Judah under Hezekiah (Chs. 28-33). 

        The general impression created by this section is that Isaiah did not resume his regular prophetic activity on Heze­kiah’s accession; most of these prophecies are called forth by the intrigues that led to Hezekiah’s rebellion against his Assyrian overlord, and the consequences of his action.

        The prophecies are divided into six sections by the word “woe” — 28:1; 29:1; 29:15; 30:1; 31:1; 33:1.

        The first woe is concerned with the dissolute nobles of Jerusalem. 28:1-6 is an older prophecy by Isaiah against Ephraim applied in ver. 7f to the nobles of Jerusalem; ver. 9f is their drunken answer in broken Hebrew; ver. 11ff Isaiah’s answer. 28:23-29 should be read in the R.V.

        The second woe deals with God’s wonderful purpose for Jerusalem and the reception of the message by a hardened people. “Ariel” means altar-hearth, or hearth of God.

        The third woe is uttered against the political intrigues with Egypt, and goes over into a Messianic picture.

        The fourth and fifth are both concerned with the Egyptian alliance, interspersed with promises of divine aid and the Messianic transformation of society. 30:21 is the great verse on guidance, which comes when men are going wrong, not while they walk right. 32:3 reverses 6:9f.

        The last woe is addressed to treacherous Assyria, and once again ends in a glowing Messianic picture.