Religion Test #3

The Writings

"Writings" potpourri of genres Poetry: Wisdom: Historical Narrative: Apocalyptic: Khetuvim = writings

Amos

-8th century BCE. The earliest example in Israel of people preserving in writing the words of a prophet. -The expansion and aggression of the Assyrian empire—context for 'classical prophecy' -One of the twelve minor prophets -Outline of the Book: 1:3-2:16, oracles against the nations 3-6, short oracles 7-9, reports of visions Tekoa (a Judean prophet in the North) 1:1, "among the shepherds" Prophesying in the north BEFORE 722 Universal standards of justice Criticism of abuse of the poor (2:6-8). -Amos was a shepherd before the spirit of prophecy came over him. He was a herdsman from the village of Tekoa -accurately foretold the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel (although he did not specify Assyria as the cause) and, as a prophet of doom, anticipated later Old Testament prophets. -Amos = Social Justice -,Amos traveled from Judah to the neighbouring richer, more powerful kingdom of Israel, where he began to preach -began his prophecy in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, the king of Israel, two years before the earthquake." -After preaching at Bethel, a famous shrine under the special protection of Jeroboam II, Amos was ordered to leave the country by Jeroboam's priest Amaziah. Thereafter his fate is unknown. -The chosenness of Israel and universal standards of ethics -The Exodus tradition -Proclaims that an unnamed enemy will destroy them (2:9-16) -The rich and "houses of ivory" (3:15; Also, 6:4-6) -Why is he critical of the worship of God? (4:4-5; 5;18-24) -Worship as representing an unjust status quo -Amos as agitator against the state. His conflict with Amaziah (7:10-17). -Amos is not a prophet? (7:14) -The Day of the Lord. Always negative (5:18; 8:9) -The end of the book (9:9-15)—probably a later, Judean edition of Amos

Hosea

-A Northerner -Ephraim = Israel -A younger contemporary of Amos -Upheaval and political instability in the Northern kingdom (2 Kgs 15) -Destruction by the Assyrians—722 BCE -Covenant between Israel and God—marriage metaphor Gomer the prostitute? Israel as an unfaithful wife Jezreel. Representative of the instability of the north (the coup of Jehu) "God scatters/sows" (Jezreel) Israel is 'cheating' with Baal. "Lord, husband." God of agricultural fertility and the rain. Lo-ruhamah and Lo-ammi ("No Mercy" and "Not My People") Children as symbolic action (part of message) -Restoration and Punishment Israel as a battered wife Public shaming She will be a "wilderness" (2:3) Nostalgia for the earlier 'courtship' between Israel and God. The "Wilderness" period 2:14-20). YHWH real husband, not Baal Covenant (Marriage Contract) Attributes of God = brideprice True Intimacy Acknowledges Children -Another *****? (3:1) Bought her from slavery (3:2) No intimacy, but then Israel will return to God (3:5) Hear = Shema language God brings lawsuit (rib) against Israel Cycle of Punishment and Restoration Repeats (e.g., Hos 11-14)-Ends with Hope

Oracle against Nations

-Amos -pep rally before a military campaign -"law of the the Lord" -Israelite prophets expected to denounce foreign nations -Amos denounces Israel

701

-Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah in 701 BCE -One of the most well-documented events in the Bible -Destroys most of Judah. Wipes out Judean stronghold Lachish -Hezekiah reroutes water supply and stores supplies -Hezekiah pays him off (2 Kgs 18:13-16). Not in Isaiah or Chronicles. -Sennacherib says he had Hezekiah locked up "like a bird in a cage" -Isaiah advisor to Hezekiah. Pray and God will save you -Jerusalem spared. God fights for city (2 Kgs 19:32) -Leads to Zion theology: Psalm 46:5 = invincible https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipoM5QJl6xI

