righteous standing with God (Isa. 53:5, 8, 11, 12; Rom. 4:25), and would be buried with the rich. (Isa. 53:9; Matt. 27:57-60; John 19:38-42) It is of interest to observe that Jesus Christ and his apostles quoted most frequently from Isaiah to make clear the identification of the Messiah.

This is by no means the full extent to which other inspired Bible writers quoted from the prophecy of Isaiah, but it highlights some of the prophecies for which Isaiah is most widely noted. These prophecies, along with all the rest of the book, magnify Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, as the One who provides this salvation for his people through his anointed Son.

SYNOPSIS OF THE BOOK

The very first verse of the book of Isaiah identifies its contents as “the vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz that he visioned concerning Judah and Jerusalem.” So, although the book contains prophetic utterances concerning many nations, they are not to be viewed as a collection of disconnected pronouncements concerning these nations. Rather, these are a series of prophecies that had a direct effect on Judah and Jerusalem.

The first six chapters highlight Judah’s guilt before Jehovah and Isaiah’s commission from Jehovah to preach. Chapters 7-12 tell of threatened enemy invasions and promise of lasting relief through the Prince of Peace, the heir of the throne of David. Chapters 13-23 focus attention on the nations surrounding Judah and tell of divine pronouncements of desolations upon them. Chapters 24-35 forecast the salvation to come from Jehovah. Chapters 36-39 relate the deliverance Jehovah actually provides for his faithful people from Assyrian invaders. Chapters 40-66 tell of the release from Babylonian captivity of Jewish exiles and the restoration of Zion.

OUTLINE OF CONTENTS

I. The guilt of Judah and Jerusalem; Isaiah’s commission (1:1–6:13)

A. Sin-sick nation has left Jehovah, who rejects their sacrifices, observances and prayers and invites them to come, set matters straight (1:1-23)

B. Refining, restoration of Zion in righteousness, with judges and counselors (1:24–2:22)

1. Revolters against Jehovah will come to finish

2. Nations will stream to exalted mountain of Jehovah’s house, learn war no more

3. Jehovah exalted, high things and men brought low, idol gods discarded

C. Consequences of sin to befall Judah’s wayward rulers and people, including haughty women (3:1–4:1)

D. Jehovah promises restoration, security for a remnant in Jerusalem (4:2-6)

E. Disobedient Israel and Judah, producing lawlessness, like vineyard producing wild grapes (5:1-7)

F. Jehovah will desolate land and send them into exile for sinfulness, by means of a great nation far away (5:8-30)

G. Isaiah given vision of Jehovah at temple (6:1-13)

1. Is commissioned to preach

2. Told people will continue unresponsive until nation is desolated

II. Threatened enemy invasions and promise of relief (7:1–12:6)

A. Assyria, not confederacy of Syria and Israel, will invade Judah

1. Isaiah takes son Shear-jashub along; informs Ahaz that Syro-Israelite combine will fail

2. A male child, Immanuel, to be born of a maiden as special sign from God; before he is old enough to reject bad and choose good Israel and Syria will be defeated

3. Assyria will bring hard times throughout the land

B. Isaiah and offspring used as signs to Judah (8:1-8, 18)

1. Before Isaiah’s son Maher-shalal-hash-baz can say “My father!” king of Assyria will despoil Damascus and Samaria; will also flood Judah “up to the neck”

C. Jehovah alone to be feared, not what the people fear (8:9-17)

D. Those who apply to spirit mediums and not to God and his law will suffer darkness, hard times (8:19-22)

E. However, light, relief are promised; Prince of Peace will sit in peace on throne of David to time indefinite (9:1-7)

F. Jehovah’s hand is stretched out in judgment against apostates, evildoers, oppressors among his people (9:8–10:4)

G. Assyria is rod of Jehovah’s anger (10:5-34)

1. But because of insolence Jehovah will burn up this “rod”

2. A mere remnant will return from captivity

3. Jehovah will deliver Jerusalem

H. “Twig” will rule and judge with righteousness (11:1–12:6)

1. Complete peace between men and animals, no ruin in all God’s holy mountain

2. “Root of Jesse” will stand as signal for peoples

3. Jealousy between Ephraim and Judah will depart

4. They will acknowledge Jehovah as God of salvation before all the earth

III. Pronouncements of international desolations (13:1–23:18)

A. Pronouncement against Babylon (13:1–14:27)

1. Jehovah will use Babylonian forces as “weapons of his denunciation” but Babylon itself will be overthrown by Medes and eventually become uninhabited

