The Book of Isaiah, Chapters 40-66

The New International Commentary on the Old Testament

by John N. Oswalt

Series: The New International Commentary on the Old Testament

Series Editors: Robert L. Hubbard Jr. (general editor)

“In the Old Testament we read God’s word as it was spoken to his people Israel. Today, thousands of years later, we hear in these thirty-nine books his inspired and authoritative message for us.”

These twin convictions, shared by all of the contributors to The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, define the goal of this ambitious series of commentaries. For those many modern readers who find the Old Testament to be strange and foreign soil, the NICOT series serves as an authoritative guide bridging the cultural gap between today’s world and the world of ancient Israel. Each NICOT volume aims to help us hear God’s word as clearly as possible.

Scholars, pastors, and serious Bible students will welcome the fresh light that this commentary series casts on ancient yet familiar biblical texts. The contributors apply their proven scholarly expertise and wide experience as teachers to illumine our understanding of the Old Testament. As gifted writers, they present the results of the best recent research in an interesting manner.

Each commentary opens with an introduction to the biblical book, looking especially at questions concerning its background, authorship, date, purpose, structure, and theology. A select bibliography also points readers to resources for their own study. The author’s own translation from the original Hebrew forms the basis of the commentary proper. Verse-by-verse comments nicely balance in-depth discussions of technical matters — textual criticism, critical problems, and so on — with exposition of the biblical writer’s theology and its implications for the life of faith today." -Eerdmans' Publishing

Genres: Reference, Old Testament, Theology, Christian, Biblical Studies, Christianity

711 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 4, 1998

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the comments I made on volume one are still relevant for part two.

This book is fascinating, sometimes even breathtaking. To be able to learn through Isaiah with a master is like going treasure hunting.

I actually got to meet and interview Dr. Oswalt back in the spring, and it was one of the highlights of my year!

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super technical and dense commentary. I found it incredible helpful at times and annoyingly technical at others. Oswalt sees Isaiah as having only 1 author and continually defends prophecy and miracles throughout it.

If you want a highly technical commentary on Isaiah, this is probably the place to go. If you are not used to academic, or technical commentaries then I would go elsewhere.

[Matt Pitts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contains technical material but moves easily and often into devotional reflections. This was my 'go to' commentary for preparing to teach. By no means did I read every word, but what I did manage to read was worth the effort.

[Jesus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great commentary to listen to as you read through the book of Isaiah. There was only a handful of times I listened ahead of where I was in Isaiah because I lost track of what chapter Oswalt was on.

I do wish there was more emphasis on chapter 53. Thats the famous chapter that describes the crucifixion of Jesus in such detail more then 700 years before Jesus even walked the earth. It seems like Oswalt assumes the listener is already familiar with the chapter. I'd have liked it if he would've directly compared that chapter with the life of Jesus verse by verse.

With that said I definitely recommend the entire commentary. I'll definitely be checking out John Oswalts other work.

[Stan Rea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked these two books, however the author's tendency to start every discussion of every passage with (what seemed to me to be) a review of all of the views of all of the writers who ever looked at the passage and then saying "this is one is probably closest to being accurate" got a little tiresome after awhile.

[Josh Shelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read, not overly technical. Fair handed, and exceptional.

One was working out the new covenant as arriving in Christ, and not referring to his 2nd coming. There were lots of times where I had to pause and think through all the ways this would change the interpretation.

Overall very good and rewarding read.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent commentary on Isaiah

[Will Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

How rare it is to read a commentary that is simply joyful to read. Oswalt is an excellent writer and this commentary was a great read on Isaiah. If only more commentaries were this joyful to read...

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oswalt's commentary carried me through teaching a Sunday school class on Isaiah (fools do rush in). Evangelical in its emphasis on the book's unity and its connections to the New Testament, I appreciated its disinterest in prophecy and its non-Calvinist interpretation. For Oswalt a central theme of the book is the necessity of God's people trusting in the God they claim to serve. He does not overwhelm with scholarly apparatus or linguistic detail and does a good job bringing out history and context. Motyer and Westermann were useful as well, but I found Oswalt easier to read (less jumping about) and more pastoral in his interests.

[Tom Brainerd · Rating 4 out of 5]

In preaching through Isaiah Oswalt has been one of the primary commentaries I have leaned upon. He is clear, does a good job of unfolding what he is trying to get at. Both volumes have been very useful.

The one thing he is fuzzy on (or maybe I just disagree with him) is the current and eschatological role of historical/ethnic Israel. An example would be his using the existence of the current secular state of Israel as evidence of Yahweh's promises. He has feet on both sides of the continuity/discontinuity fence.

[Vanjr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, conservative commentary on the text of Isaiah. He argues for a unity of the text. includes a translation of the book that is his own. His translation and the associated notes where particularly outstanding and worth "the price of admission" alone!