AB 19B: Isaiah 56 - 66

A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary.The
worldÉs leading authority on the prophet Isaiah brings his distinguished
three-volume commentary on the book of Isaiah to a conclusion with this new
translation and critical discussion of the final eleven chapters.

The
concluding section of the book of Isaiah, sometimes referred to as Third or
Trito Isaiah, had a profound impact on the Christian movement in its formative
phase, including such central issues as the identity of the founder, the
profile of the disciple, and the Gentile mission. In this thorough and
informative commentary, Joseph Blenkinsopp shows that while these chapters
maintain continuity with Second Isaiah, they must be considered in the light of
a new set of circumstances.

The texts present a community beset by
severe problems, attempting to cope with disappointed expectations and trying
to maintain its faith in the reality, power, and benevolence of the God of
traditional religion. Blenkinsopp discusses in detail the issues that divide
the community, from concerns about the efficacy of religious practices (prayer,
fasting, Sabbath observance, and sacrifice) to questions about who may claim
the name of Israelite and under what conditions, to what kind of relations
should be maintained with outsiders. In examining each of these topics,
Blenkinsopp shows that they provide evidence of an emerging Judaism seeking its
own identity and self-definition and testify to the existence of a prophetic
discipleship inspired by the person and teaching of the charismatic servant
whose fate is described in the previous section of Isaiah.

Reflecting
the same standard of excellence as Blenkinsopp's first two volumes on Isaiah,
this is an important contribution to the prestigious Anchor Bible Commentary
series.'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 LongmanSeries: Anchor Yale
Bible, volume 19B.Recommended € 84,90