2. Jehovah will show mercy to house of Jacob, ending their captivity

3. Proverbial saying against “king of Babylon” foretells his being cut down to Sheol; Babylon will be desolated

4. Jehovah’s word against Assyria and all other oppressors must come true

B. Pronouncement foretelling Philistia’s desolation (14:28-32)

C. Pronouncement against Moab foretells its despoiling; within three years its glory must be disgraced (15:1–16:14)

D. Desolation will also befall Damascus (Syria) and Ephraim (Israel) (17:1-14)

E. Ethiopia and Egypt are to be destroyed (18:1–20:6)

1. Isaiah walks about naked and barefoot three years as portent of their captivity to king of Assyria

2. Futile for Judah to hope for deliverance by these nations

F. Pronouncements against “the wilderness of the sea” (about the siege and fall of Babylon), Dumah (Edom) and “the desert plain” (Arabia) (21:1-17)

G. “Pronouncement of the valley of the vision” forecasts downtreading of Jerusalem and death for the people; Shebna the steward will be replaced by Eliakim (22:1-25)

H. The pronouncement of Tyre foretells her despoiling by the Chaldeans, according to Jehovah’s counsel; to be “forgotten” for seventy years (23:1-18)

IV. Forecast of salvation by Jehovah (24:1–35:10)

A. Land will be emptied because its inhabitants have bypassed God’s laws, broken his covenant (24:1-23)

B. But Jehovah is a stronghold to the lowly one; He will spread banquet for all peoples and swallow up death forever (25:1-9)

C. Moab will be abased (25:10-12)

D. In Judah people will sing of trust in Jehovah; he will send their oppressive masters into death, will restore his people as from death (26:1-21)

E. Jehovah will kill Leviathan; after “the error of Jacob” is atoned for by the desolation, His people will come from Assyria and Egypt and “bow down to Jehovah in the holy mountain in Jerusalem” (27:1-13)

F. Woe is to come upon “drunkards of Ephraim” and judgment upon the braggarts of Jerusalem (28:1–29:24)

1. Jehovah will speak to the people by those of a different tongue

2. God is laying a tried foundation cornerstone in Zion

3. He will do his unusual work of extermination

4. Ariel (Jerusalem) to be brought low by encamped armies, but delivered by Jehovah’s power

5. Prophets of Israel asleep; neither they nor people understand God’s judgments

6. God will give understanding to meek; they will sanctify his name

G. Alliance with Egypt worthless; will bring shame and breakdown (30:1-33)

1. Yet Jehovah will show himself as Grand Instructor and direct his people

2. God will restore his people and act against Assyria in their behalf

3. Those trusting in Egypt do not seek Jehovah; Egypt will stumble and fall; Jehovah will defeat Assyria (31:1-9)

H. A king will reign in righteousness and, after desolation, peace, righteousness, quietness and security will prevail (32:1-20)

I. The despoiler will be despoiled; Jerusalem will become “an undisturbed abiding place”; Jehovah, Judah’s Judge, Statute-giver and King, will save them (33:1-24)

J. Jehovah executes judgment against all nations in Zion’s legal case (34:1-17)

1. Edom reduced to horrible desolation

2. Edom to be desolated, inhabited by wild animals to time indefinite

K. Desert will blossom, eyes of blind will be opened; those redeemed by Jehovah will joyfully return to Zion on “Way of Holiness” (35:1-10)

V. Jehovah provides deliverance from Assyria in Hezekiah’s day; Babylonian captivity foretold (36:1–39:8; see SENNACHERIB.)

A. Sennacherib, through Rabshakeh, demands Jerusalem’s capitulation (36:1–37:38)

1. Abuses Jehovah’s name before people

2 Hezekiah prays to Jehovah for deliverance

3 Jehovah answers through Isaiah; angel strikes down 185,000 Assyrians

4. Sennacherib returns to Assyria; is killed by two of his sons

B. Hezekiah becomes fatally sick, prays; Jehovah extends his life fifteen years; Hezekiah writes poetic expression of thanks (38:1-22)

C. Merodach-baladan king of Babylon sends letters and gift; Hezekiah unwisely shows messengers all his treasures; Isaiah warns that later the treasures as well as Hezekiah’s sons will be taken away to Babylon as servants (39:1-8)

VI. Release of Jewish captives from Babylon; restoration of Zion (40:1–41:20)

A. Jehovah to lead his people from Babylon back to Jerusalem (40:1-5)

1. One who promises this is One whose word lasts forever, who tenderly cares for his people (40:6-11)

2. Yet this One is all-powerful and all-wise, Creator of all and Source of all dynamic energy (40:12-31)

3. Jehovah comforts Israel, assures them of his help and blessing (41:1-20)

B. Jehovah holds “court” over issue of godship (41:21–46:13)

1. False gods ordered to produce arguments to prove their godship by presenting evidence of their ability to foretell future events (41:21-29)

