Bible Review

Nehemiah Rabban, Yesha‘yahu hasheni: nevu’ato, ’ishiyuto ushemo (Jerusalem: Kirath Sepher, 1971). Rabban also published a work on Jeremiah.

Because of similarities in style and content, many scholars also attribute Isaiah 34–35 to Second Isaiah. These chapters supposedly were connected to chapter 40 before the insertion of historical material in chapters 36–39.

More formal scholars use “Deutero-Isaiah” and “Trito-Isaiah.” This terminology avoids perplexing students who are familiar with Second Samuel and Second Kings and search their Bibles in vain for Second Isaiah.

For a collection of such works, see James H. Charlesworth, ed., The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1985).

My translation of the Hebrew is not certain in every respect, but on the whole the oracle is quite clear.

Vocalized with the Greek to the niphal, “He is called by my name.” However, if the prophet is describing Cyrus as calling upon YHWH by name, it would not be a problem. The Egyptians described Cambyses and Darius as calling upon the Egyptian gods and the priests of Marduk described Cyrus as calling upon the Babylonian god. These poems do not present Cyrus as he really was, but as at least one Judahite wanted him to be.

Lloyd, “Inscription of Udjah\orresnet,” p. 174.

Lines 24–27. Lichtheim, Ancient Egyptian Literature, vol. 3, p. 38 (emphasis mine).

Schaudig, “Die Inschriften Nabonids,” pp. 550–556; “Cyrus Cylinder,” p. 316.