AB 19: Isaiah 1 - 39

A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary.
Writing a commentary on the book of Isaiah in the middle of a paradigm shift in biblical
studies, and in the study of the prophetic books in particular, is no easy
task. The book of Isaiah has been the object of more scholarly interest over
the past two or three decades than during the preceding century. At the same
time, much of the received wisdom on the formation of the book has been called
into question, including such matters as the date of its several components,
the standard tripartite division, the role (if any) to be assigned to the
prophet Isaiah himself, and the passages dealing with the anonymous Servant of
the Lord. A great deal of effort has been, and continues to be, expended in
exploring new approaches to the book, both within the conventional critical
methodologies and beyond them.
This commentary by Joseph Blenkinsopp on
the first thirty-nine chapters of the book, the first of a three-volume
commentary on Isaiah, is written from a critical perspective in the belief that
only in this way can these texts be given the opportunity to say what they have
to sayÎand also in the conviction that what they have to say still retains its
transforming power for those willing to listen attentively today. The result is
a commentary of unequaled brilliance and insight that will stand as the
definitive study of one of the Hebrew BibleÉs most compelling and elusive
books.
'Contrary to the current trend that it is virtually impossible
to get to authentic eighth-century Isaiah, even in chapters 1-39, Blenkinsopp
does hold that there is a substratum of such material, though he believes 'the
eighth-century B.C.E. prophet has been buried under an exegetical mountain. All
three volume have lengthy and informative introductions as well as extensive
bibliographies.' - Tremper Longman
Series: Anchor Yale Bible, volume 19.
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