Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Yair Davidi <britam AT netvision.net.il>]

> From: gds AT dor.kaiser.org
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> Date: Fri, 02 Feb 2001 10:45:01 -0800
> To: Biblical Hebrew <b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
> Subject: Re[2]: Isaiah 45
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> Folks:
>  
> The discussion of Isaiah 45 and the mention of Cyrus as 'messiah' ran a
> few
> bells in my head.  I find it ironic that one of the greatest
> monotheists in
> the Hebrew Bible, often hailed as the highpoint of First Testament
> theology by
> many, would invoke such a 'free' hermeneutic that would allow him to
> interpret a
> Marduk worshipper as the heir to the Davidic line/office.  There
> seems to be an
> ironic dimension here.  I am interested in looking at some of the
> hermeneutics
> involved in this ironic form of monotheism, but have noted that finding
> articles
> and essays that bear directly on it are hard to find using the usual
> scholarly
> search engines (OT Abstracts, etc).  I am assuming the issues have
> been
> addressed, but in articles or essays or books that may not come up with
> those
> key word searches.  Anyone that has any favorite articles addressing
> Isaiah 45
> and Cyrus and would like to contribute that to my current search would
> be
> appreciated.  
>
> - Gary D. Salyer
At 10:45 02/02/01 -0800, you wrote:

> Folks:
>  
> The discussion of Isaiah 45 and the mention of Cyrus as 'messiah' ran a
> few
> bells in my head.  I find it ironic that one of the greatest
> monotheists in
> the Hebrew Bible, often hailed as the highpoint of First Testament
> theology by
> many, would invoke such a 'free' hermeneutic that would allow him to
> interpret a
> Marduk worshipper as the heir to the Davidic line/office.  There
> seems to be an
> ironic dimension here.  I am interested in looking at some of the
> hermeneutics
> involved in this ironic form of monotheism, but have noted that finding
> articles
> and essays that bear directly on it are hard to find using the usual
> scholarly
> search engines (OT Abstracts, etc).  I am assuming the issues have
> been
> addressed, but in articles or essays or books that may not come up with
> those
> key word searches.  Anyone that has any favorite articles addressing
> Isaiah 45
> and Cyrus and would like to contribute that to my current search would
> be
> appreciated.  
>
> - Gary D. Salyer

talking about Israel.
 (ISAIAH 44;26) THAT CONFIRMS THE WORD OF HIS SERVANT, AND
PERFORMS THE COUNSEL OF HIS MESSENGERS; THAT SAYS TO JERUSALEM, YOU SHALL
BE INHABITED; AND TO THE CITIES OF JUDAH, YOU SHALL BE BUILT, AND I WILL
RAISE UP THE DECAYED PLACES THEREOF;

Here it is prophesied that Jerusalem
will be rebuilt as indeed it was after the edict of Cyrus. The verse may
nevertheless be understood as referring to the rebuilding of Jerusalem in
general and in the future. 

(ISA 44;27) THAT SAYS TO THE DEEP, BE DRY, AND I WILL DRY UP YOUR
RIVERS;

(ISA 44;28) THAT SAYS OF CYRUS, HE IS MY SHEPHERD, AND SHALL PERFORM ALL
MY PLEASURE; EVEN SAYING TO JERUSALEM, YOU SHALL BE BUILT; AND TO THE
TEMPLE, YOUR FOUNDATION SHALL BE LAID.

Here Cyrus is mentioned in connection with the rebuilding of the
Temple.

(ISA 45;1) THUS SAYS THE LORD TO HIS ANOINTED, TO CYRUS, WHOSE RIGHT HAND
I HAVE HELD, TO SUBDUE NATIONS BEFORE HIM; AND I WILL LOOSE THE LOINS OF
KINGS, TO OPEN BEFORE HIM THE DOUBLED GATES; AND THE GATES SHALL NOT BE
SHUT;

Isaiah 45;1 above speaks of Cyrus. From 45;1 onwards to 45;13 the verses
may be understood as speaking of Cyrus or as being addressed to him. Even
in this case it is not entirely clear as to what extent the historical
Cyrus is intended as compared with the figure or entity that Cyrus
represents in the Prophetic vision. To a degree it may even be said that
Cyrus himself represents the Lost Ten Tribes in their state of exile
prior to their final redemption.. 

