin, just as Judah seemed to be going nowhere good. Both of them turned out to be just fine. They also both show that trusting in the Lord will bring you to the good parts in life. But, when we don’t trust in God, as Jonah didn’t at times, we will always be led…