Second Isaiah

-Comfort my people (40:1) -Build city and set exiles free (45:13) -Going out from Babylon (48:20) -Light to the nations (42:6) -God will forget their sins (43:25; 44:22) -Gather my people (43:5) -Where is Israel? Babylon -Good news: Going home! -Key idea: God with them -2nd Isaiah—6th century BCE. Written 200 years after Isaiah of Jerusalem -Isaiah's disciples (8:18) -Consolation and Restoration (49:14-21) -Jubilant tone about God's salvation (52:7-12) -Babylon goes into captivity (46:1-2) -Why such optimism? Exile over! theology of second Isaiah: -The sins of Israel are not forgiven but paid for (with punishment)-40:2 -A New Exodus-Victory Procession (40:3-11) -Monotheism (not monolatry) -Attack against idols (41:28; 42:8) -No other, No one/No God Besides Me (45:14; 47:10) -God as Universal god and creator (40:22-23; 45:18-19) -Reaction to Babylonian religion -Enuma Elish (Babylonian creation epic). Marduk is the creator of the world (slays Tiamat) the servant songs of second Isaiah: -Isa 42:1-4 -Isa 49:1-6 -Isa 50:4-9 -Isa 52:13-53:12 -"servant" normally means Israel (e.g. 45:5; 49:3) -Fourth Song: efficacious suffering, disease, the servant is buried with the rich -In the 6th century BCE, "servant" in this song probably referred to Israel (a debated point)

What is Ezra's Reform and how does it relate to Israelite identity?

-Ezra mandated divorce of Jewish people ad foreigners -redefines that category of "true Israel" -they didn't believe that the people of Samaria were true Israelites after the Assyrian takeover of Samaria

Cyrus

-God's Messiah: Cyrus, the King of Persia -576-530 BCE -God's "messiah": God manifests his power through Cyrus (41:2-4; 44:28-45:1) -539 BCE Cyrus conquers the Babylonians -Cyrus ends the Babylonian exile in 538. Send home -No calls for a restoration of the Davidic monarchy -Cyrus cylinder --> evidence

Hezekiah's reform

-Hezekiah reroutes water supply and stores supplies -Hezekiah pays him off (2 Kgs 18:13-16). Not in Isaiah or Chronicles.

Solomon

-Israel's third king -King Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived and also one of the most foolish. God gifted him with unsurpassed wisdom, which Solomon squandered by disobeying God's commandments. -Golden Age: Time of international peace, prosperity, building projects, military security Idealized borders; political supremacy; during the reign of Solomon, there was a golden age -1 Kings 1-2: Struggle for a Successor to David Adonijah v. Solomon -Extraordinary wealth -Hundreds of wives -Worships foreign deities -The breakup of the Monarchy -the second son of David and Bathsheba -His name means "peaceable." -Solomon's downfall began when he married the daughter of the Egyptian Pharaoh to seal a political alliance. -Among Solomon's 700 wives and 300 concubines were many foreigners, which angered God. The inevitable happened: They lured King Solomon away from Yahweh into worship of false gods and idols. -Solomon built the first temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem -The Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame and visited him to test his wisdom with hard questions. After seeing with her own eyes all that Solomon had built in Jerusalem, and hearing his wisdom, the queen blessed the God of Israel -King Solomon's greatest strength was his unsurpassed wisdom, granted to him by God. In one biblical episode, two women came to him with a dispute. Both lived in the same house and had recently delivered newborns, but one of the infants had died. The mother of the dead baby tried to take the living child from the other mother. Because no other witnesses lived in the house, the women were left to dispute who the living child belonged to and who was the true mother. Both claimed to have given birth to the baby. They asked Solomon to determine which of the two of them should keep the newborn. With astonishing wisdom, Solomon suggested that the boy be cut in half with a sword and split between the two women. Deeply moved by love for her son, the first woman whose baby was alive said to the king, "Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!" But the other woman said, "Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!" Solomon ruled that the first woman was the real mother because she preferred giving up her child to seeing him harmed. Family tree: Father - King David Mother - Bathsheba Brothers - Absalom, Adonijah Sister - Tamar Son - Rehoboam -1 Kings 12: The Breakup of the Monarchy. The Kingdom of Israel (North). The Kingdom of Judah (South).

