The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-12-24

Vi nHat tilUo NO N1S
Q ParsHtage
We learn his father was Amos, or as the He
brew has 10, Amotz. We must not eonfOund
that Amos with the prophet. The names are
different in the original. d. Kimchi says: I'VE
are ignorant of his (Isaiahs) family from what
tribe he was, except that our doctors have
handed it down by tradition that AmOtZ Amos
and Amaziah were brothers" AmaZiah was
son of Joash, King Of Judah, and succeeded his
father on the throne. q XII, I4:I.) Thus the
prophet was quite kin to royalty. r. Solo
mon wrote: 1T Is handed down to Us from our
ancestors that Amotz and Amazah were
brothers." r. Levi aud Abarbanel agree in
said view. This fact may account for the I'M
usual access he had to the royal quarters.
3. Time Of Birth.
He prophesied during the reigns Of the fol-
lowing Kings Of Judah: Uzziah Jotham Ahaz.
Hezekiah. and into the reign of Manasseh. We
may say he was born b. G.. 7S9. He began 20
pTOphesy at, We can estimate, 20 years Of age.
He prOphesied during the last year Of Uzziahs
(Azariah's) reign. during JOtham's reign Of is
years e XII, Is 33l, during the is years &c; p
of Ahazs reign, and during the % years of the
reign of Hesekiah. l8:2.) At the death Of
He5ekiah he was therefore 80 years old. Twenty
plus 1. plus 16, plus IS, plus % equal So Then,
it is quite clear he lived for at least time in
the reign Of Manassah. (20:2l; 81 IL We
thus bring him to the neighborhood Of 700
b. c.
4. Place Of Birth.
We cannot state his birth place IL was proba-
bly, in the Kingdom of Judah-nOt unlikely at
Jerusalem. OF royal extraction. he might live
near or in the Capitol. His residence was
probably at or near Jerusalem. The following
quotations imply as much: 3; 8: q; %: 10
81: 2. 8, II.
3 Narriaas.
We only know he married. and that his wife
is styled prophecies. Us, 8:1-4.) She may
have been called q prophecies simply because
her husband was q prophet. as wives Of priests
were often called priestesses.
8. Children.
The prophet had two sons, Shear jashub Us,
z: 81 and Maher-shalal- hash-baz. % :: Ia We
do not know anything further Of them. We
see how wrapped up he was in the civil and Teli-
gious interests of his country, in tho fact he
gave names to his sons prophetic and significant.
Shear jashib means remnant shall return, refer
ring to the fact that after the 20 years Of cap
tivity some Jews would return TO Palestine.
Observation-Disclosures means speed for spOil,
aud 8: helps explain it.
Z. Writings.
There is no worthy question about Isaiah
having been author Of the frat 30 chapters Of
the book bearing his name We have not time
10 enter the discussion as to whether he wrote
the last q chapters. The generally accepted
opinion has made him author Of the entire 66
chapters. Dean Stanley said Isaiah was " first
Of the prophets" As our Old Testament is ar
ranged, his prophecy leads what are called the
Five Greater Prophecies Isaiah Is known as
the Evangelic Prophet. from the fact he set
forth such clear predictions Of the coming Of
the Messiah. His prophecy Is an introduction
to Christianity. Prof. Bristol, in a recent talk
10 the students OF Hamilton College, at Clinton
n. Y, said: zone professor in German uni
yersity leetured % years on the book Of Isaiah"
NJ. Victor Hugo, in "William SHAKESPEARE" says
Of the Prophet Isaiah, whose words are per-
petual thunderbolt Of righteous accusation"
We read in Eeclesiasticus (43 .20-2j) that
Isaiah a. was great and faithful in his vision
In his time the sun went backward,
and he heightened the Kings life. He saw by
an excellent spirit what should come 60 pass at
the last, and he comforted them that mourn in
Sion. He showed what should come to pass
forever, and secret things or ever they came"
g. Death.
We have no Bible account Of the decease of
Isaiah. and must depend on tradition. IL is re-
ported that NaBasseh took serious offense on
account Of the prophet, aud ordered him TO be
put to death by being sawn asuuder with q
wooden saw. The charge was blasphemy in
that he declared rs: IL be had had seen lin
visiOn) Jehovah. This violated Ex., 80 20.
Other specifications were mentioned We see
from XII, 81: 10, that it was like Manasseh to
harm the good. and Isaiah may well have been
included in his victims Read JOS. Ant, L, 3,
L. "Sawn asunder" Heb, II 81 probably
refers in special to the death Of Isaiah. Oriea-
tai Christians claim that Isaiah lived TO be 12O
years old.
II. PRoPHEsY OF ISAIAH.
The book consists of 66 chapters It has
passed through serious ordeal of criticism.
The Higher criticism" has made it a prinei-
pal attack. This has led 70 more scholarly ex-
animation by Christian students. No harm is
experienced, and the book is only the more
clearly apprehended and loved We cannot do
better than 10 add what is stated in AbbOtts
Dictionary Of Religious knowledge:
"Of all the writers Of the Old Testament
Isaiah most nearly apprOximates the writers of
the New. No other prophet is so frequently
cited by them-no other affords so clear vision
OF the anticipated Messiah. In character he Is
energetic, bold aud Incorporating of lively
and fertile imagination, yet full of serious feel
ing and deep thought; Jealous for the honor Of
the divine Projections, the spirituality Of wor-
ship, and the spirit Of the theOcracy: the I'M
danted reprover Of sin of every kind and in
whomsoever found the tender. hearted patriot
who takes the deepest interest in the cireum-
stances aud prospects Of his people; and the
COMPASSIONATE friend OF the GENTLE world. His
language Is uniformly adapted to the subjects
OF which he treats. In narrative no exhibits
the utmost simplicity and perspicuity; in an
nouncing the divine OFaeles his tones are
marked by singular degree Of soIemnity; in
his descriptions he is minute, discriminating,
frequently cumulative. and highly graphic; in
menacing foreign enenies aud the wicked
among the Jews he is full of vehemenee and
force. His expostulations are urgent and pa
thetic-his hortatory addresses earnest and
powerful Nothing eau surpass the sublimity
OF those passages in which the sovereignty
and infinite majesty of Jehovah are set forth,
or the severe irony and satire with which he
attacks the worshipers of idols. Nor is he
equalled by any of the other prophets in the
magnihcence, variety and choice Of the images
he employs. especially when predicting the
reign Of the Messiah and the future happiness
Of the Church"
III. ISAIAH Hale.
l. Analysts.
1. Data Isa.. II: I-9
2. Writer. Isaiah.
8. Time. 7l3 b. C..
4. Place. Jerusalem.
8. Subject Prophecy Of Christ's Reign.