Isaiah’s Prophecies

According to Don Yitzchak Abarbanel

Welcome to Gateways, where you experience the Nevi'im Acharonim—the Later Prophets—through the teachings of Don Yitzchak Abarbanel, distilled into easy-to-follow lessons.

This post is a departure from the normal format. In it, Abarbanel first gives an introduction to how he’ll comment, then identifies the thirty-five prophecies and their sections contained in Isaiah. This is incredibly helpful for anyone looking to study or teach this sefer. This unabridged translation is taken from the very end of his introduction. I’m publishing it now, before the rest of the introduction, since it is so foundational.

In each post, I attempt to provide a small takeaway—something we can learn and apply to our lives. The lesson from this post is obvious: don’t accept things as they are presented. It’s very likely that Abarbanel had the chapter divisions from Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, which were developed in the early 1200s CE and later included in the Latin Vulgate. Based off of his divisions, there are 65 chapters in the book of Isaiah. Abarbanel looked at the book of Isaiah with fresh eyes and divided the book into 35 prophecies.

Among the many challenges of living an authentic Jewish life in a gentile culture is seeing past what is and picturing what should be—what will be. Abarbanel provides a master class in doing that here.

About the Commentary

I divided his prophecies by theme and connection, making each a unit on its own, with six questions at the start of each one, just as I did for the former prophets.

Know also that sometimes Isaiah repeated a theme—like the downfall of Babylon or Sennacherib, or the redemption and resurrection—but each prophecy gives a new perspective. That’s how other prophets wrote too: Jeremiah, for example, repeated prophecies of Egypt's downfall. The repetitions, with their different styles, reflect the reliability of the message and the generosity and kindness of God.

Also note: the prophets sometimes refer to the nation as male ("people"), sometimes as female ("congregation"), sometimes singular (representing the whole), and sometimes plural (representing individuals). They shift between direct and indirect address, past and future tense—even describing future events as if they already happened, because in their vision they saw them as real.

And after God has made all this known to you, behold, I now arrange a record of the prophecies of this book, and I will begin its interpretation as I am guided from Heaven. And to God I place my words—may He be with my mouth and teach me what I shall speak, as the psalmist said: "Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I have believed in Your commandments."

This is the record of the prophecies that Isaiah prophesied in this book, according to what I have indicated in his words, their divisions, and their sections:

The first prophecy begins with the verse: "The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz..." (Isaiah 1:1) and continues until "The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw..." (Isaiah 2:1). It contains five sections:

1. "The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz" (Isaiah 1:1).

2. "Hear the word of the Lord, chiefs of Sodom" (Isaiah 1:10).

3. "Come now, and let us reason together" (Isaiah 1:18).

4. "How has she become a harlot" (Isaiah 1:21).

5. "Therefore, says the Master" (Isaiah 1:24).

Its purpose is to rebuke the people of Judah for their evil deeds and their ingratitude before God, and to warn them to return to the Lord, so that the destruction that befell the Ten Tribes should not come upon them.

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The second prophecy is: "The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw..." (Isaiah 2:1) and continues until: "For behold, the Master, the Lord of Hosts, removes from Jerusalem..." (Isaiah 3:1). It contains three sections:

1. "The word that he saw" (Isaiah 2:1).

2. "House of Jacob, come, let us walk" (Isaiah 2:5).

3. "For the day of the Lord of Hosts shall be upon all the proud and lofty..." (Isaiah 2:12).

The prophet in this prophecy foretells what will happen in the end of days—that all the nations will agree to serve the glorious Name and to keep His Torah, and idolatry will be removed from the earth. This is to prove that the people of Judah should have done this at all times. In this prophecy he also alludes to the doctrine of the resurrection and its meaning.

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Prophecy 3 is: "For behold, the Master, the Lord of Hosts, removes from Jerusalem and from Judah support and staff..." (Isaiah 3:1) and continues until: "Let me sing now for my beloved" (Isaiah 5:1). It contains five sections:

1. "For behold, the Master, the Lord of Hosts" (Isaiah 3:1).

2. "The Lord stands to plead" (Isaiah 3:13).