 (ISA 45;2) I WILL GO BEFORE YOU, AND MAKE THE CROOKED PLACES
STRAIGHT; I WILL BREAK IN PIECES THE GATES OF BRASS, AND CUT IN SUNDER
THE BARS OF IRON;

(ISA 45;3) AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE TREASURES OF DARKNESS, AND HIDDEN
RICHES OF SECRET PLACES, THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT I, THE LORD, WHICH CALL
YOU BY YOUR NAME, AM THE GOD OF ISRAEL.

(ISA 45;4) FOR JACOB MY SERVANT'S SAKE, AND ISRAEL MINE ELECT, I HAVE
EVEN CALLED YOU BY YOUR NAME; I HAVE SURNAMED YOU, THOUGH YOU HAVE NOT
KNOWN ME.

He is the God of Israel and he is empowering Cyrus or what Cyrus
represents for “Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect.” 

(ISA 45;5) I AM THE LORD, AND THERE IS NONE ELSE, THERE IS NO GOD BESIDE
ME; I GIRDED YOU, THOUGH YOU HAVE NOT KNOWN ME;

(ISA 45;6) THAT THEY MAY KNOW FROM THE RISING OF THE SUN, AND FROM THE
WEST, THAT THERE IS NONE BESIDE ME. I AM THE LORD, AND THERE IS NONE
ELSE.

(ISA 45;7) I FORM THE LIGHT, AND CREATE DARKNESS; I MAKE PEACE, AND
CREATE EVIL; I THE LORD DO ALL THESE THINGS.

 (ISA 45;11) THUS SAYS THE LORD, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, AND HIS
MAKER, ASK ME OF THINGS TO COME CONCERNING MY SONS, AND CONCERNING THE
WORK OF MY HANDS COMMAND YOU ME.

He says to ask him concerning “his sons.” These are the Israelites and
Judah.

 (ISAIAH 45;13) I HAVE RAISED HIM UP IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND I WILL
DIRECT ALL HIS WAYS; HE SHALL BUILD MY CITY, AND HE SHALL LET GO MY
CAPTIVES, NOT FOR PRICE NOR REWARD, SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS.

Cyrus did give directions to rebuild Jerusalem and a start to building
was made in his time. Also a small number of the captives did return to
Jerusalem in the time of Cyrus This was a beginning though most of those
who returned to Jerusalem came later. Prophecy was primarily intended for
the Latter Days. In view of this and of the nature of the Prophecy of
Isaiah the reference to Cyrus may still be regarded as only a forerunner,
a preceding shadow as it were of things to come. 

“THUS SAYS THE LORD, THE LABOR OF EGYPT, AND MERCHANDISE OF CUSH AND OF
THE SABEANS, MEN OF STATURE, SHALL COME OVER UNTO YOU, AND THEY SHALL BE
YOURS; THEY SHALL COME AFTER YOU; IN CHAINS THEY SHALL COME OVER, AND
THEY SHALL FALL DOWN UNTO YOU, THEY SHALL MAKE SUPPLICATION UNTO YOU,
SAYING, SURELY GOD IS IN YOU; AND THERE IS NONE ELSE, THERE IS NO OTHER
GOD” (ISAIAH 45;14).

The above verse is the most important one for the sake of our discussion.
Already according to the simple reading of the text it may be seen that
the Prophet is discussing the fate of Israel. He may be understood as
referring to the distant future, yet while taking the case of Cyrus as an
analogy of what will come much later. In verse 45;1 Cyrus was mentioned
and all of the verses after that leading up to here may be understood as
referring to Cyrus but not necessarily in an exclusive sense. From the
following verse (Isaiah 45;15) onwards Israel is explicitly referred to.
We will return to this point. Isaiah 45;14 that speaks of Egypt, Cush,
and the Sabaeans is between a section that talks at least partially about
Cyrus and another section that talks exclusively about Israel. 
The Prophet Isaiah had already predicted that a ruler named Cyrus would
be the one to free the exiles. Cyrus was recalled by NAME in Isaiah 44;
28, "To his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have
held..." and in the next verse, 45; 1: "That says of Cyrus, He
is my shepherd...”
Both traditional and modern commentators usually understand Isaiah
chapter 45 to be referring to Cyrus the King of Persia. Cyrus was the
King of Persia who conquered Babylon and enabled the Jews to return to
Judea and rebuild the Temple.
Isaiah prophesied about 100 years before Cyrus. Josephus relates that
CYRUS was shown his name written in the Prophecy of Isaiah and this is
what led him to allow the Jews to return. Not only did Cyrus conquer
Babylon and help the Jews return to their land, he also conquered Egypt
and ruled over Nubia south of Egypt. Nubia was known as Cush. Cyrus also
ruled over regions to the west of India and parts of Pakistan-India
itself. The following verse in Isaiah can therefore be applied perhaps to
Cyrus:

