The Formation of Isaiah 40-55

200 Pages·1976·5.689 MB·English

by  Roy F. Melugin

Roy F. Melugin
The Formation of Isaiah 40—55

Roy F. Melugin
The Formation of Isaiah 40-55
W
DE
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Walter de Gruyter • Berlin • New York
1976
Beiheft zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentlidie Wissenschaft
Herausgegeben von Georg Fohrer
141
Library oj Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Melugin, Roy F
The formation of Isaiah 40—55.
(Beihefte zur Zeitsdirift für die alttestamentlidie Wissenschaft ; 141)
Bibliography: p.
1. Bible. O.T. Isaiah XL-LV~Criticism, Interpretation, etc. I. Title.
II. Series: Zeitschrift für die alttestamentlidie Wissensdiaft.
Beihefte ; 141.
BS401.Z5 vol. 141 [BS1520] 224'. 1'06 76-13519
ISBN 3-11-005820-0
CIP-Kurzutelaitfnähme der Deutschen Bibliothek
Melugin , Roy F.
The formation of Isaiah 40—55 [forty to fiftyfive]. — 1. Aufl. —
Berlin, New York : de Gruyter, 1976.
(Zeitsdirift für die alttestamentlidie Wissensdiaft : Beih. ; 141)
ISBN 3-11-005820-0
©
1976
by Walter de Gruyter & Co., vormals G. J. Gösdien'sdie Verlagshandlung —
J. Guttentag, Verlagsbudihandlung — Georg Reimer — Karl J. Trübner —
Veit & Comp., Berlin 30
Alle Redite des Nadidrudcs, der photomedianisdien Wiedergabe,
der Übersetzung, der Herstellung von Mikrofilmen und Photokopien,
audi auszugsweise, vorbehalten.
Printed in Germany
Satz und Drude: Saladrudt, Berlin 36
Bindearbeiten: Lüderitz & Bauer, Berlin 61
To Sylvia
and
our daughters, Annella and Cynthia

Preface
Ulis work grew out of a suggestion several years ago by Brevard
Childs that the natura of the literature contained in Isaiah 40—55
needed re-examination. I am indebted to him for his insight and
guidance which led to a dissertation presented to the faculty of Yale
University. Since the dissertation was completed in 1968 my approach
to the problem has changed significantly, so that this work differs
markedly from its predecessor. I am indebted also to W. Eugene March
and Prescott Williams of the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
and to my colleague, Peter Lucchesi of the Department of English at
Austin College, for a lively dialogue which led to major changes in my
thinking on the subject. I am grateful also to John Van Seters of the
University of Toronto for his insights at various points along the way,
and to J. William Whedbee of Pomona College, who contributed to my
thinking at the outset of my work on this topic and who read the
danuscript before it was submitted for publication.
I wish to thank Professor D. Dr. Georg Fohrer, who accepted the
monograph for the Beihefte series, for his encouragement and patience.
I am grateful also to Sue Glenn and Margaret Grigg for preparation of
the manuscript. For financial support I would express my gratitude to
Austin College and to the Sid W. Richardson Foundation.
Finally, I am deeply indebted to my wife, who helped proofread
the manuscript and gave much-needed moral support, and to my parents,
who taught me the importance of studying the scriptures.

Contents
Chapter One: Introduction 1
I. The Problem 1
II. The Question of Method 7
PART ONE: THE ANALYSIS OF GENRES
Chapter Two: Salvation Speedies 13
1. The "Priestly Salvation Oracle" 13
II. Other Forms of Salvation Speech 22
III. Conclusion 26
Chapter Three: Disputation Speeches 28
1. The Problem In Historical Perspective 28
II. Form Critical Analysls 31
III. Conclusion 44
Chapter Four: Trial Speeches 45
I. The Trial Between Yahweh and Israel 45
A. The Problem in Historical Perspective 45
B. Exegesis of Individual Texts 48
II. The Trial Between Yahweh and the Nations 53
A. The Problem in Historical Perspective 53
B. Form Critical Analysis 57
III. Conclusion 63
Chapter Five: The "Servant Songs" 64
I. Isaiah 42,1—4.5—9 64
II. Isaiah 49,1—6 69
III. Isaiah 50,4—11 71
IV. Isaiah 52,13—53,12 73
PART TWO: THE ARRANGEMENT OF GENRE UNITS
Chapter Six: The Problem of a Suitable Method 77
I. The Background of the Problem 77
IL The Basic Structure of Isaiah 40—55 82
A. The Form of the Prologue and the Structure of the "Book" 82
B. The Epilogue in the Context of Chapters 40—55 86
III. The Juxtapositlon of Individual Genre Units 87
Chapter Seven: Isaiah 40,12—44,23 90
I. Isaiah 40,12—31 90
II. Isaiah 41,1—42,13 93
A. 41,1—7.8—13.14—16.17—20 93
B. 41,21—29; 42,1—4.5—9.10—13 98
X Contents
III. Isaiah 42,14—44,23 102
A. 42,14—17.18—25; 43,1—7 102
B. 43,8—13.14—15.16—21 110
C. 43,22—28; 44, 1—5 115
D. 44, 6—8.9—20 118
E. 44,21—22.23 121
ChapterEIght: Isaiah 44,24—49,13 123
1. Isaiah 44,24—48,21 123
A. 44,24—28; 45,1—7(8).9—13 123
B. 45, 14—17.18—21.22—25 126
C. 46,1—4.5—11.12—13 131
D. Chapter 47 135
E. 48,1—11.12—15.16.17—19.20—21.22 137
II. Isaiah49,l—6.7.8—12.13 142
Chapter Nine: Isaiah 49,14—55,13 148
I. Isaiah 49,14—52,12 148
A. 49,14—21.22—23.24—26 148
B. 50,1—3.4—11 152
C. 51,1—3.4—5.6.7—8 156
D. 51,9—11.12—16.17—23; 52,1—2.3—6.7—10.11—12 159
II. Isaiah 52,13—55,13 167
A. 52,13—53, 12 167
B. Chapters 54 and 55 169
III. Conclusion 175