The Holy One of Israel

Growing out of the work that the author did in preparing two major commentaries on Isaiah, these essays range from comprehensive to specific, and from popular to scholarly. They first appeared in biblical dictionaries, scholarly journals, and popular periodicals. Gathered here for the first time, they display in various ways how the author sees the various parts of Isaiah functioning together to give a coherent message to the church. The opening chapters lay out Oswalt's understanding of the overall message of the book of Isaiah. Subsequent chapters consider such themes as holiness and righteousness as they function in that larger structure. The concluding chapters look at selected sections of Isaiah in more detail, noting how those specific messages contribute to the overall whole.

"The book of Isaiah is a long and winding road with many twists, turns, and about-faces. What does it all mean? John Oswalt is uniquely qualified to tell us. The Holy One of Israel compiles his reflections from a lifetime of research, and as such, helps readers understand Isaiah's beauty, majesty, and profound theology."
--Reed Lessing, Professor of Exegetical Theology, Concordia Seminary, Missouri

"This work contains an amazing collection of essays by an eminent scholar who has spent over thirty years of his life devoted to the book of Isaiah. It summarizes several decades of studies on the book of Isaiah, collects articles on a wide range of topics, and puts them into a handy reference tool. This work should become a standard resource for those doing serious research in the book of Isaiah."
--Paul D. Wegner, Professor of Old Testament, Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, California

"Finally in one place, the learned reflections of a sage who consistently focused his exegetical gaze over the past four decades on one of the masterpieces of biblical literature. This collection opens up the riches of the book of Isaiah, providing historical, literary, and theological insights that cannot help but prompt further research and proclamation."
--Mark J. Boda, Professor of Old Testament, McMaster Divinity College, Canada

"For several decades, the work of Oswalt on Isaiah has commanded the respect of evangelical and mainstream scholars alike. This volume augments Oswalt's classic commentary with collected essays that offer mature reflection on some of the most crucial themes confronting any student of Isaiah. The reader will discover the careful balance of critical thought and spiritual sensitivity so characteristic of Oswalt's work. I'm grateful to Wipf and Stock for making these essays so readily accessible."
--John W. Hilber, Professor of Old Testament, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, Michigan


John N. Oswalt is Visiting Distinguished Professor of Old Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary. He is the author of nine books, including The Book of Isaiah, Chapters 1-39 (1986) and The Book of Isaiah, Chapters 40-66 (1998) in the New International Commentary on th...