The simple fact is that the overwhelming consensus of scholars not of evangelical, fundamentalist, conservative Christian, Biblical literalist persuasion is that Isaiah comprises the work of multiple authors over a period of centuries. While fundies dispute this assessment of Isaiah, theirs is a contrarian, minority viewpoint founded in nothing more concrete than determination to believe regardless of evidence.
Quote: ... The book of Isaiah provides a fine illustration of the growth of prophetic traditions. The entire book of Isaiah is attributed to Isaiah ben-Amoz (not to be confused with the prophet Amos) by the editorial superscription in 1:1. In fact, the book contains prophetic material spanning more than two hundred years. A nucleus of material is attributable to Isaiah of Jerusalem, a citizen of Jerusalem in the eighth century B.C.E. The remainder comes from a series of anonymous disciples (see 8:16, which mentions his followers) and prophets who saw themselves, or were seen by editors, as coming out of the Isaiah mold.
The book of Isaiah is widely recognized to consist of three sub-collections. Chapters 1-39 is First Isaiah. The core of this collection is prophecies from the namesake of the book who lived in the eighth century B.C.E. In this period Israel and Judah were threatened by the Assyrian empire. Chapters 40-55 is Second Isaiah also called Deutero-Isaiah. This collection consists largely of salvation oracles applying to the situation of exile in Babylonia dating to the mid-sixth century B.C.E. Chapters 56-66 is Third Isaiah, also called Trito-Isaiah, and applies to the late sixth century in Judah where a Jewish community was struggling to rebuild itself.
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Quote:The book of Isaiah actually appears to be a composite work of different prophets (or prophetic bands): "First Isaiah" before the Babylonian Exile (in the eighth century), "Second Isaiah" during the Exile (sixth century), and "Third Isaiah" after the Exile (later sixth century; see the chapter breakdown of all three Isaiahs on p. 145 of the textbook). All of the authors focus on God's judgment, the covenant, and the majesty and righteousness of God.
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Quote: Students of the Book of Isaiah have long recognized that there are three Isaiahs writing in this book, spread out over a two to three century period.
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Quote:Modern scholarship remains convinced that the book of Isaiah emerged over a period of two or three centuries.
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Quote:There is a significant school of scholars, perhaps even the majority, who believe that there were two or three Isaiahs, for example -- one who wrote in 8th century BC, one in 5th century BC and another even later.
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Quote:Most scholars today see three Isaiahs, for chapters 1-39, 40-55, and 56-66, describing three periods:threat of punishment, exile, and restoration.
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Quote:Like George A. F. Knight's earlier commentaries on Isaiah 40-55 and 56-66, Widyapranawa also presupposes the standard critical theory of "three Isaiahs." The portions of chapters 1-39 which are usually ascribed to later redactors are duly
noted, as are other well-accepted critical views of the text.
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Quote:For example, in the Book of Isaiah, scholars have found eight different layers of tradition - three Isaiahs, one after another, then a committee, and so on. There is deterioration in the religion when people write down not what they know but that they have been told, and then quarrel about minutiae.
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Quote:For example, at least three "Isaiahs" contributed to the book in a different time period.
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Quote:Just as on the case of Isaiah, commentators are strongly convinced that there were three Isaiahs, so here there is a strong conviction that there are two Zecharias.
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Quote:They used to say there were two Isaiahs, then there were three Isaiahs, then there were four Isaiahs and, finally, now they say there's the "school of Isaiahs."
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(John Ankerberg, no less
)
See also:
A History of Prophecy in Israel: Blenkinsopp, J.
John Knox/Westminster Press, Louisville Ky (1983, Rev. Sept 1996)
ISBN: 0664256392
Prophecy and Society in Ancient Israel: Wilson, R.
Augsburg Fortress Publishing, Minneapolis Mn (1980)
ISBN: 0521423929
The World of Ancient Israel: Clements, R. (Ed.)
Cambridge University Press, New York NY
ISBN: 0800618149
Anchor Bible Dictionary: Freedman, N. (Ed)
(Isaiah 34-35,40-66, John L. McKenzie (1969), Isaiah 1-39, Joseph Blenkinsopp, 2000, Isaiah 40-55, Joseph Blenkinsopp, 2002, Isaiah 56-66, Joseph Blenkinsopp, 2003)
6 Vols, Random House Reference and Information Publishing, New York NY (1992, Rev. 2005)
ISBN: 038542583(
1-6)
I could go on and on, but what would be the point? The fundies get all wadded up about it - as they do whenever they are subjected to objective criticism - but that does not change the fact that the overwhelming consensus of legitimate, objective, academically founded scholars is that Isaiah is the work of several authors and took shape over a period of centuries before becoming canonized as it today is, and from somewhere in the 2nd Century BCE has been, known.
Oh, and rl, wholly apart from the above - if you still can't see your straw man re my Josephus remark to Neo, that's not only understandable, but frankly to be expected ... as well as pathetic.