Manasseh
After 29 years of ruling, Hezekiah passed away at 54 years old in 687 BC. The throne went to Manasseh, whose name meant "forgotten". Most theologians believe that Manasseh was co-regent with Hezekiah for 10 years by working backwards from the date of the destruction of Solomon temple in 586 BC by Nebuchadnezzar.
Manasseh was only 7 when Hezekiah was fatally ill but God gave him 15 more years to live. Manasseh became co-regent at the age of 12 in 697 BC, and was 22 years old when he became the sole ruler. (2 Kings 21:1)
Manasseh turned out to be an evil king. He rebuilt the high places and altars that his father had torn down, and worshiped the "hosts of heaven" (angels), and even sacrificed his sons to his gods. However, his ultimate sin was the persecution of God' servants. (2 Kings 21:16).
According to a Jewish Talmud, it was said that Isaiah was "sawed in two" (see Heb 11:37) when the soldiers caught the old man hiding inside a tree hollow. Isaiah died in 681 BC, the same year as Sennacherib.
God punished Manasseh by allowing him to be captured by the Assyrians. This likely happened around 647 BC, under the rule of Ashurbanipal, the son of Esarhaddon. Ashurbanipal reigned from 668 BC to 627 BC.
Manasseh was led by nose hooks and brought to Babylon like cattle. We were not told what was done to him, but any punishment under the Assyrians were bound to be extremely painful and humiliating.
Menasseh repented and humbled himself before God, and he was released back to Jerusalem. He began to remove all the idols that he had earlier put up. (2 Chron 33)
Manasseh reigned for 55 years, the longest in the history of Judah. His son, Amon, took over in 642 BC. Amon was an evil king who did not repent as Menasseh did. He was killed by his own officials after two years of rule.
Jeremiah
After Amon came Josiah, who was set on the throne at the age of 8 years old (640 BC). This is the time when Jeremiah was raised by God to preach to the nation regarding the coming of Babylon, during the 13th year of Josiah (about 627 BC).
"Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north disaster shall be let loose upon all the inhabitants of the land. For behold, I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares the LORD, and they shall come, and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around and against all the cities of Judah." (Jeremiah 1:14)
God was no longer talking about Assyria, but about Babylon and its allies. It was a time for the world order to change, for it was precisely the time when Assyria's invisibility was taken away.
In the same year Jeremiah started his ministry, Ashurbanipal died and there was an internal struggle and civil war for the Assyrian throne. The vassals of Assyria such as the Babylonians, Chaldeans, Medes, and Persians took the opportunity to attack Assyria and eventually burned down Nineveh in 612BC. Nineveh became unoccupied for centuries, fulfilling the prophecies of Nahum and Zephaniah:
"Behold, I am against you, declares the LORD of hosts, and will lift up your skirts over your face; and I will make nations look at your nakedness and kingdoms at your shame. I will throw filth at you and treat you with contempt and make you a spectacle. And all who look at you will shrink from you and say, “Wasted is Nineveh; who will grieve for her?” Where shall I seek comforters for you?"(Nahum 3:5-7; circa 650 BC)
"And he will stretch out his hand against the north and destroy Assyria, and he will make Nineveh a desolation, a dry waste like the desert." (Zephaniah 2:13; 640-630 BC)
Josiah
Josiah was considered a good king, and was probably raised by a few righteous advisers since his childhood. Jeremiah was a key figure in his life. At 26 (622 BC), he began to repair the aging temple, and in the process, found the Book of the Law (which probably included the writings of Isaiah). From the book, Josiah realized that God's wrath is on Judah and he initiated a spiritual reformation, including re-instating the Passover. (2 Kings 23)
However, it was too little, too late. The Lord's wrath on Judah was not turned away, because of the sins of Manasseh. The Lord said: "I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and I will cast off this city that I have chosen, Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there.” (2 Kings 23:27)
Josiah's life ended with a major conflict with the Egyptians in 609 BC. Pharoah Necho II was leading his army to Carchemish (northern Syria) to join the weakened Neo-Assyrian empire against the aggressive Babylon advancement. To do so, the Egyptians must pass through Judah's territory. Josiah, for unknown reason, decided to confront Necho at the fields of Megiddo. Josiah was killed in the battle.