3. "And the Lord said, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty" (Isaiah 3:16).

4. "On that day the Lord will remove the beauty of the anklets" (Isaiah 3:18).

5. "On that day the sprout of the Lord shall be for beauty and honor" (Isaiah 4:2).

The purpose of this prophecy is to rebuke the people of Judah and Jerusalem for the wickedness of their leaders, the arrogance of their women, and their foolishness.

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Prophecy 4 is: "Let me sing now for my beloved" (Isaiah 5:1) and continues until: "In the year of King Uzziah's death..." (Isaiah 6:1). It contains seven sections:

1. "Let me sing now for my beloved" (Isaiah 5:1).

2. "Woe to those who join house to house" (Isaiah 5:8).

3. "Woe to those who rise early in the morning" (Isaiah 5:11).

4. "Woe to those who draw sin" (Isaiah 5:18).

5. "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil" (Isaiah 5:20).

6. "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes" (Isaiah 5:21).

7. "Therefore, as fire devours the stubble..." (Isaiah 5:24).

The prophet intended in this prophecy, using poetic lamentation, to describe the destruction of the Ten Tribes and the exile of Samaria, and to explain that the cause of it was their wickedness.

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Prophecy 5 is: "In the year of King Uzziah's death..." (Isaiah 6:1) and continues until: "And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz..." (Isaiah 7:1). It consists of one section only.

The prophet's intention in this prophecy is to describe the heavenly vision he saw of the arrangement of reality and its parts, to convey the exaltedness of God and His majesty and His particular providence over human affairs. For this was the error of Uzziah, for which leprosy broke out on his forehead, and the people of his generation were also caught in that heresy.

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Prophecy 6 is: "And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz..." (Isaiah 7:1) and continues until: "A word the Lord sent against Jacob" (Isaiah 9:7). It contains twelve sections:

1. "And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz" (Isaiah 7:1).

2. "And the Lord said to Isaiah" (Isaiah 7:3).

3. "Thus said the Lord."

4. "And he continued."

5. "And it shall come to pass on that day that the Lord will whistle..." (Isaiah 7:18).

6. "And it shall come to pass on that day that a man shall keep alive..." (Isaiah 7:21).

7. "And the Lord said to me: Take a large tablet..." (Isaiah 8:1).

8. "And the Lord continued to speak to me again" (Isaiah 8:5).

9. "Be shattered, O nations..." (Isaiah 8:9).

10. "For thus said the Lord."

11. "Bind up the testimony" (Isaiah 8:16).

12. "And when they say to you..." (Isaiah 8:19).

The prophet foretells in this prophecy the rise of Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah to war against Jerusalem with Ahaz king of Judah, the advance of Sennacherib against Jerusalem and his downfall in the days of Hezekiah, the success of Hezekiah’s generation, and the downfall of Damascus and Samaria.

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Prophecy 7 is: "A word the Lord sent against Jacob" (Isaiah 9:7) and continues until "Behold, the Lord, the God of Hosts, shall lop off the bough with terror" (Isaiah 10:33). It includes seven sections:

1. "A word the Lord sent against Jacob" (Isaiah 9:7)

2. "The Lord cut off from Israel" (Isaiah 9:13)

3. "Woe to those who decree evil decrees" (Isaiah 10:1)

4. "And it shall come to pass when the Lord has completed all His work" (Isaiah 10:12)

5. "Therefore the Lord shall send leanness" (Isaiah 10:16)

6. "And it shall come to pass on that day, the remnant of Israel shall no more lean" (Isaiah 10:20)

7. "Therefore, so said the Lord God of Hosts, My people, do not fear" (Isaiah 10:24)

The prophet’s intent in this prophecy is to convey three things:

1. That the fundamental sin for which Israel became liable for exile was neglect of Torah and worshipping calves and idols in place of divine service.

2. That the Holy One brought their troubles one after another so that they would be disciplined and return—yet between trouble and trouble they did not repent.

