Finding Josiah in Isaiah: Thinking on a Superscription about the Absence of a King
The opening superscription of Isaiah provides a historica lcontext for the prophet’s vision that restricts the actual history that the book covers. This historical period ends with Hezekiah and notably leaves out the period of Josiah and the Deuteronomic reforms. I argue here that the failure of the...
| Published in: | Biblical research |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
[2017]
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| In: |
Biblical research
Year: 2017, Volume: 62, Pages: 6-25 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Deuteronomistic history
/ Isaiah
/ Hezekiah Judah, King
/ Josiah Judah, King
/ Intertextuality
/ Literary criticism
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| IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament |
| Further subjects: | B
Deuteronomistic history (Biblical criticism)
B Isaiah, (Biblical prophet) B Monarchy B Hezekiah, King of Judah |
| Summary: | The opening superscription of Isaiah provides a historica lcontext for the prophet’s vision that restricts the actual history that the book covers. This historical period ends with Hezekiah and notably leaves out the period of Josiah and the Deuteronomic reforms. I argue here that the failure of the Josianic reforms leads Isaiah traditionists to focus on Hezekiah as a more suitable monarchal figure around which to articulate a future vision for Jerusalem. Through an examination of the historical and theological claims made by the superscription, Iassert that the Isaiah traditions opt for Hezekiah over Josiah as a result of a diminished view of Josiah in the post-exilic period.Hezekiah rather than Josiah serves as a more suitable model of the successful monarch whose actions guarantee the security of Jerusalem. These are important concerns for the Isaiah traditionists who build their vision of the restored Jerusalem around key issues of national security, international relations, and empire. |
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| ISSN: | 0067-6535 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Biblical research
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