7' ProtoApocalyptic The Final Destruction of Evil Isa 2427

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7. Proto-Apocalyptic? The Final Destruction of
Evil? Isa 24-27

• BOT634 Exegesis of Isaiah

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Introduction

• 1. Range of Opinions At one extreme, Isaiah
  24-27 has been identified as a late postexilic
  apocalyptic work (Duhm Jesaja HKAT, 172-94). At
  another, it has been read as preexilic prophetic
  judgment literature thoroughly at home in the
  work of First Isaiah (Kissane 1941 276, 303).
  Between these positions, it has been understood
  as prophetic eschatology (Lindblom 1938) or early
  apocalyptic (Hanson 1979 313-14). Isaiah 24-27
  are important 6th-century passages that offer
  insights into the origins of apocalyptic hence
  our label, proto-apocalyptic. Millar, Isaiah
  24-27 (Little Apocalypse), ABD, III, 488-489

3
Introduction

• 2. John Oswalt incisively critiques the theory
  on several counts (1) an overemphasis upon the
  later prophets use of mythical sources, (2) an
  unwarranted application of the cosmic-warrior
  motif, (3) overconfidence in typologies of
  development, both literary and sociological, (4)
  rearrangement of the text with little or no
  consideration of possible alternative
  arrangements or explanations, and (5) heavy
  dependence on hypothetical reconstructions of
  Israel, society, and history. Skjoldal, The
  Function of Isaiah 24-27, JETS 36/2 (June 1993),
  165

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Introduction

• 3. "Isaiah 24-27 was probably composed by the
  prophet for use on some festive occasion that
  celebrated Judahs assertion of freedom from
  Assyrian domination and the destruction of the
  Assyrian citadel in Jerusalem. (As Jerusalem had
  earlier celebrated its independence from
  Israel.). Such a festive occasion may have been
  either some specially called celebration or, more
  likely, one of the autumn new year festivals
  following the outbreak of revolt in 705.
  Therefore, either 705 or 704 appears a likely
  date." Hayes Irvine, 297

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Isaianic

• 1. Vocabulary Frequency A conservative estimate
  recognizes that between 65 to 75 of the
  language found in 24.1-27.1 is found also in the
  work acknowledged to come from the great prophet
  of the eighth century whose name has been claimed
  for the whole of Isaiah 1-66. March in
  Skjoldal, Ibid., 167

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Isaianic

• 2. Redactional Unity ...Sweeney contends that
  Isaiah 24-27 contains seven textual citations of
  other portions of Isaiah 24.13 (17.6) 24.16
  (21.2 33.1) 25.4-5 (4.5b-6 32.1-2) 25.11b-12
  (2.9-17) 26.5 (2.6-21) 26.17-18 (13.8, 66.7-9)
  and 27.1-13 (5.1-7 11.10-16). Skjoldal, Ibid.,
  168

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Isaianic

• 3. Thematic Unity
• 3.1 "Ch. 24-27 form the finale to ch. 13-23, and
  that in strictly musical sense. When the finale
  should do in a piece of music - namely, gather up
  the scattered changes into a grand impressive
  whole - is done here by this closing cycle....
  The whole of this finale is a grand hallelujah to
  ch. 13-23, hymnic in its character, and musical
  in form, and that to such a degree, that, like
  ch. 25.6, the prophecy is, as it were both text
  and divisions a the same time. Keil
  Delitzsch, Commentary of the Old Testament, Vol.
  7, 423-424

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Isaianic

• 3.2 ...chapters 24-27 form a conclusion to both
  5-12 and 13-23 since the announcement of the new
  world order resolves the problems of the
  punishment of Israel/Judah and the punishment of
  the nations by demonstrating the end to which the
  punishment is directed, YHWHs rule of
  Israel/Jacob and the nations from Zion. Sweeney
  in Skjoldal, Ibid., 170

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Function

• 1. "The function of Isaiah 24-27... should be
  evaluated from within the unity of the book.
  While Sweeneys redactional assumptions must be
  questioned, it does seem apparent that chaps.
  24-27 are a concentration of universal,
  futuristic themes designed to summarized and
  conclude chaps. 5-23. In this light the chapters
  serve a specific function. The ungodly people of
  the world, especially the apostate nation of
  Israel, were put on notice that God is still in
  complete control over man and the elements. For
  the godly - that is, those who trust God and were
  waiting on him - God proves great encouragement.

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Function

• He has promised that he will conquer all his
  enemies, including death, and that the sinful
  nation, after its conversion, will eventually
  prosper and become the center of universal
  worship. the new world order has been
  introduced God is King. He must punish sinners
  and bless the faithful. Skoldal, Ibid., 172

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24.1-25.12 THE STRONG CITY LAID WASTE

• 1. The unit of chs. 24-27 can be divided in two
  24-25 26-27. The first section dealing with the
  city of this world, its overthrow (ch. 24) and
  the response to its overthrow (ch. 25).