3. That after the Holy One exiled them through the king of Assyria, He will then punish him for his arrogance and pride.

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Prophecy 8 is: "Behold, the Lord, the God of Hosts, shall lop off the bough" (Isaiah 10:33) and continues until "The burden of Babylon" (Isaiah 13:1). It has four sections:

1. "Behold, the Lord..." (Isaiah 10:33)

2. "And a shoot shall come out of the stem of Jesse" (Isaiah 11:1)

3. "And it shall be on that day, the root of Jesse" (Isaiah 11:10)

4. "And it shall be on that day, the Lord shall again stretch forth His hand" (Isaiah 11:11)

The prophet's message here is about the coming of the righteous Messiah, his greatness and characteristics, and the ingathering of the exiles.

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Prophecy 9 is: "The burden of Babylon" (Isaiah 13:1) and continues until "In the year that King Ahaz died" (Isaiah 14:28). It has three sections:

1. "The burden of Babylon" (Isaiah 13:1)

2. "And it shall be on the day that the Lord gives you rest" (Isaiah 14:3)

3. "The Lord of Hosts has sworn" (Isaiah 14:24)

The prophecy declares that because of the evil Babylon did to Israel in the destruction of Jerusalem, it will be destroyed by Persia and Media and overturned like Sodom and Gomorrah.

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Prophecy 10 is: "In the year King Ahaz died" (Isaiah 14:28) and continues until "The burden of Damascus" (Isaiah 17:1). It has four sections:

1. "In the year King Ahaz died" (Isaiah 14:28)

2. "The burden of Moab" (Isaiah 15:1)

3. "A throne shall be established with kindness" (Isaiah 16:5)

4. "This is the word the Lord has spoken concerning Moab from of old" (Isaiah 16:13)

This prophecy tells that because Moab harmed Israel when Sennacherib destroyed Samaria, great destruction and ruin will come upon Moab through Hezekiah and through Sennacherib.

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Prophecy 11 is: "The burden of Damascus" (Isaiah 17:1) and continues until "The burden of Egypt" (Isaiah 19:1). It has six sections:

1. "The burden of Damascus" (Isaiah 17:1)

2. "And it shall be on that day, the glory of Jacob shall be made thin" (Isaiah 17:4)

3. "On that day, a man shall look to his Maker" (Isaiah 17:7)

4. "Woe, the multitude of many peoples" (Isaiah 17:12)

5. "Woe, the land of whirring wings" (Isaiah 18:1)

6. "For thus said the Lord to me: I will rest and look from My dwelling place" (Isaiah 18:4)

The prophet’s intention here is to show that just as Rezin, king of Aram, and Pekah son of Remaliah, king of Israel, joined forces to go up against Jerusalem, so too will they both be destroyed when their lands are ravaged by the king of Assyria. Because the people of Judah returned to their God in the days of Hezekiah, they will be saved from Sennacherib. And because Sennacherib fought against all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them, God will take vengeance upon him—a vengeance remembered forever. In the end of days, nations from across the rivers of Cush, upon hearing of Israel’s redemption, will fear what happened to Sennacherib and send gifts to Israel.

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Prophecy 12 is: "The burden of Egypt" (Isaiah 19:1) and continues until "In the year Tartan came to Ashdod" (Isaiah 20:1). It has four sections:

1. "The burden of Egypt" (Isaiah 19:1)

2. "On that day, five cities" (Isaiah 19:18)

3. "On that day, there shall be an altar" (Isaiah 19:19)

4. "On that day, Israel shall be" (Isaiah 19:24)

The prophet declares that in the future, Egypt will be destroyed, the Nile will dry up, and its fish will die—similar to what happened during the Exodus. Then Egypt will submit to the glorious God and accept divine faith like other nations. They will have great love with the people of Assyria because they helped them.

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Prophecy 13 is: "In the year Tartan came to Ashdod" (Isaiah 20:1) and continues until "The burden of the desert of the sea" (Isaiah 21:1). It has two sections:

1. "In the year Tartan came to Ashdod" (Isaiah 20:1)

2. "And the Lord said: As My servant Isaiah has walked..." (Isaiah 20:3)

The prophet's purpose here is to inform the people of Judah, who were relying on help from Egypt and Cush, that soon the king of Assyria will lead away captives from those nations—and they will be ashamed for having trusted them.

