Yeshaya Perek 1

Yeshaya Perek 1-
Sefer Yeshaya is taught by Rabbi Albert Setton, Rabbi at Congregation Magen David of West Deal; Rabbi in Hillel Yeshiva.

A summary by Rabbi Jack Abramowitz of the Orthodox Union:

A Brief Introduction to the Book of Yesha’ya:

Yesha’ya (Isaiah) is the first book of the Neviim Aharonim, the Later Prophets. While the books of the Neviim Rishonim, the Early Prophets, focus heavily on the history of the Jewish people from the time of Yehoshua (Joshua) until the Babylonian exile, the Later Prophets focus on the actual prophecies of Yesha’ya, Yirmiyah (Jeremiah), Yehezkel (Ezekiel) and the Trei Assar (Twelve “minor” prophets). Accordingly, the Later Prophets are much more esoteric, full of symbolism and allegory.

The books of the Later Prophets occur concurrently with those of the Early Prophets. Occasionally, we will see familiar stories from a new perspective. (Compare Yesha’ya’s visit to the ill King Hezkiyah in II Kings chapter 20 with Yesha’ya 38 for one such example.) Yesha’ya prophesied during the reigns of Uzziah (Azariah), Yotam, Ahaz and Hezkiyah though the prophecies in the book are not in chronological order. Some of his contemporary prophets were Nahum, Yoel and Habakkuk, who prophesied to Hezkiyah’s son, Menashe. 

Yesha’ya is different from most other books of the Prophets in a significant way. Most of the prophets wrote down their own prophecies when they had finished the active part of their careers. Yesha’ya, however, was assassinated. Since he died abruptly, he was unable to write down his own prophecies. Since they were recorded by different students, there are some stylistic differences in the book. Bible critics attribute this to “two Yesha’yas,” but this is unnecessary, since our tradition already addresses the authorship of the book and resolves this perceived difficulty before it even arises.

Much of what we know about the Mashiah and the Messianic era comes from the Book of Yesha’ya. (Chapter 11 is a major source of such information.) However, there has also been much misrepresentation of the book by other religions’ missionaries. For example, the alleged prediction of a virgin birth in chapter 7 and the famous “suffering servant” of chapter 53. We will address these mis- interpretations as they arise in the text.

Finally, when Yesha’ya chastises the nation for their sins, don’t get the misimpression that every single person must have necessarily been guilty of these

shortcomings. We can all name the sins of our era, but we are also aware that not everybody is guilty of them. Similarly, in Yesha’ya’s time, there were certain misbehaviors that were rampant, but they were by no means universal.

The Neviim Aharonim are a completely different experience from Humash and the Neviim Rishonim. If you haven’t been exposed to them before, you’re about to embark on a unique journey of Torah learning. - 

Chapter 1:

Yesha’ya was the son of Amos (with a sadi), who was the brother of Amasi’ya, then king of Judah. He prophesied to the nation of Judah and its capital, Jerusalem. In this chapter, Yesha’ya calls upon the heavens and earth to bear witness to what G-d has said: the Jewish people have rebelled against Him. An ox recognizes its owner and a donkey knows its home, but the Jews failed to recognize G-d. They’ve suffered punishments, from head to foot, but they continue to sin against G-d.

Yesha’ya continues: G-d doesn’t want or need sacrifices. G-d no longer wanted them gathering before Him for Shabbat and Rosh Hodesh. When they spread out their hands to pray, it’s as if they were covered in blood. What the people need to do is to cleanse themselves of the taint of their deeds. Give up their evil ways. Do good, seek justice, look out for widows and orphans. If they repent, their sins, which are red like crimson, will become white like snow.

Judah was formerly a righteous place, a residence of justice, now everybody cheats everybody else. Therefore, G-d will purge and purify the nation, restoring it to its former glory so that once again it will be known as a place of righteousness.

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