Assyria and the Beginnings of the Book of Isaiah:Isaiah 6+8 and 28–31 Revisited

This article focuses on Isa 6–8* and 28–31*, two centre-pieces of the early Isaiahtradition, and argues that Isa 6+8* in its basic literary form is dependent onIsa 28–31*. Isa 28–31*, written after 701 BCE, presumably was the first literarycomplex which presented Isaiah’s message of 705–701 BCE in a revised and developed form. It presents the events of 701 BCE as a disaster and interprets them as YHWH’s rightful punishment of his sinful nation. Isa 6+8*, based on 28–31*, was composed in the same period and likewise reflects on 701 BCE. But it adds the view that it is through Isaiah’s prophetic ministry that YHWH brings about the deserved punishment of Judah.Both Isa 6+8* and 28–31* aim to reveal to a post-701 audience the truth behindthe disastrous events that had taken place, as a lesson to be heeded. The texts were written from the conviction that after punishment a time of divine favour would come again. This positive intent is indicated in 8:17, put into the mouth of Isaiah.The final part discusses how the negative reception of 701 BCE that marks6+8* and 28–31*, in the course of the seventh century BCE was followed by a verydifferent, glorifying view of 701 BCE, focusing on the survival of Jerusalem andthe violent death of Sennacherib. This paved the way for an anti-Assyrian updateof the Isaiah tradition in the latter part of the seventh century BCE when Assyriahad lost its grip on the western part of its empire