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Prophecy 14 is: "The burden of the desert of the sea" (Isaiah 21:1) and continues until "The burden of Dumah" (Isaiah 21:11). It has two sections:

1. "The burden of the desert of the sea" (Isaiah 21:1)

2. "For so said the Lord to me: Go, set a watchman" (Isaiah 21:6)

The prophet’s purpose here is to inform and describe the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.

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Prophecy 15 is: "The burden of Dumah" (Isaiah 21:11) and continues until "The burden of Arabia" (Isaiah 21:13). It is one section.

The prophet’s intent in this prophecy is to rebuke the nation of Edom for their eagerness in matters of war—to rush into the field to loot and plunder. He records this to criticize Israel, who did not behave similarly.

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Prophecy 16 is: "The burden of Arabia" (Isaiah 21:13) and continues until "The burden of the Valley of Vision" (Isaiah 22:1). It has two sections:

1. "The burden of Arabia" (Isaiah 21:13)

2. "For so said the Lord to me: In one year, as the years of a hired worker..." (Isaiah 21:16)

The prophet’s intention here is to praise the Arabs for being generous, courageous, diligent travelers, and strong. He recounts this as a clear rebuke to Israel.

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Prophecy 17 is: "The burden of the Valley of Vision" (Isaiah 22:1) and continues until "So said the Lord, the God of Hosts: Go, come to this steward" (Isaiah 22:15). It is one section:

The prophet's intention is to lament the destruction of Jerusalem and to rebuke its inhabitants for their cowardice and lack of generosity during wartime—unlike Edom and Ishmael, who demonstrated both traits, as described in the previous prophecies.

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Prophecy 18 is: "So said the Lord, the God of Hosts: Go, come to this steward" (Isaiah 22:15) and continues until "The burden of Tyre" (Isaiah 23:1). It is one section:

The prophet’s intent is to reveal the conspiracy of Shebna, a prominent official in the house of Hezekiah, who sought to betray him and hand over Jerusalem to Sennacherib. It also speaks of Shebna’s punishment and downfall, and of Eliakim’s rise and success in his place.

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Prophecy 19 is: "The burden of Tyre" (Isaiah 23:1) and continues until "Behold, the Lord empties the land and makes it waste" (Isaiah 24:1). It has two sections:

1. "The burden of Tyre" (Isaiah 23:1)

2. "And it shall be on that day: Tyre shall be forgotten" (Isaiah 23:15)

The prophet’s intent here is to declare the destruction of Tyre and its later restoration seventy years later.

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Prophecy 20 is: "Behold, the Lord empties the land and makes it waste" (Isaiah 24:1) and continues until "Woe to the crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim" (Isaiah 28:1). It has fifteen sections:

1. "Behold, the Lord empties the land" (Isaiah 24:1)

2. "From the ends of the earth we heard songs" (Isaiah 24:16)

3. "And it shall be on that day, the Lord will punish" (Isaiah 24:21)

4. "O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You" (Isaiah 25:1)

5. "And the Lord of Hosts shall make for all the nations" (Isaiah 25:6)

6. "And it shall be said on that day: Behold, this is our God" (Isaiah 25:9)

7. "On that day, this song shall be sung" (Isaiah 26:1)

8. "O Lord, Your hand is raised" (Isaiah 26:11)

9. "O Lord, in distress they remembered You" (Isaiah 26:16)

10. "Go, My people, enter your rooms" (Isaiah 26:20)

11. "On that day, the Lord will punish with His harsh sword" (Isaiah 27:1)

12. "On that day, sing of a vineyard of delight" (Isaiah 27:2)

13. "Has He struck them as He struck their strikers?" (Isaiah 27:7)

14. "And it shall be on that day, the Lord shall thresh" (Isaiah 27:12)

15. "And it shall be on that day, a great shofar shall be blown" (Isaiah 27:13)

The prophet's aim in this prophecy is to explain and announce the destruction of the nations and the future redemption of Israel in the days of the Messiah, as well as the wondrous resurrection of the dead that the Holy One will perform in those days.

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Prophecy 21 is: "Woe to the crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim" (Isaiah 28:1) and continues until "Woe to rebellious children" (Isaiah 30:1). It has eleven sections:

1. "Woe to the crown of pride..." (Isaiah 28:1)

2. "On that day, the Lord of Hosts will be..." (Isaiah 28:5)

3. "Whom shall He teach knowledge?" (Isaiah 28:9)

4. "Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers" (Isaiah 28:14)

5. "Therefore, so said the Lord God: Behold, I lay a foundation" (Isaiah 28:16)

6. "Give ear and hear My voice" (Isaiah 28:23)

7. "Woe, Ariel, Ariel" (Isaiah 29:1)

8. "Wait and be astounded" (Isaiah 29:9)

9. "And the Lord said: Because this people drew near" (Isaiah 29:13)

10. "Woe to those who go to great depths to hide from the Lord" (Isaiah 29:15)

11. "Therefore, so said the Lord to the house of Jacob" (Isaiah 29:22)

The prophet’s intent in this prophecy is to predict the destruction of the tribes for their sins. At the time of their destruction, Judah and Jerusalem will be praised. But shortly after, even Judah will become greatly corrupted, and distress and oppression will come upon them.

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Prophecy 22 is: "Woe to rebellious children" (Isaiah 30:1) and continues until "Complacent women" (Isaiah 32:9). It has ten sections:

1. "Woe to rebellious children" (Isaiah 30:1)

2. "The burden of the beasts of the south" (Isaiah 30:6)

3. "For so said the Lord God..."

4. "Therefore, the Lord will wait to be gracious to you" (Isaiah 30:18)

5. "For the people will dwell in Zion" (Isaiah 30:19)

6. "And the light of the moon shall be like the light of the sun" (Isaiah 30:26)

7. "Behold, the Name of the Lord comes from afar" (Isaiah 30:27)

8. "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help" (Isaiah 31:1)

9. "For so said the Lord to me..." (Isaiah 31:4)

10. "Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness" (Isaiah 32:1)

The purpose of this prophecy is to rebuke the tribes for turning to Egypt for help against Sennacherib rather than seeking the Lord. Therefore, they will fall to their enemies. However, the residents of Jerusalem—because they cry out to the Lord—will be saved from Sennacherib.

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Prophecy 23 is: "Complacent women" (Isaiah 32:9) and continues until "And it was in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah" (Isaiah 36:1). It has eight sections:

1. "Complacent women" (Isaiah 32:9)

2. "Woe, you destroyer" (Isaiah 33:1)

3. "Lord, be gracious to us" (Isaiah 33:2)

4. "Behold, their heroes cry in the streets" (Isaiah 33:7)

5. "Hear, you far-off ones, what I have done" (Isaiah 33:13)

6. "Draw near, O nations, to hear" (Isaiah 34:1)

7. "The wilderness and dry land shall rejoice" (Isaiah 35:1)

8. "Strengthen the weak hands" (Isaiah 35:3)

The prophet’s purpose is to announce the exile of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Temple by Nebuchadnezzar, the long exile, and that in the end of wrath, our God will come and not be silent. He will pour out a spirit of redemption from above, avenge His people, and restore them to their land.

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Prophecy 24 is: "And it was in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah" (Isaiah 36:1) and continues until "Comfort, comfort My people" (Isaiah 40:1). It has twelve sections:

1. "And it was in the fourteenth year..." (Isaiah 36:1)

2. "And Eliakim said..." (Isaiah 36:11)

3. "And it came to pass, when King Hezekiah heard..." (Isaiah 37:1)

4. "And Hezekiah prayed" (Isaiah 37:15)

5. "And Isaiah sent..." (Isaiah 37:21)

6. "Therefore, so said the Lord to the king of Assyria..." (Isaiah 37:33)

7. "And the angel of the Lord went out..." (Isaiah 37:36)

8. "In those days Hezekiah became ill to death" (Isaiah 38:1)

9. "And the word of the Lord came to Isaiah..." (Isaiah 38:4)

10. "A writing of Hezekiah..." (Isaiah 38:9)

11. "At that time, Merodach-Baladan sent..." (Isaiah 39:1)

12. "And Isaiah came in..." (Isaiah 39:3)

The prophet’s purpose here is to recount the future events foretold to Hezekiah by Isaiah about Sennacherib’s siege of Jerusalem, Hezekiah’s illness and recovery, and the visit of Babylon’s envoys and Hezekiah’s showing them his treasures.

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Prophecy 25 is: "Comfort, comfort My people" (Isaiah 40:1) and continues until "The deaf, hear!" (Isaiah 42:18). It has sixteen sections:

1. "Comfort, comfort My people" (Isaiah 40:1)

2. "A voice says: Proclaim" (Isaiah 40:6)

3. "Upon a high mountain..." (Isaiah 40:9)

4. "Who measured the waters..." (Isaiah 40:12)

5. "All nations are as nothing..." (Isaiah 40:17)

6. "To whom will you liken Me...?" (Isaiah 40:25)

7. "Why do you say, Jacob...?" (Isaiah 40:27)

8. "Be silent before Me, O coastlands..." (Isaiah 41:1)

9. "But you, Israel My servant..." (Isaiah 41:8)

10. "Fear not, worm Jacob..." (Isaiah 41:14)

11. "The poor and needy..." (Isaiah 41:17)

12. "Present your case..." (Isaiah 41:21)

13. "I have stirred up one from the north..." (Isaiah 41:25)

14. "Here is My servant, whom I uphold..." (Isaiah 42:1)

15. "Thus said the Lord God..." (Isaiah 42:5)

16. "Sing to the Lord a new song..." (Isaiah 42:10)

The intent of this prophecy is to foretell the future redemption and to comfort the nation from the suffering of exile.

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Prophecy 26 is: "You deaf ones, listen" (Isaiah 42:18) until "Thus said the Lord, your Redeemer and the One who formed you from the womb" (Isaiah 44:24). And it contains nine sections:

1. "You deaf ones, listen" (Isaiah 42:18)

2. "And now, thus said the Lord your Creator, Jacob" (Isaiah 43:1)

3. "I, I am the Lord" (Isaiah 43:11)

4. "Thus said the Lord, your Redeemer" (Isaiah 43:14)

5. "Thus said the Lord, who makes a way in the sea" (Isaiah 43:16)

6. "But you did not call out to Me, Jacob" (Isaiah 43:22)

7. "And now, hear, Jacob My servant" (Isaiah 44:1)

8. "Thus said the Lord, King of Israel and his Redeemer" (Isaiah 44:6)

9. "Remember these things, Jacob" (Isaiah 44:21)

And the intention of this prophecy is to explain the reason for this exile and to promise the nation that it will not end in destruction, because the Holy One, blessed be He, will eventually redeem them. And He drew their attention to the matter of the resurrection of the dead, and promised them the downfall of Babylon and the success of Cyrus, and that he will build the Temple, in a manner that all the inhabitants of the earth will recognize and know the power of God, may He be blessed, and His providence.

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Prophecy 27 is: "Thus said the Lord, your Redeemer and the One who formed you from the womb…" (Isaiah 44:24) until "Listen, O islands, to Me" (Isaiah 49:1), and it contains eighteen sections:

1. "Thus said the Lord, your Redeemer and the One who formed you from the womb…" (Isaiah 44:24)

2. "Thus said the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus" (Isaiah 45:1)

3. "Let the heavens drip down" (Isaiah 45:8)

4. "Woe to him who strives with his Maker" (Isaiah 45:9)

5. "Woe to him who says to a father" (Isaiah 45:10)

6. "Thus said the Lord, the Holy One of Israel and his Maker" (Isaiah 45:11)

7. "Thus said the Lord: The labor of Egypt…" (Isaiah 45:14)

8. "For thus said the Lord, Creator of the heavens…" (Isaiah 45:18)

9. "Listen to Me, house of Jacob" (Isaiah 46:3)

10. "Remember this and take courage" (Isaiah 46:8)

11. "Listen to Me, you stout-hearted" (Isaiah 46:12)

12. "Come down and sit in the dust" (Isaiah 47:1)

13. "Our Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts" (Isaiah 47:4)

14. "And now, listen to this, you pampered one" (Isaiah 47:8 implied)

15. "Hear this, house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel" (Isaiah 48:1)

16. "The former things I told from of old" (Isaiah 48:3)

17. "Listen to Me, Jacob" (Isaiah 48:12)

18. "Go out from Babylon" (Isaiah 48:20)

And the intention is to make known that nothing is too wondrous for the Lord and all His desire He will complete. For He who created the heavens and the earth can change them at His will. And He brings proof from the downfall of Babylon and the success of Cyrus and the rebuilding of Jerusalem by his hand. This proves that so too will the Lord do in the future redemption.

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Prophecy 28 is: "Listen, O islands, to Me; and hearken, you peoples from afar" (Isaiah 49:1) until "Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness, seekers of the Lord" (Isaiah 51:1), and it contains ten sections:

1. "Listen, O islands, to Me" (Isaiah 49:1)

2. "And now said the Lord, who formed Me from the womb" (Isaiah 49:5)

3. "Thus said the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel" (Isaiah 49:7)

4. "Thus said the Lord: In a time of favor I answered you" (Isaiah 49:8)

5. "And Zion said…" (Isaiah 49:14)

6. "Behold, I will lift My hand to the nations" (Isaiah 49:22)

7. "Shall the prey be taken from the mighty?" (Isaiah 49:24)

8. "Thus said the Lord: Where is the bill of your mother’s divorce" (Isaiah 50:1)

9. "The Lord God has given Me the tongue of those who are taught" (Isaiah 50:4)

10. "Who among you fears the Lord?" (Isaiah 50:10)

And the intention of this prophecy is to say that the Lord, may He be blessed, formed him (the prophet) from his mother’s womb—not to prophesy to the people of his generation, for they would not listen to him—but to prophesy about the return of the tribes and the gathering of the scattered of Judah and Israel at the end of days, and that the nations will submit to belief in the Lord, may He be blessed.

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Prophecy 29 is: “Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness, seekers of the Lord” (Isaiah 51:1) until “Behold, My servant shall prosper” (Isaiah 52:13), and it contains ten sections:

1. “Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness” (Isaiah 51:1)

2. “Give heed to Me, My people” (Isaiah 51:4)

3. “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness” (Isaiah 51:7)

4. “Awaken, awaken, clothe yourself with strength” (Isaiah 51:9)

5. “I, I am He who comforts you” (Isaiah 51:12)

6. “Awaken, awaken!” (Isaiah 51:17)

7. “Thus said your Lord, the Lord” (Isaiah 51:22)

8. “Awaken, awaken, put on your strength, Zion” (Isaiah 52:1)

9. “How pleasant upon the mountains…” (Isaiah 52:7)

10. “Turn away, turn away, go out from there” (Isaiah 52:11)

And the intention of the prophecy is to promise Israel the future redemption, and to resolve for them the doubts that they might have about it. That He will remove from Jerusalem and from the Land of Israel the ruling prophets (false leaders), and the announcement of the redemption will be so public and widespread that it will be as if messengers are calling it out on the mountains.

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Prophecy 30 is: “Behold, My servant shall prosper…” (Isaiah 52:13) until “Sing, O barren woman, you who did not give birth” (Isaiah 54:1), and it contains one section.
And the intention of this prophecy is either to promise the success of the nation at the time of its redemption, which will be on a wondrous scale just as its degradation was deep during the exile—or, according to some interpretations, to foretell the killing of King Josiah.

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Prophecy 31 is: “Sing, O barren woman…” (Isaiah 54:1) until “Seek the Lord while He may be found” (Isaiah 55:6), and it contains four sections:

1. “Sing, O barren woman” (Isaiah 54:1)

2. “For this is like the waters of Noah to Me” (Isaiah 54:9)

3. “O afflicted, storm-tossed one” (Isaiah 54:11)

4. “Ho, everyone who thirsts…” (Isaiah 55:1)

And the intention of this prophecy is to comfort the congregation of Israel for the troubles and length of the exile, with a promise of the future redemption. This is expressed through metaphors of a barren woman and a storm-tossed one, and to assure them that there will never again be another exile, and that the earth will be filled with knowledge.

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Prophecy 32 is: “Seek the Lord while He may be found…” (Isaiah 55:6) until “Arise, shine” (Isaiah 60:1), and it contains eight sections:

1. “Seek the Lord while He may be found” (Isaiah 55:6)

2. “For thus said the Lord to the eunuchs” (Isaiah 56:4)

3. “And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord” (Isaiah 56:6)

4. “His watchmen are blind” (Isaiah 56:10)

5. “But you, draw near here, sons of a sorceress” (Isaiah 57:3)

6. “For thus said the High and Exalted One” (Isaiah 57:15)

7. “Cry aloud with your voice” (Isaiah 58:1)

8. “Behold, the hand of the Lord is not too short” (Isaiah 59:1)

And the intention of this prophecy is to make known that the redemption has a fixed and set time; however, if the Israelites repent, the Holy One, blessed be He, will hasten it and bring about His action and His redemption. And that the Sabbath is a commandment that includes the truth of beliefs and upright conduct. Yet despite all His rebukes and promises, the Israelites were wicked and sinful before the Lord and hypocritical—claiming they were righteous and good before the Lord and among men, though it was not so.

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Prophecy 33 beginning is: “Arise, shine…” (Isaiah 60:1) until “The kindnesses of the Lord I will mention” (Isaiah 63:7), and it contains five sections:

1. “Arise, shine” (Isaiah 60:1)

2. “The spirit of the Lord is upon me…”

3. “I will greatly rejoice” (Isaiah 61:10)

4. “Pass through, pass through the gates” (Isaiah 62:10)

5. “Who is this coming from Edom” (Isaiah 63:1)

And the intention of this prophecy is to guide Israel to rise up from their mourning and shine forth to all the nations of the world, a people who walk in darkness, with the Lord’s Torah and its teachings. Because all the nations will come to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of the God of Jacob. They will submit to Israel, accept His Torah, and bring offerings of gold and incense before Him.

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Prophecy 34 is: “The kindnesses of the Lord I will mention…” (Isaiah 63:7) until “Thus said the Lord: The heavens are My throne” (Isaiah 66:1), and it contains four sections:

1. “The kindnesses of the Lord I will mention” (Isaiah 63:7)

2. “I was sought by those who did not ask [for Me]” (Isaiah 65:1)

3. “Thus said the Lord: Just as the new wine is found in the cluster…” (Isaiah 65:8)

4. “Therefore, thus said the Lord God: Behold, My servants shall eat” (Isaiah 65:13)

And the intention of this prophecy is to explain that Israel’s suffering in exile came because of their sins, and to argue this based on what the Holy One, blessed be He, did with them from the time He took them out of Egypt until they entered exile. And the complaint of Israel against the Lord and His reply: that their sins caused all this. But there is hope for their future, and the suffering will be forgotten, and Jerusalem will be a place of joy, and its people a source of happiness.

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Prophecy 35 Its beginning is: “Thus said the Lord: The heavens are My throne” (Isaiah 66:1) until the end of the book, and it contains four sections:

1. “Thus said the Lord: The heavens are My throne” (Isaiah 66:1)

2. “Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word” (Isaiah 66:5)

3. “Rejoice with Jerusalem” (Isaiah 66:10)

4. “For thus said the Lord: Behold, I extend to her peace like a river” (Isaiah 66:12)

And the intention of this prophecy is to say that the Lord will bring two judgments upon the world: the first upon Israel for their sins—He will judge them with the destruction of their land and exile; and afterward, the judgment He will bring upon the nations for having destroyed His city and sanctuary and having blasphemed heaven. Therefore, He will judge them with fire and sword. And it explains who among them will be punished, and that Israel’s seed and name will endure, and they will no longer sin. Rather, from new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all will come to bow before Him—for their redemption and the salvation of their souls, and for the vengeance He exacted on their enemies.