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24.1-23 The Earth is Crushed

• Chapter 24 functions as a transition between
  chs. 13-23 and 25-27. It does so by generalizing
  the particular treatments of chs. 13-23. Here all
  the nations of the world are gathered up into a
  single whole. No longer is Babylon or Damascus or
  Tyre being confronted by God now it is the earth
  itself (repeated 17 times) which stands before
  the bar of judgment. The chapter also functions
  transitionally by focusing attention on God, as
  chs. 25-27 do. He is the one who determines the
  fate of the nations by their relations to his law
  (24.1, 3, 5, 14, 21). Oswalt, Ibid., 443

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24.1-23 The Earth is Crushed

• 24.1-13 The Desolation of the Earth
• 24.1-3 Announcement of impending Judgment
• 24.4-6 A description of the devastation of the
  earth
• 24.7-12 A description of a particular city
• 24.13 Future Oriented Conclusion

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24.1-23 The Earth is Crushed

• 24.14-23 The Terror of Gods Judgment
• 24.14-16 A Hymn of Praise
• 24.17-20 Cataclysms to be suffered by the earth
• 24.21-23 Cataclysm expanded to the whole Cosmos

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25.1-12 GODS FEAST

• Chp 25 is a response to chp. 24
• 25.1-5 A song of thanksgiving for Gods
  faithfulness in caring for and delivering his
  people
• 25.6-8 A announcement that the destruction of
  the earth served God's purpose.
• 25.9-12 Joy in that God has delivered his People

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Resurrection Passages

• Problem of Death in the O.T.
• Elijah (?) Elisha (x2)
• Ezek 37.1-10
• Hos 6.1-3
• Dan 12.1-2
• Isaiah 25.7 26.19

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26.1-27.13 THE LORDS DAY

• 1. Chapters 26-27 continue the thought of chs.
  24 and 25. (note the recurrence of the song of
  joy, 26.1, 19 27.2, because of Gods victory
  over the city of oppression, 26.5 27.10 cf.
  also 27.13). However, the focus is changed
  somewhat. Whereas chs. 24 and 25 focus on the
  victory and the feast which follows, chs. 26 and
  27 reflect in a somewhat more solemn vein upon
  the meaning of this victory for Judah." Oswalt,
  Ibid., 469

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26.1-27.1 JUDAHS SONG

• 26.1-6 Hymn of Thanksgiving
• "A careful study of the song reveals that vv. 3
  and 4, which constitute a call to trust, are
  pivotal between the contrastive beginning and
  ending the opening verses anticipate the
  construction of the strong city (vv. 1, 2), while
  the closing verses look to the destruction of the
  wicked city (vv. 5, 6). Johnson, Dan, From
  Chaos to Restoration An Integrative Reading of
  Isaiah 24-27, 68

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26.1-27.1 JUDAHS SONG

• 26.7-19 Psalm of Dependence
• I see two major movements leading up to the
  lament proper in vv. 16-18. First, there is a
  general statement of belief when Yahweh enacts
  his judgments the righteous are rewarded and the
  wicked are punished (7-10). Second, there is a
  move from this general perspective to the
  particular a plea is made that Yahweh will
  execute his judgment on behalf of the people in
  their specific situation of distress with the
  result that the wicked oppressors will be
  destroyed (11, 13, 14) and they, the righteous,
  will be afforded Shalom (12, 15). Then follows
  the actual lament. Johnson, Dan, From Chaos to
  Restoration An Integrative Reading of Isaiah
  24-27, 72

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26.1-27.1 JUDAHS SONG

• 26.20-27.1 Oracle of Salvation
• These verses are an oracle of salvation in
  response to the lament and its immediate reply in
  26.16-19. The resurrection is not yet it is
  still necessary to exercise that confident
  waiting (26.8), but the outcome is sure. The dead
  who have suffered at the hands of the city of
  chaos (24.10 25.2 27.10) will be restored to
  life and their blood avenged. All this is summed
  up in a concrete way typical of Isaiah by
  reference to the well-known picture of the defeat
  of the chaos monster. Oswalt, Ibid., 488

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27.2-13 THE LORD DELIVERS JUDAH

• 1. The prophet closes this segment (chs. 24-27)
  with a collection of materials which both
  summarizes and illustrates Gods sovereignty with
  respect to Israel and to the nations. These are
  vv. 2-6, the Lords vineyard vv. 7-11,
  destruction of the Lords enemies vv. 12-13,
  return from the nations. The connection among
  these elements is rather loose, the major
  relationship being that all three tie into the
  materials of chs. 24-26. So vv. 2-6 and 7, 8
  relate to the fears expressed in ch. 26. Verses
  9-11 relate to ch. 24 25.10-12 26.5, 6. Verse
  12 and 13 reflect 25.1-9. All three segments also
  share the same positive outlook. The result of
  Gods sovereignty will be redemption. Oswalt,
  ibid., 493