Jeroboam

-Jeroboam, head of forced labor for Solomon. A prophet says he will become king of 10 of the 12 tribes. -First king of the North (Israel): Jeroboam -"walking in the sin of Jeroboam" -promoted sacrificial worship outside Jerusalem - blamed for Samaria siege

Omri

-King of Israel (878-869)

Jeremiah

-Lived during the Babylonian period (late 7th, early 6th century BCE) -The "Weeping Prophet" -Vilified by Jerusalem -Imprisoned. Considered a traitor. -A solitary, unhappy figure -Died in exile in Egypt after destruction of the Temple -Unpopular spokesman for Babylonian appeasement -Jer 7 (and Jer 26) Not liked by Jerusalem officials -Yelling outside the Temple -A critique of Judean royal theology -Critiques lack of ethics -Deuteronomy language -Shiloh -Jeremiah witnessed the fall of the Assyrian Empire and the death of King Josiah. -Judah is no different from the Northern kingdom (or worse)—very different from Isaiah-like Micah 3 -Destruction is coming -Forced to go to Egypt Preaches condemnation to all those who are in Egypt (Jer 43-44)-stay in Judah! -Remnant theology-God with those in Exile (Jer 29) Condition of the Nations. (1) Israel, the northern kingdom, had been carried into captivity and Judah stood alone against her enemies. (2) Judah had fallen into a bad state, but Josiah, who reigned when Jeremiah began his ministry, attempted to bring about reforms and restore the old order. After his death, however, wickedness grew more and more until, in the later part of the life of Jeremiah, Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar and Judah was led away in captivity. (3) The world powers of the time of Jeremiah's birth were Assyria and Egypt. They were contending for supremacy. But Jeremiah lived to see both of them subdued and Babylon mistress of the world. He foresaw also how Babylon would fall and how a kingdom greater than all would rise wherein there would be righteousness and peace.

722

-Takeover of Samaria -The kingdom came to an end during a period of Assyrian expansion. The Assyrians put the capital of Samaria under siege, capturing it in 722 B.C. Many of the people were taken into exile in Assyria and foreigners were brought in to colonize the northern part of Palestine. The area became known as the region of Samaria and its people were the Samaritans.

Quiz 7: During Sennacherib's invasion in 701, Hezekiah

-made alliances -paid tribute -constructed the Siloam tunnel

Rehoboam

-son of Solomon -the nation of Israel was split apart under the rule of Solomon's son, Rehoboam. For centuries, the Jews were divided between the northern kingdom, called Israel, and the southern kingdom, called Judah. -NOT a nice guy

Gomer

-the prostitute Hosea took as a wife to demonstrate how Israel is a prostitute by cheating on God by worshipping Baal

Baal and Asherah

-widespread worship of Baal and Ashreh in Judah before the destruction of Jerusalem -may have led to Jerusalem's destruction

First Isaiah

1:1. Second half of 8th century BCE -Contemporary of Amos and Hosea; Judean prophet -First Isaiah opens (chs. 1-5) and ends with destruction of Judah and salvation of Jerusalem in 701 (chs. 36-39) -Divine intolerance of injustice and abuse of the poor (1:16-17; 3:13-17) -Played the prostitute (1:21). -Purging/Cleansing (1:25; 4:3-4) -The temple vision (Isa 6) A Judean call narrative "I saw the LORD" Hem of robe fills temple Seraphs not cherubim? -Flying, fiery snake creature (14:29; 30:6) "Holy, Holy, holy" -Man of unclean lips Touches coal to lips Purified in pain -"Here I am; send me!" People will not listen part of the calling -Isaiah basically has some weird hallucinations -"Immanuel"—Positive or negative? The Assyrians are coming "Maher-shalal-hash-baz" Expression of God's anger against Judah (Isa 10) Curds and honey After the destruction, proclamation of a utopian future under a Davidic king (Isa 11:1-16)

Quiz 9: Ezekiel differs from the other prophets in his concern for ____________

A. priestly things

Quiz 7:

According to Enns (look at pages 48-54), biblical historiography is not objective - true

Assyria

Assyria was the region in the Near East which, under the Neo-Assyrian Empire, reached from Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) through Asia Minor (modern Turkey) and down through Egypt.

