The Beauty of Holiness : Re-Reading Isaiah in the Light of the Psalms

Joseph Blenkinsopp presents an intertextual reading of Isaiah and the Psalms furthering his previous well-known work on the text of Isaiah. Blenkinsopp argues that, read together, these two biblical books can be shown to form a single religious vision, a way of experiencing and articulating a commitment to the fundamentals of the faith of Israel, with its own distinctive character. Blenkinsopp shows how the emphasis in Isaiah and the Psalms is on affect and emotion, the expression of joy and sorrow articulated in music, singing, and dancing; in praise, thanksgiving and lament. This represents a key difference from other parts of the Hebrew Bible where the focus is more on the Law and on the covenant at Sinai – in Isaiah and the Psalms these terms rarely occur, the focus is instead on Zion and on the Temple. Blenkinsopp shows how the temple singers, with their close connections with the circles which transmitted and eventually committed to writing the Book of Isaiah, demonstrate that the divine word is not incompatible with other forms of religious experience and expression, affective and even mystical, articulated and embodied in the performance of music, song, ritual prayer, and dance. The beauty of the Psalms is echoed strongly in Isaiah, and the Isaian vision of a Creator God, Lord of nature and history beyond the bounds of Israel, is joyfully proclaimed by the psalmists. Title Page Copyright Page Contents Foreword List of abbreviations Chapter 1: Re-reading Isaiah in the light of Psalms Chapter 2: The Psalms and their authors Liturgical music in theNear East and Israel The temple musicians in Ezra–Nehemiah Liturgical music in Solomon’s temple The Edomite connection Chapter 3: Psalmody and prophecy The link between psalmodyand prophecy Prophets and temple worship: The cult prophet hypothesis Chapter 4: Psalmody in Isaiah 1–39 Isaiah 1–12 Isaiah 13–27 Isaiah 28–35 Isaiah 36–39 Chapter 5: Prophecy and Psalmody in Isaiah 40–55 The architecture of Isaiah 40–55 Who wrote Deutero-Isaiah? Psalm elements in Isaiah 40–55 Isaiah 40–48 Isaiah 49–55 Chapter 6: Prophecy and Psalmody in Isaiah 56–66 The identity and structure of Isaiah 56–66 Isaiah 56–59; 63–66 Isaiah 60–62 Chapter 7: Zion as reality and symbol in Psalms and Isaiah Origins of the Zion traditions Zion in Psalms: The pilgrim psalms Psalms of the Korahite guild Psalms of the Asaphite guild Zion in Isaiah Titulature of the God of Zion Chapter 8: The two ways in Psalms and Isaiah The two ways The righteous (saddîqîm) Psalm 1 Terms for self-segregating conventicles The devout (ha ̄sîdîm) saddîq and ha ̄sîd in Isaiah Chapter 9: The Servants of the Lord in Psalms and Isaiah Servants of the Lord and related titles in Psalms Servants of the Lord and related titles in Isaiah Servants of the Lord in Trito-Isaiah (Isaiah 56–66) The Servants as a distinct minority Postscript Chapter 10: The repudiation of sacrifice in Isaiah and Psalms Introductory observations Sacrifice in Isaiah Sacrifice in Psalms Bad feelings between priests and Levites Chapter 11: The beauty of holiness The temple as the place of encounter with God Seeing and not seeing God in the temple Once again, Isaiah’s vision in the temple (Isa 6.1–13) A final summation Subject Index Author Index Re-reading Isaiah In The Light Of Psalms -- The Psalms And Their Authors -- Psalmody And Prophecy -- Psalmody In Isaiah 1-39 -- Prophecy And Psalmody In Isaiah 40-55 -- Prophecy And Psalmody In Isaiah 56-66 -- Zion As Reality And Symbol In Psalms And Isaiah -- The Two Ways In Psalms And Isaiah -- The Servants Of The Lord In Psalms And Isaiah -- The Repudiation Of Sacrifice In Isaiah And Psalms -- The Beauty Of Holiness. Joseph Blenkinsopp. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.