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Historical Context of Isaiah 53

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Isaiah 1:1 states, “The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz Judah and Jerusalem, which he saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah” This verse is an indication that Isaiah’s ministry began with the reign of Uzziah, King of Judah and culminated with the reign of King Hezekiah. Hence, as Isaiah was prophesying to Judah, the southern kingdom during the reign of these four kings, Hosea and Amos were prophesying to Israel, the northern kingdom.

Geographically, the area where these three prophets were prophesying was the northern kingdom (Israel with its capital city being Samaria) and the southern kingdom (Judah). Aram was located above Judah. To the West of Aram was where the Assyria kingdom was located. The areas including Samaria and Judah and also Galilee were full of mountains and were located on the Western part of what is today called Israel. These three regions received sufficient rainfall which made this region a great place for the farming industry. These three sections are only a portion of the central hill country region which “was the most varied geographically and the most important historically in Old Testament.” This was because in the central hill country was where most of the Israelites cities were and majority of the land was in the hands of “the Hebrew united and divided monarchies.”

From the beginning to the midpoint of the 8th century, both Israel and Judah were physically in a state of prosperity and power. Half-way through the 8th century, though, Israel prosperity and power was under attack when the Assyrians swamped into their region in an attempt to attack them. King Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria was responsible for the invasion of Israel. This attack is the background i...

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...mple, Straightforward Commentary on Every Book of the Bible. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers. 1998:261-262.

Hill, Andrew E. & John H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. 3rd Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. 2009: 522-23.

Clenden, E. R. New American Commentary: Isaiah 1-39. City: B & H Publishing Group. 2007:25.

Walton, John H. Chronological and Background Charts of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. 1994:30.

Hill, Andrew E. & John H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. 3rd Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. 2009: 525.

Walton, John H. Chronological and Background Charts of the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. 1994:30.

Hill, Andrew E. & John H. Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament. 3rd Edition. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. 2009: 523.
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