Echoes from the Past: Israel’s Ancient Traditions and the Destiny of the Nations in Isaiah 40-55

Abstract

It is widely agreed that Isaiah 40-55 draws on traditions concerning Abraham, the exodus/conquest, and David. This article suggests that many of the prophet’s declarations concerning the fate of the nations reflect their various and diverse roles in the traditions, and that a deeper consideration of them largely resolves what has previously been seen as irreconcilable tensions in his message. Further, the manner in which the prophet uses these traditions provides further reason to abandon Wellhausen’s assertion that the prophets have no fathers.