Isaiah tells us that he began to prophesy in 733 B.C.E., the year Uzziah, king of Judah, died. Scholars believe that Isaiah was a Levite working in the Temple and perhaps of noble birth, given his ready access to the inner circle of the Judean court. Isaiah has two sons and names them as part of his prophecy. The elder he calls Shear-yashuv, “a remnant shall return.” This is a name of hope, promising King Ahaz and the Judean people that they will survive the coming attack by Syria and her Northern Kingdom ally (Israel). His second son he calls Maher-shalal-hash-baz, “the spoil speeds, the prey hastens,” suggesting that the Northern Kingdom of Israel will disappear when the Assyrians defeat the Syrians and their allies. In addition to warning the kings of their political follies, Isaiah relentlessly challenges the people to live up to the moral standards set for them by God. Putting one’s hope in politics is madness, Isaiah says. Hope is only in God and God is only concerned with righteousness. While in no way sparing the people the full impact of God’s impending wrath, Isaiah does comfort them with a vision of a future when peace will reign: The lion shall lie down with the lamb, and swords will be beaten into plowshares.
