The Tanakh Podcast

Two prophecies. The first - to Judah - heralds relief and a return to sovereign rule, justice and religion. The second - to the Northern Kingdom - warns that God's hand is outstretched for destruction, and we see an inventory of sins: Pride, compromised leadership, political violence, and perversion of Justice.

Isaiah has invested every effort to convince Ahaz to retain his independence and not to succumb to alliances. Ahaz rejects his advice. What now?

The mighty Assyrian empire are on their way. King Ahaz has three choices: 1. Resist and Rebel, 2. Ally with Assyria, 3. Retain independence and resist alliances. The prophet Isaiah is strongly against alliances. Why"

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne." So begins this awesome prophecy. Isaiah hears the angels proclaiming: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” But what was God communicating through this vision?

The Song of the vineyard is a classic prophetic technique of disguising a rebuke in a parable or a fable. There is no good news in this chapter. In short, Isaiah is warning a wealthy, pleasure-filled high society that war is not far away. Will they be ready?

after the apocalypse, Jerusalem will purged, renewed and restored, and God will restore His protection of the city and its Temple.

Chapter 2 and 3 issue a terrible foretelling of national ruin and destruction. The sins here are pride and decadence, along with a disregard for the poor. The result will be national ruin, fear, disarray and chaos.

Today we put Isaiah's famous prophecy into context: "They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore."

Today we 1. Give an introduction to Sefer Yishayahu, and 2. Discuss Isaiah's strident condemnation of sacrifices. Are sacrifices wrong?

Today we conclude with a reflection on the broad message of the Book of Kings (Sefer Melakhim)