After Josiah died, Jehoahaz his son took over the reign. He only ruled for 3 months, before Necho attacked Jerusalem and exiled him to Riblah. Necho put another of Josiah's son, Eliakim, on the throne and changed his name to Jehoiakim, who ruled for 11 years. Jehoiakim had to tax the people severely to pay very high tribute to the Pharoah.
Nebuchadnezzar
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| Babylonian Empire |
Though delayed, Egypt and the neo-Assyrian armies eventually battled with Nebuchadnezzar at Carchemish in 605 BC. They lost horribly. The Assyrians faded from existence, and Egyptians retreated and was no longer a threat in the region. It was a deciding battle, and Babylon had no rivals for supremacy in that region.
Nebuchadnezzar attempted to invade Egypt in 601 BC, but was not successful. Probably because of this, Jehoiakim thought he could rely on Egypt, and started to rebel against the Babylon. (Jer 46:14-28).
Jeconiah (also known as Jehoiachin) took over the throne in 598 BC, just before Nebuchadnezzar returned to quell the rebellious Judah. Jehoiachin surrendered in early 597 BC, and together with his royal family and 10,000 people, they were taken to Babylon. (2 Kings 24:15-16) This is the first Babylonian exile.
Nebuchadnezzar made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, to be Judah's king and changed his name to Zedekiah. However, shortly thereafter, Zedekiah rebelled against Babylon as well, allying with Pharaoh Hophra, against the warnings of Jeremiah.
Nebuchadnezzar returned again in 588 BC and besieged Jerusalem for almost two years, before making a breach into the city. Zedekiah tried to escape but was captured in the country side. Zedekiah's children were executed in front of him, and he himself was blinded and taken to Babylon along with many others. Then Nebuchadnezzar burned down the Solomon temple and the palace, the pride of all the Jews. This will ensure no Jews will have any reasons to come back to the city. (2 Kings 25:8)
This is the second exile of the Jews, 586 BC. Judah became a Babylonian province, called Yehud, with Gedaliah put in charge as the governor. For all it seems, Judah no longer exists.
III. The Fall of Babylon & Egypt
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| Cyrus the Great - Liberator of Jews* |
Persia was a small tributary state as a vassal to the Median Empire. Cyrus II rebelled against the Medes in 550 BC, and united the two empires into Medo-Persia. He was then called Cyrus the Great.
In 538 BC, Belshazzar was the co-regent with his father Nabonilus, in charge of Babylon. Cyrus's army attacked and took over the city. Belshazzar died during the battle, and "Darius the Mede" was put in charge. (Daniel 5:30,31).*
While there are no mention of Darius in historical records, theologians believe that "Darius" is a title that meant "Holder of the Scepter", and the person's real name was Gubaru, one of Cyrus' general who took Babylon.
The Medo-Persia territory became the largest in the world, and it was known as the Achaemenid Empire, named after the first Persian King, Achaemenes.
The name of Cyrus was mentioned by Isaiah who prophesied that he will free the exiles, about 150 years before it happened. (Isaiah 45:1-3) The Persians respected the culture of those they rule after, allowing them to retain their customs, languages and religions. Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and the walls under the leadership of Zerubbabel and High Priest Joshua.
“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.” (Ezra 1:2)
Because of the incredible prophetic accuracies, many critiques believed that Isaiah chapters 40-55 were written after the return of the Jews to Jerusalem. That got it the nickname "Deutoro-Isaiah" (Second Isaiah), and it was said that Isaiah's disciples wrote it after the exile.
However, accurate prophecies are not that difficult for God. In fact, Isaiah had already predicted the destruction of Babylon in the first half of the book, even before Babylon became a power.
"Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, who will not regard silver; and as for gold, they will not delight in it. Also their bows will dash the young men to pieces, and they will have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye will not spare children. And Babylon, the glory of the kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It will never be inhabited, nor will it be settled from generation to generation; nor will the Arabian pitch tents there, nor will the shepherds make their sheepfolds there” (Isaiah 13:17-20).
This is in line with Jeremiah's prophecy: "Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the Lord hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the Lord, the vengeance of his temple” (Jeremiah 51:11)
Jeremiah also prophesied that the Jews will be exiled for 70 years.
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| Medo-Persian Empire |
“For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:10)
The 70 years can be calculated from the destruction of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 BC to the dedication of the new temple in 516 BC. (Ezra 6) God even took into account the 17 years of construction stoppage after the building of the foundations, due to social challenges and self complacency of the returnees.