Quiz 7: The northern kingdom of Israel was destroyed in 722 by

Assyrians

Quiz 8: Unlike Amos, Hosea critiques royal politics and ________

Baal worship

Babylon

Babylon is the most famous city from ancient Mesopotamia whose ruins lie in modern-day Iraq 59 miles (94 kilometres) southwest of Baghdad. The name is thought to derive from bav-il or bav-ilim which, in the Akkadian language of the time, meant 'Gate of God' or `Gate of the Gods' and `Babylon' coming from Greek.

Nebuchadnezzar

Babylonian Empire (Nebuchadnezzar)

587

Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple (587 BCE) by Babylon

The Syro-Ephraimite war (Isaiah 7)

During the Syro-Ephraimitic war (734-732 bce), Isaiah began to challenge the policies of King Ahaz of Judah. Syria and Israel had joined forces against Judah. Isaiah's advice to the young King of Judah was to place his trust in Yahweh. Apparently Isaiah believed that Assyria would take care of the northern threat. Ahaz, in timidity, did not want to request a sign from Yahweh. In exasperation Isaiah told the King that Yahweh would give him a sign anyway: "Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Thus, by the time this child is able to know how to choose good and refuse evil, the two minor kings of the north who were threatening Judah will be made ineffective by the Assyrians. The name Immanuel, "God is with us," would be meaningful in this situation because God on Mt. Zion and represented in the person of the king would be faithful to his Covenant people. Ahaz, however, placed his trust in an alliance with Assyria under the great conqueror Tiglath-pileser III. In order to give hope to the people, who were beginning to experience the Assyrian encroachments on Judaean lands in 738 bce, Isaiah uttered an oracle to "the people who walked in darkness": "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah trusted that Yahweh would bring about a kingdom of peace under a Davidic ruler. -King of Judah—Ahaz (735-727 BCE) -Aram and Israel (north) want to install a king in Judah who will join their anti-Assyrian alliance (2 Kings 16) -Good relationship with the king -Shear-jashub (a remnant shall return) -Royal Judean theology (Ps 46:1-5) "two smoldering stumps of firebrands" (7:4): -Aram and Israel -The young woman (7:14)—why not "virgin"? Children = message (8:18) The wife of the prophet (8:3)? The wife of the king (9:6)?

What are the symbolic actions of Hosea and Ezekiel, and how do they relate to their message?

Ezekiel: Symbolic actions: -Street theatre -Lying on his side -The bread: mixing grains. Small amounts. -During the siege -prepare food over human dung. -Defiling. Violates priestly dietary laws. -Being in a foreign land—the exile as defilement. -Cutting hair—also violates priestly law -lie on his side for 390 days -"bear the sins" of Israel and Judah -supposed to help the people recognize their guilt and impending punishment -divides his hair to symbolize the fate of the inhabitants of Jerusalem Hosea: taking Gomer as a wife to demonstrate how Israel behaves as a "*****" in regard to her relationship with God; a critique of the widespread Baal worship in Judah Hosea's children are then given symbolic names: -Jezreel - summer palace of the kings of Israel; @ Jezreel Jehu slaughter Jezebel and the kings of the royal family - -second child called "not loved" - Lo Rhumah -third child called " not my people"

Ezra (and Nehemiah)

Ezra, the priest and scribe, brings "Torah of Moses" to Jerusalem 458. Ezra and Nehemiah: Originally one scroll Large portions in Aramaic, the Persian imperial language Ezra 1-6: the return of the exiles and the construction of the temple Ezra 7-10: the Ezra memoir (also in Neh 8-10) Neh 1-7: Construction of Walls Neh 8-9: Reading of Torah and Institution of Festivals 11-13: Nehemiah memoir Associated with Chronicles Rebuilding—Temple and Walls Life as a Persian Province Who can be a Judahite and who is a "foreigner?" Intermarriage: Ezra mandates divorce of mixed marriages Why? Holy Seed (9:1) Governor disallows certain priests who are not found in the genealogies to perform their duty (2:62-63) Zerubbabel and Ezra also exclude Samaritans, foreigners, and the "people of the land." Reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah redefine the category of membership for the people of Israel Returnees from exile with two Jewish parents who align themselves with the temple-community are now the true Israel

Quiz 7: According to Enns, the only king given unequivocal positive value in the book of Kings is Hezekiah