2. Jehovah’s chosen servant will set justice in earth, open blind eyes, release prisoners (42:1-7)

3. Jehovah will tell his servants in advance the things to take place (42:8, 9)

a. He will regather Jacob (42:10–43:7)

b. Demands that nations produce witnesses in behalf of their gods (43:8, 9)

c. People of Israel are Jehovah’s witnesses; can testify to his ability to foretell future (43:10-13)

d. Jehovah will break Babylon’s power and make a way through the desert for his people, for his own sake (43:14–44:5)

e. Jehovah the only Rock; images absurd, their makers without insight of heart (44:6-20)

f. Jehovah will repurchase Israel; will use Cyrus to subdue Babylon (44:21–46:13)

C. Fall of the world empire of Babylon (47:1–52:12)

1. She has been Mistress but must be taken captive, sit in dust (47:1-11)

2. Her sorcerers will be powerless to deliver her (47:12-15)

3. Israel has been a transgressor; after Jacob’s refining, however, Jehovah will become his Repurchaser from Babylon (48:1-22)

a. Israel’s land will be rehabilitated, ruins restored; nations will see it and come (49:1-26)

b. Jehovah divorced and sold Israel because of her transgressions; but he will redeem her (50:1-3)

c. He gives his servant “the tongue of the taught ones” and declares him righteous (50:4-11)

d. Zion to be made like garden of Jehovah; “cup of rage” will pass from Jerusalem to those irritating her (51:1-23)

e. Zion to be set free from Babylon; feet of one publishing news comely; command given to get out of Babylon, “touch nothing unclean” (52:1-12)

D. Jehovah’s servant, though despised by men, will bring righteous standing to many (52:13–53:12)

1. Will act with insight, though not desirable in appearance to Israel (52:13–53:2)

2. Will carry our sicknesses, be crushed for our errors (53:3-7)

3. Will pour out his soul to death, interpose for transgressors (53:8-12)

E. Zion, long barren, to bring forth sons to continue in Jehovah’s loving-kindness (54:1-17)

1. Will experience expansion; her sons to be taught by Jehovah (54:13)

2. Zion will defeat and condemn every weapon formed against her (54:14-17)

F. Invitation to thirsty ones (55:1–56:8)

1. God’s forgiveness great (55:1-7)

2. His thoughts higher than man’s; his purposes certain to be successfully fulfilled (55:8-13)

3. Obedient eunuchs and foreigners will be blessed; Jehovah’s house will be “a house of prayer for all the peoples” (56:1-8)

G. Depth of prostitution of God’s professed nation (56:9–59:21)

1. Sacrificed to false gods, lowered matters to Sheol (56:9–57:10)

2. Only those lowly in spirit will receive peace (57:11-21)

3. Jehovah desires, not fasting in order to make a show, but practice of justice and compassion (58:1-12)

4. Those delighting in Jehovah, keeping his sabbath will receive hereditary possession (58:13, 14)

5. Israel’s national errors cause division between people and Jehovah (59:1-21)

a. He will put on armor of righteousness, salvation, zeal and vengeance and repay his enemies

b. Repurchaser will come to those turning from transgression; his words will be in their mouth

H. Jehovah’s glory upon Zion (60:1–62:12)

1. Resources of the nations will be brought to her; she will be built with superior materials and qualities (60:1-17)

2. Jehovah will be her indefinitely lasting light (60:18-21)

3. Increase: A little one will become a thousand (60:22)

4. Commission and work of God’s anointed; foreigners will be shepherds of Zion’s flocks; a highway from Babylon is to be cleared, banked up and a signal raised for the people (61:1–62:12)

I. Jehovah, no man being with him, justly executes vengeance upon peoples (63:1-6)

J. God’s people prayerfully acknowledge uncleanness, beg for his aid (63:7–64:12)

K. Jehovah’s forbearance, severity and blessing (65:1-25)

1. Has spread out hands all day to people walking in bad way (65:1-4)

2. Will reward for errors, but spare some as a cluster from a vineyard (65:5-16)

a. Those looking for Jehovah will receive hereditary possession

b. Those worshiping gods of Good Luck and Destiny will be slaughtered

c. God will feed his servants, call them by another name

3. Jehovah creates “new heavens and a new earth” (65:17-25)

a. Long life, blessings and security; no harm or ruin

b. Inhabitants will not bring forth offspring for disturbance; prayers answered

L. Contrite ones accepted; transgressors rejected (66:1-24)

1. Jehovah does not require temple and takes no delight in insincere worship (66:1-4)

2. Sound of Jehovah from temple repaying vengeance to enemies (66:5, 6)

3. Zion brings forth nation in one day, a cause for rejoicing (66:7-14)

4. Jehovah comes against all flesh, reveals glory to all nations, gathers his people together (66:15-21)

6. Offspring and name of faithful will remain standing, just as new heavens and new earth remain; will worship continually without opposition (66:22-24)

See the book “All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial,” pp. 118-123.

