Travelling From Babylon to Zion: Location and Its Function in Isaiah 49-55

Abstract

It has long been recognized that the prophecies of Deutero-Isaiah (DI) have an oral background.' But their orality has recently been put in a new light as not only a background but also a substantial part of its design: '... books like Isaiah were written in order to be performed 1. Cf. L. Köhler, Deuterojesaja (Jesaja 40-55) stilkritisch untersucht (BZAW, 37; Berlin: de Gruyter, 1923), pp. 80-81. For a survey of comparatively recent literature on DI, see H.J. Hermisson, 'Deuterojesaja-Probleme: Ein kritischer Literaturbericht', in Verkündigung und Forschung (BEvT, 31; Munich, 1986), pp 53-84 and D. Michel, 'Deuterojesaja', TRE, VIII, pp. 510-30. Frequent reference will be made to the following works: K.

Semantics, Wolrd View and Bible Translation: An integrated analysis of a selection of Hebrew lexical items referring to negative moral behaviour in the book of Isaiah

“…In view of the unity of the book ofIsaiah, it is significant to note that this movement towards Zion does not only start in Isaiah 56, but is already present in Isaiah 49-56 Abma (1997). has made this point in a very convincing way.…”