Opening the Sealed Book : Interpretations of the Book of Isaiah in Late Antiquity

Of all the texts in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, perhaps no book has a more colorful history of interpretation than Isaiah. A comprehensive history of this interpretation between the prophet Malachi and the first days of Christianity, Joseph Blenkinsopp's Opening the Sealed Book traces three different prophetic traditions in Isaiah -- the "man of God," the critic of social structures, and the apocalyptic seer. Blenkinsopp explores the place of Isaiah in Jewish sectarianism, at Qumran, and among early Christians, touching on a number of its themes, including exile, "the remnant of Israel," martyrdom, and "the servant of the Lord." Encompassing several disciplines -- hermeneutics, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Second Temple studies, Christian origins -- Opening the Sealed Book will appeal to Jewish and Christian scholars as well as readers fascinated by the intricate and influential prophetic visions of Isaiah. Isaiah: The Book -- Isaiah: Author, Prophet, Man Of God -- Isaiah At The Beginnings Of Jewish Sectarianism -- Reading Isaiah At Qumran -- Reading Isaiah In Early Christianity, With Special Reference To Matthew's Gospel -- Isaianic Titles In Qumran And Early Christianity -- Exile In The Interpretation Of Isaiah -- The Many Faces Of The Servant Of The Lord. Joseph Blenkinsopp. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 294-297) And Indexes.