False

Quiz 7: The Bible does not give a clear answer for what started the revolt which led to the division of Israel into two kingdoms

False

Quiz 8: Collins suggests that the names, "Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace" in Isaiah 9 refer to Jesus

False

Quiz 8: For Amos, the "Day of the Lord" means the end of the world

False

Quiz 8: Unlike Max Weber, Collins argues that prophets were purely individualistic bearers of charisma

False

Quiz 9: Isa 40-66 depicts the return from exile as a new Conquest

False

Quiz 9: Unlike Malachi, Ezra does not support divorcing foreign women

False

Valley of Dry Bones

However, this promise seemed impossible in light of Israel's present condition. She was "dead" as a nation, deprived of her land, her king, and her temple. She had been divided and dispersed for so long that unification and restoration seemed impossible. So God gave Ezekiel the vision of the dry bones as sign.

Quiz 9: The "servant" in Second Isaiah could refer to

Israel The prophet Another prophetic figure like Jeremiah

Northern Kingdom

Israel - Israel was split into two kingdoms, Israel and Judah, with Israel referring to the North and Judah to the South

Quiz 9: Haggai claims that famine still exists in the land because

Israel hasn't rebuilt the temple

Jezebel

Jezebel was a Phoenician princess in the 9th century who married Ahab, the prince of Israel. Eventually, they ruled as king and queen. Jezebel continued worship the nature god Baal. Her citizens and the Yahweh prophet Elijah despised such actions.

Hezekiah

King of Judah 701 BCE -Hezekiah reroutes water supply and stores supplies -Hezekiah pays him off (2 Kgs 18:13-16). Not in Isaiah or Chronicles. - pays off Sargon II

Ahaz

King of Judah (735-727 BCE)

Quiz 8: The call of Jeremiah to be a prophet resembles the call to ________

Moses

Israel

Northern Kingdom

Quiz 7: The first king of Israel or Judah to leave an imprint in nonbiblical sources is

Omri

Persia

Persia, historic region of southwestern Asia associated with the area that is now modern Iran. The term Persia was used for centuries and originated from a region of southern Iran formerly known as Persis, alternatively as Pārs or Parsa, modern Fārs. The use of the name was gradually extended by the ancient Greeks and other peoples to apply to the whole Iranian plateau. The people of that region have traditionally called their country Iran, "Land of the Aryans." That name was officially adopted in 1935.

Quiz 7: The three main pieces of evidence Enns examines that gives a full understanding of the Bible (particularly book of Kings)

Siloam Tunnel Inscription Mesa Inscription Tel Dan Inscription

Judah

Southern Kingdom

Quiz 9: Collins argues that Isaiah 40-66 come from a time during or after

The Babylonian exile

Major Prophets

The Major Prophets are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel.

Minor Prophets/Book of the Twelve

The Minor Prophets are Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. The Minor Prophets are also sometimes called The Twelve.

New Covenant

The New Covenant (or New Testament) is the promise that God makes with humanity that He will forgive sin and restore fellowship with those whose hearts are turned toward Him. Jesus Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant, and His death on the cross is the basis of the promise (Luke 22:20). The New Covenant was predicted while the Old Covenant was still in effect—the prophets Moses, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel all allude to the New Covenant.

Queen of Sheba

The Queen of Sheba is a Biblical character: a powerful queen who visited King Solomon. Whether she actually existed and who she was is still in question.

Ezekiel

The book: Ezek 1-24: proclamations of judgment upon Jerusalem Ezek 25-32: oracles against the nations Ezek 33-48: consolation and restoration The prophet: In Babylon, in exile Jehoiachin—the exiled (and legitimate) king—not Zedekiah. 593 BCE. A priest "In the thirtieth year." Old enough to assume priestly duties, but there is no temple. the inaugural vision: Theophany The cherubim The wheels Temple imagery—in exile The kabod ("glory"). Priestly tradition. Functions as a call narrative Ezekiel eats the book A priest and a sentinel. Symbolic actions: -Street theatre -Lying on his side -The bread: mixing grains. Small amounts. -During the siege. -Defiling. Violates priestly dietary laws. -Being in a foreign land—the exile as defilement. -Cutting hair—also violates priestly law Abominations (idolatry). A priestly understanding of the situation. Transported in a vision to the temple Sees idolatry galore in the temple Less interested in social ethics The mobile glory God was not too weak to repel the attack on the temple. Rather, he left—to Babylon. Positive view of the exile community.

