The int.ernal evidence of unity divides itself under fiTe heads::i' I. Identity in respect of the gtea.tness, and the quality, of the genius exhibited by the writer. 2. Similarity in the language and constructions. S. Simi➔ larity in the thoughts, images, and other rhetorical ornaments. 4, Simi~ la.rity in little characteristic expressions. 5. Correspondences, partly in the "WRY of repetition, partly in that of completion, in the later chapters, of thoughts left incomplete in the earlier. 1. It is universally allowed by critics that the genius eJ;hibited in the writings acknowledged as Isaiah's is extraordinary, transcendent, such as in the entire history of the world has been possessed by few. The genius is also admitted to be of a peculiar quality, characterized by sublimity1. pro- fusion and novelty of thought, breadth lind variety of. poweIP, -and a,,selfe control which keeps the uttera.nces free from any approach to bombast_oi; ex:tr&vage,noe. We maintain that not only is the genius exhibited.in th~ disputed chapters equal to that shown in the undisputed, ,but. that it •is a,. genius of e=ctly the same kind. The sublimity of oh. Iii. and liii. is allowed on all hands, BB a.lso is that of eh. xl.; xliii. 1-4, and lxiii. l-'--6. : Ewald says of two of these passages, " The cStrain here atta.ine:. to. such.. a ·pllN: luminous sublimity, and carries the hea.'rer away, with such a wonclerml charm of diction, that a person might be ready to fancy he was.Jisteni;ilg to another prophet altogether." 1 The great variety:of power is sii:.nilarlyi attest-ed. "In no prophet," observes Ewald again, '·' does the :rhooclin the, composition of particular passages so much vary, as. throughout the thr.ea several sections into which this part of .the book.(oh. xl.-,-lx:v:i.) is divided, while under vehement excitement the prophet pursues the most diverse: objects. . .. The complexion of the style, although hardly anywhere pas~• ing into the representation of visions properly so called, varies in a constant interchange; and rightly to recognize these changes is the great problem for the interpretation." 1 The profusion of thought cannot pe>ssibly .be questioned; and the self-control is certainly as noticeable in the dispu~ed chapters as in the undisputed. 2. The similarity in the language a:od oonstrnctions has· been abundantly proved by Delitzsch • and Urwick.' It is true that it has been also denied, strenuously by Knobel; 1 more faintly by others. To examine the_ point thoroughly would require an elaborate treatise, and would involve the copious use of Hebrew type, and the employment of arguments only ~ppre~ ciable by the advanced Hebrew scholar. We must therefore c_ontent ourselves, under this head, with alleging the authorities of Delitzsoh, Dr. Kay, Professor Stanley Leathes, Professor Birks, Dean Payne Smith, Mr. Urwick, and Dr. S. Davidson, himself a separatist, who agrees that there is a general unity in the phraseology throughout the prophecies, or, at any 1 'Propheten des Alten Bundes,' vol ii. p. 407. • Ibid., pp. 408, '°9, • 'Commentary on the Prophecies of Isaiah,' vol. ii. pp. 128-518. ' 'The Servani of Jehova.h,' pp. 36-47. • ' Eiegetillchea Handbuch,' vol. vi. pp. 296-298. THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. xxiii
rate; that- 11 there is not enough evidence in the style and diction to show the later origin" 1 of the disputed chapters. 3, The similarity in the thoughts, images, and other rhetorical ornaments is another large subject, which it is almost impossible, within the limits of ench an Introduction as the present, to treat adequately. Isaiah's pre- dominant thought with respect to God is of his holiness-his spotless, perfect purity, before which nothing "unclean" can stand. Hence the favourite title of God, "the Holy One of Israel," used eleven times in undisputed and thirteen times in disputed chapters, and only five times in the rest of the Old Testament. Hence his words (in Part I.), when he sees God, "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips" ( eh. vi. 5) ; and his description of God (in Part III.) as " the high and lofty Orie that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy" (eh. lvii. 15). Next to God's holiness, he loves to magnify his power. Hence he is "the Mighty One of Israel" ( eh. i. 24; xlix. 26; lx. 16), and has his power magnificently described in such passages as eh. ii. 10, 21; xl. 12-17, etc. The. high and holy One has entered into covenant with Israel-they are his "people," his "children," his "well-beloved," as no other people are (eh.' i. 2, 3; ii, 6; iii. 12, etc.; and eh. xl. 1, 11; xli. 8, 9; :x:liii. 1, 15, etc.). But they have rebelled against him, they have broken the covenant, they have provoked him by their sins ( eh. i. 2-4, 21-23 ; v. 4; :x:liii. 22~24; xlviii.1-8; lxiii. 10, etc.), by oppression and injustice (eh. i. 17, 23 ; iii. 12, 15 ; v. 7, 23 ; lix:. 8, 13, 14), by their idolatries ( eh. i. 29 ; ii. 8, ,20; xx,:ri. 7; xl. 19, .20; xli. 7; xliv. 9-20; lvii. 5), by their shedding of inn9cent blood (eh. i. 15; 21; iv.~; lix. 3, 7). .And for this they have been in his counsels cast off, rejected, put away, forsaken (eh. i. 15; ii. 6; iii/ 8; iv. 6, etc., in Part I.; and eh. xiii. 18-25 ; xliii. 28; x:lix. 14, etc., in Part ill.), carried into captivity (eh. v. 13; vi. 11, 12; xiv. 3, etc., and eh. xiii. 22; xliii. 5, 6; xlv. 13; xlviii. 20), to Babylon (eh. xiv. 2-4; :ruix, 6,, 7; xlvii. 6; xlviii..20, etc.). They are not, however, wholly cast off ; God is chastening them, and will bring back 11, "remnant " ( eh. vi. 13 ; x. 20-22; xi .. 12; xiv. 1-~etc.; and eh. xliii. 1-6; -xlviji. 9-20; xlix. 25, etc.), and plant them again in their own land (vi. 13; x. 21; xiv. 1; xxxv. 10; and eh. xliv. 26; xlv. 13; Ii. 11, etc.), and give them peace and prosperity (eh. xi. 11-16 ;. .xii.; xiv. 3; xxv. 6-8; xx:xii. 15-18; xxxv. 1-10; and eh. xl. 9....,.11; xliii. 19, 20; xlix. 8-13; Ii. 11; Iii. 7-10. etc.). And then for their greater glory, he will call the Gentiles, and joi~ the Gentiles with them into one Church or nation ( eh. xi. 10 ; xxv. 6 ; xiii. 6; xlix. 6; Iv. 5; Ix. 3, etc.). 0£ this nation there will be a grent King (oh. ix. 6, 7; xxiv. 23; xxx:ii. 1; xxxiii. 17; :x:lii. 1-4; xlix. 1-12, etc.) 1 who will reign in "God's holy mountain" (eh. ii. 2; xi. 9; lvi. 7; Ivii. 13; I.xv. 11, 25; ]xvi 20) over his holy people perpetually. Tbis "King" will be also e. Redeemer ( eh. i. 27; xxxv. 9, 10; xii. 14; lix. 20) and a Saviour (eh. xxx:v. 4; liii. 5-12); he will reign in righteonst:!ess 1. Dr. S. Davidson, 'Introduction to the Old Testament,' vol. ii. p. 5!. lNTRODUC'l'ION TO