ISCAH

(Isʹcah).

Daughter of Abraham’s brother Haran, and sister of Lot. She was born before her uncle Abraham and the household left Ur of the Chaldees.—Gen. 11:27-31.

ISCARIOT

(Is·carʹi·ot).

The designation for the traitor apostle Judas (and his father Simon) that sets him apart from the other apostle also named Judas. (Matt. 10:4; Luke 6:16; John 6:71) If “Iscariot” means, as is most commonly thought, “man of Kerioth,” then it likely identifies Simon and his son as being from the Judean town of Kerioth-hezron.—Josh. 15:25.

Another view is based on the rendering “Scariot,” the term as it is found in several Syriac versions. This term purportedly has to do with leather. Hence, some commentators theorize that perhaps the container in which Judas kept the apostles’ funds was leather or leather covered, or that perhaps both Judas and his father Simon had been workers in leather.—John 12:6.

ISHBAH

(Ishʹbah) [perhaps, may God be calm].

A descendant of Judah; father of Eshtemoa.—1 Chron. 4:1, 17.

ISHBAK

(Ishʹbak) [he leaves behind].

The fifth listed of the six sons that Keturah bore to Abraham, which sons Abraham sent away with gifts but without a share of his inheritance.—Gen. 25:1, 2, 5, 6; 1 Chron. 1:32.

ISHBI-BENOB

(Ishʹbi-beʹnob) [they abode in Nob].

One of four Rephaim, the giant race of Canaanites; who were prominent during the last wars with Israel in David’s reign. Ishbi-benob carried a copper spear weighing three hundred shekels (c. 7¹⁄₂ pounds; 3.4 kilograms), and was on the verge of killing David, when fast-acting Abishai himself put the giant to death.—2 Sam. 21:15-17, 22.

ISH-BOSHETH

(Ish-boʹsheth) [man of shame].

Youngest of Saul’s four sons and his successor to the throne. From the genealogical listings it appears that his name was also Eshbaal, meaning the “man of Baal,” or “the Lord’s man.” (1 Chron. 8:33; 9:39) However, elsewhere, as in Second Samuel, he is called Ish-bosheth, a name in which “baal” is replaced by “bosheth.” (2 Sam. 2:10) This Hebrew word boʹsheth is found at Jeremiah 3:24 and is rendered “shameful thing.” (AS, AT, JP, NW, Ro, RS) In two other occurrences baʹʽal and boʹsheth are found parallel and in apposition, in which the one explains and identifies the other. (Jer. 11:13; Hos. 9:10) There are also other instances where individuals similarly had “bosheth” or a form of it substituted for “baal” in their names, as, for example, “Jerubbesheth” for “Jerubbaal” (2 Sam. 11:21; Judg. 6:32) and “Mephibosheth” for “Merib-baal,” the latter being a nephew of Ish-bosheth.—2 Sam. 4:4; 1 Chron. 8:34; 9:40.

The reason for these double names or substitutions is not known. One theory advanced by some scholars attempts to explain the dual names as an alteration made when the common noun “baal” (lord) became more exclusively identified with the distasteful fertility god of Canaan, Baal. However, in the same Bible book of Second Samuel, where the account of Ish-bosheth appears, King David himself is reported as naming a place of battle Baal-perazim (meaning lord or master of breaking through), in honor of the Lord Jehovah, for as he said: “Jehovah has broken through my enemies.” (2 Sam. 5:20) Another view is that the name Ish-bosheth may have been prophetic of that individual’s shameful death and the calamitous termination of Saul’s dynasty.

After the death of Saul and his other sons on the battlefield at Gilboa, Abner, a relative of Saul and the chief of his forces, took Ish-bosheth across the Jordan to Mahanaim, where he was installed as king over all the tribes except Judah, which recognized David as king. At the time Ish-bosheth was forty years old, and be is said to have reigned for two years. (2 Sam. 2:8-11) Since the Bible does not say exactly where this two-year reign fits in with the seven-and-a-half-year period when David ruled as king at Hebron, there is no way of resolving differences of opinion held by scholars on the point. However, it does seem more reasonable to think that Ish-bosheth was made king shortly after the death of his father (rather than five years later), in which case there would have been a lapse of about five years between his assassination and David’s being installed as king over Israel.—2 Sam. 4:7; 5:4, 5.