God repeated many times that He is the only God, and besides Him there is no other. He was the one who created the universe and created them, and knows everything. Furthermore, a reason these were written in advance of the exiles was to let the people know it was God who had planned it and who will rescue them at the right time. They should not credit the human instruments (the Persians) but to praise God for his compassion
"I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God... Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one." (Isaiah 44:6-8)
So certainly, if there is a God, then it is not impossible that Isaiah wrote the second half of his book before he died.
IV. Theme of Isaiah 40-66
The second half of Isaiah was written as a comforting promise to the exiles in Babylon. It was a sudden switch between judgment and punishment in the first half, to a message of comfort, forgiveness for their sins, and ultimate victory for Israel.
It was as if a father is chastising his son for taking drugs, and warning him that he will be caught if he doesn't stop. But when the son was eventually jailed, the same father goes to the prison and talks to him gently, telling him things will be OK, that he will make things right again, and that his future will be bright.
Therefore, chapters 1-39 were about Condemnation and Punishment; Chapters 40-66 were about Comfort and Promises.
If you were to read through the second half of the book in one reading, it will bring tears to your eyes, if you imagine yourself in a strange land, without the temple, without a king, and without God. God had done all He could to "be there" through Isaiah's writing, and His words are extremely loving and embracing.
Here are the key themes of Isaiah 40 to 66:
1. The Supremacy of God
His Power: "See, the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and his arm rules for him... He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to His heart;" (Isaiah 40:10-11)
His Wisdom: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (55:8-9)
His Strength: "Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales ... All the nations are as nothing before him, they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness." (Isa 40:15-17)
His Sovereignty: "for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’" (46:9-10)
2. Words of Comfort to the Exile
Do Not Fear: "For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. Do not be afraid, you worm Jacob, little Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you,” declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel." (41:13-14)
Rejoice: As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; your bones shall flourish like the grass; and the hand of the LORD shall be known to his servants, and he shall show his indignation against his enemies. (66:13-14)
Loved: "For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you." (54:10)
Unforgotten: "But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you." (49:14-15)
Exile will end: "“In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’ (49:8-9)
3. The Sin is forgiven
Healed: "For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made. Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry,
I struck him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.
I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the LORD,
“and I will heal him."" (57:16-19)
Forgiven: “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." (43:25)
Redeemed: "Remember these things, O Jacob, and Israel, for you are my servant; I formed you; you are my servant; O Israel, you will not be forgotten by me. I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you." (44:21-22)
Shame Forgotten: “Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called." (54:4-5)
4. Hope for Israel
Saved: "But Israel is saved by the LORD with everlasting salvation; you shall not be put to shame or confounded to all eternity. " (45:17)
Returned: "And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." (51:11)
Reborn: "Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day?
Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment?" (66:8)
Remembered: "Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the LORD has blessed. (61:9)
5. The Messiah is Coming
Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah is coming, 700 years before Jesus was born.
His Calling: "I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness." (42:6-7)
His Rejection: "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (53:3)
His Beating: "I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting." (50:6)
His Suffering: "Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (53:4-5)
His Silence: "He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. "(53:7)
His Death: "And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth." (53:9)
His Message: "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;" (61:1-2)
6. The Gentiles are inclusive
Light to Gentiles: "“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” (49:6)
World Evangelism: "And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations. And they shall bring all your brothers from all the nations as an offering to the LORD" (66:19-20)
7. The End of Days
Vengence against Nations: "For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and my year of redemption had come. I looked, but there was no one to help; I was appalled, but there was no one to uphold;
so my own arm brought me salvation, and my wrath upheld me. I trampled down the peoples in my anger; I made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.” (63:4-6)
Longevity: "No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. (65:20)
New Heavens and New Earth: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. (65:17)
IV. Framework by Chapters
Chronologically, the chapters can be divided into these sections:
Chapters 40‑48: Redemption Promised. It is a collection of prophecies of comfort emphasizing an imminent redemption; these oracles arc addressed to the Babylonian exiles (called Jacob or Israel) and highlight the power of God as the creator of the universe and the fulfiller of prophecies.
Chapters 40‑55: Redemption Provided. It describes how Israel’s will be restoration through the Servant. This is a group of prophecies directed toward Zion (called a bride or woman); these materials emphasize her reconciliation with God and physical restoration. There are many direct prophecies about the Messiah which were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