Golden Age of Israel

The golden age of Israel lasted from the year 2924 to the year 2964 (from creation). These 40 years were the reign of King Solomon the Wise and included the year 2928 (833 BCE) the year the first Temple was built in Jerusalem.

Joshua (Jeshua) the Priest

The prophet Haggai also refers to the high priest Joshua: "In the second year of Darius the king [537 B.C.], in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest" (Haggai 1:1).

Quiz 7: In the time of the kings and early prophets Baal worship was widespread

True

Quiz 7: The reign of Solomon is described in 1 Kings as a golden age

True

Quiz 8: The marriage metaphor in Hosea is an example of symbolic action

True

Quiz 8: The sign of the virgin to Ahaz, king of Judah, is one of the most controversial passages in the Old Testament

True

Quiz 9: Ezra and Nehemiah were originally counted as one book

True

Quiz 9: Second Isaiah is arguably the first monotheist

True

Quiz 9: The personal life and psychological conditions of Ezekiel were affected more than any other prophet

True

What is Deuteronomy 17, and how does it relate to Solomon's reign

Was he a good king or a bad one? Although 1 Kings presents him in a positive light, it is the argument of this paper that Deuteronomy makes the distinctive claim that Solomon was an uncovenantal king who made Jerusalem a second Egypt.

Zerubbabel

Zerubbabel—grandson of the exiled Judean king (Jehoiachin) Zerubbabel—an overly ambitious puppet king? Perhaps assassinated by the Persians?

Zion Theology

Zion Theology refers to religious attitudes by Israelites toward Jerusalem -- and how these attitudes changed over time. Solomon's Temple is portrayed as an axis mundi where people can approach the deity and it is symbolic of the earth and garden of Eden. Biblical texts portray Jerusalem as an axis mundi -- temple, City is invincible, impregnable city that cannot be conquered by even the mightiest nation in the ancient near east, and it is a refuge of protection. This is the perspective that arises from the post Assyrian worldview, in the seventh century when Samuel-Kings were written.

The Temple

at Jerusalem

Haggai

debate about when to rebuild the temple after destruction of Jerusalem

Quiz 7: Besides his wisdom and building the Temple, Solomon is also ironically known for his

idolatry

Quiz 8: According to Collins, prophets in the ANE were associated primarily with the affairs of _______.

kings

Quiz 8: A distinctive aspect in the book of Jeremiah is ____

laments/confessions

Quiz 9: Ezekiel shares with Jeremiah the idea of ________

new covenant

What is prophet and what is prophesy?

prophesy: proclamations about what is to come and what God advises the people to do prophet: an intermediary between God and the people; one who conveys the message of the Lord to the people

Quiz 8: The two recurring themes in Amos are critique of the cult and ________

social justice

The Day of the Lord in Amos

the day of the Lord in Amos refers to a cultic celebration, perhaps the festival of Tabernacles or Sukkoth, known as the feast of Yahweh; joyful festival, celebrated by drinking wine; however, for Amos, this was a day of darkness and doom, because he sweeps his rejection of the sacrificial cult (because it was not in Jerusalem) into his criticism of the "Day of the Lord" he asks that "justice roll down like waters" he did not believe in Sacrifice as a way to worship the Lord; they were actually an impediment to the worship of God believed in practical justice not sacrifice

Difference between First and Second Isaiah

the first 39 chapters clearly belong to the eighth century B.C., a confused period in the history of Judah. But Isaiah 40 - 66 according to these scholars seems to be addressed to the citizens of Judah who were being held as captives in Babylon about 550 B.C -Second Isaiah is an oracle of comfort as opposed to judgement of 1st Isaiah -Israel is given the opportunity for rebirth in 2nd Isaiah -reenactment of the exodus

Remnant

those that are in exile are with God

Nabi

word for prophets; seers