Isaiah's Prophetic Instruction and the Disciples in Isaiah 8:16

Abstract Isa 8:16 is considered a key reference regarding the formation of the book of Isaiah and the role of prophetic disciples in this process. This article argues, however, that originally this verse had a more limited significance. The instruction to which v. 16 refers is to be identified with...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Vetus Testamentum 2013, Vol.63 (1), p.1-18
Main Author: Balogh, Csaba
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
composition of prophetic books
disciples
Exegesis and biblical criticism
Fear
Historical Books
History and sciences of religions
Infinitives
Isaiah 8:16
Isaiah’s Denkschrift
Literary criticism
Literature
Old testament
Oracles
Prophecy
prophetic schools
Prophets
Verbs
Written composition
תּוֹרָה
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Summary:Abstract Isa 8:16 is considered a key reference regarding the formation of the book of Isaiah and the role of prophetic disciples in this process. This article argues, however, that originally this verse had a more limited significance. The instruction to which v. 16 refers is to be identified with vv. 12-15 rather than an early 'book' of Isaiah. The expression 'the instructed ones' (of YHWH rather than the prophet) is applied to the prophet's audience. This term reflects Isaiah's characteristic view of prophesying as an act of instruction and prophecy as a form of teaching, and it does not presuppose the existence of any prophetic school. The view that sealing the instruction would allude to preserving prophetic teaching for the posterity is discounted here in favour of understanding the symbolic act as a metaphor from the legal sphere refering to authentication, with no inherent temporal significance.
ISSN:0042-4935
1568-5330
0042-4935
DOI:10.1163/15685330-12341093