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Ahaz, Hezekiah, Sennacherib, and the Servant: The Literary Function of Isaiah 36–39
Anderson, Justin Michael
Anderson, Justin Michael
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Abstract
This dissertation argues that Isaiah 36–39 serves as the historical and theological background for interpreting Isaiah 34–66. To defend this thesis, I survey various proposals for the structure of the book of Isaiah and the scholarship done on the Hezekiah narratives. Isaiah has been divided primarily into a tripartite, bifid, or concentric structure. I also survey the work done on the Hezekiah narratives, particularly their relationship with the rest of the book of Isaiah. Then, I offer my structure of the book of Isaiah, which I argue is divided into parallel halves, and demonstrate the parallelism between Isaiah 1–33 and 34–66. I suggest that the two narratives (Isa 6:1–8:4; 36:1–39:8) parallel one another and impact the interpretation of the subsequent material. Next, I analyze Isaiah 36–39 to identify the significant themes that Isaiah develops, including salvation for Israel, the folly of idolatry, and the delayed punishment for Judah and Jerusalem. I also address any historical problems concerning the invasion of Judah by Sennacherib in 701 BC. Following that analysis, I identify several passages in Isaiah 40–66 to highlight how the themes presented in Isaiah 36–39 are further developed. I also demonstrate that the Assyrian Crisis is the proper historical context for Isaiah 40–66 rather than the Babylonian exile, and that Hezekiah’s redemptive suffering anticipates the work of the Servant. Finally, I present the message of Isaiah 34–66 and conclude that the narratives of Isaiah 36–39 demonstrate that the judgment of Isaiah 1–33 has come to pass, and establish the themes that dominate the rest of the book.
Description
Ph.D., Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2026
Date
2026-05
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The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary