The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary

curse formulas against Christians is found in “the Eighteen Benedictions” from Berakoth28b-29a, which calls the believers “Nazarenes.”“May the Nazarenes and heretics disappear in a moment; they shall be erasedfrom the book of life and not be written with the faithful.”e. It was used by Justin Martyr, Dial. 126:1 who used Isaiah’s netzer of Jesus.3. Author’s opinionI am surprised by so many spellings of the term, although I know this is not unheard of inthe OT as “Joshua” has several different spellings in Hebrew. Yet, because ofa. the close association with the Messianic term “Branch”b. combined with the negative contextc. little or no contemporary attestation to the city of Nazareth in Galileed. it coming from the mouth of a demon in an eschatological sense (i.e., “Have you come todestroy us?”),I remain uncertain as to its precise meaning.For a full bibliography of studies of this word group by scholarship see Colin Brown (ed.),New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, vol. 2, p. 346, or Raymond E.Brown, Birth, pp. 209-213, 223-225.} A description of YHWH’s “Branch” (NKJV, NRSV, JB)1. beautiful, BDB 840, cf. Jer. 3:19 (often used of Promised Land in Dan. 8:9; 11:16,41)2. glorious, BDB 458 means “abundance,” “honor,” and “glory” (“glory,” BDB 802, also in thisverse)These two terms are often used together (cf. 13:19; 28:1,4,5).Some versions take this verse as a reference to plant growth in the period of restoration (LXX,Peshitta, TEV, NJB, REB, NET Bible). In a sense the Messiah and the age of restoration are lexicallylinked (first part of v. 2; second part fruitful Promised Land).} “the survivors of Israel” Isaiah addresses them and describes them often (cf. 10:20; 37:31,32; seeSpecial Topic at 1:9), but which group did he address? See opening comment on v. 2.The Spirit is the true author of Scripture. In prophecy and apocalyptic passages often the humanauthor did not fully realize the full extent of his own messages. I do think this means that these passageshad multiple meanings (i.e., Sensus Plenier), but that progressive revelation clarified the intendedmeaning. Often the concept of multiple fulfillment is what links the full intent of the Spirit’s message(i.e., 7:14). However, proper hermeneutics must begin with “authorial intent” as the place to begin andevaluate an interpretation of any biblical text and any genre.4:3 This verse is probably what caused the Jews of Jeremiah’s day who were not exiled to viewthemselves as YHWH’s favored people, but Ezekiel shows this was not the case. YHWH wouldprimarily deal with the returnees (cf. Ezra and Nehemiah).} “everyone who is recorded for life in Jerusalem” There are two interpretive issues.1. Is this referring to life in Jerusalem the capital of Judah or “new Jerusalem,” the symbol of thenew age (cf. Revelation 21)? Is it historical or eschatological?2. The book of life (see Special Topic following)66