 "THUS SAYS THE LORD, THE LABOR OF EGYPT, AND MERCHANDISE OF
ETHIOPIA [in Hebrew: “CUSH”], AND OF THE SABAEANS, MEN OF STATURE,
SHALL COME OVER UNTO YOU, AND THEY SHALL BE YOURS: THEY SHALL COME AFTER
YOU; IN CHAINS THEY SHALL COME OVER, AND THEY SHALL FALL DOWN UNTO YOU,
THEY SHALL MAKE SUPPLICATION UNTO YOU, SAYING, SURELY GOD IS IN YOU; AND
THERE IS NO ELSE, THERE IS NO OTHER GOD" (Isaiah 45;14).

There is a principle that Prophecies that were written down, even when
they were fulfilled shortly afterwards, will have a larger application in
a later period especially towards the Latter Days. The Prophecies are
usually designed to accord to some degree with contemporary events or
with things that would occur shortly after. The main gist of the
Prophecies however was for the Latter Days. Even the Commentators who
apply all of the chapter to Cyrus have to admit that it does not exactly
fit in key details. It must have a wider application.

Even in the verses where the name CYRUS is expressly mentioned, the sages
understood the verse as applying to Cyrus only in a PARTIAL SENSE: For
example, 
"The Holy One, Blessed He, said to the Anointed-Messiah, I have a
complaint against Cyrus, I said he will build my House and gather in my
exiles but he went and said, Whoever amongst my people wants to go up can
do so [and build the House themselves]..." (Megilla 12; Rashi), i.e.
the _expression_ in the verse Isaiah 45;1: "...to his anointed, to
Cyrus," was understood as applying to two different people, to the
Anointed-Messiah and to Cyrus! Alternately the verse was formulated in
deliberately ambiguous language giving Cyrus the potential if he so
wanted to have done more than he actually did!

        

The
Commentary Daat Sofrim (Isaiah 45): <<For the address to Cyrus was
not "To Cyrus his Anointed-Messiah" but rather it was said,
"To his Anointed-Messiah, [and] to Cyrus," as if to two
different entities.>>
The whole of this Prophecy of Isaiah is arranged in an oracular style of
mainly short paragraphs with no necessary strong connection between them.
The _expression_ concerning "LABOR OF EGYPT, AND MERCHANDISE OF
ETHIOPIA [in Hebrew, CUSH], AND OF THE SABAEANS" is not necessarily
connected to the preceding verses concerning Cyrus. The following verses
return to speak only of Israel. The verse itself speaks of an ultimate
acknowledgement of the God of Israel by the captives. This could only
apply to Israel. Israel is discussed before Cyrus is spoken of, and
afterwards Israel is again mentioned. In Isaiah 43;3 it says "FOR I
AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, YOUR SAVIOR, I GAVE EGYPT
FOR YOUR ATONEMENT, ETHIOPIA [Hebrew: “CUSH”] AND SEBA UNDERNEATH
YOU." Here Egypt, Cush, Seba are linked with Israel and can be
understood in the Hebrew as being placed under Israel's
subjection!!!
A simple reading of Isaiah chapter 45 does not leave much room for Cyrus,

the emphasis is on Israel.

This is the verse we are primarily considering:

"THUS SAYS THE LORD, THE LABOR OF EGYPT, AND MERCHANDISE OF
CUSH, AND OF THE SABAEANS, MEN OF STATURE, SHALL COME OVER UNTO
YOU, AND THEY SHALL BE YOURS: THEY SHALL COME AFTER YOU; IN CHAINS THEY
SHALL COME OVER, AND THEY SHALL FALL DOWN UNTO YOU, THEY SHALL MAKE
SUPPLICATION UNTO YOU, SAYING, SURELY GOD IS IN YOU; AND THERE IS NO
ELSE, THERE IS NO OTHER GOD" (ISAIAH 45;14).
One may take this verse as perhaps applying to Cyrus though there is no
necessity to do so. Even if it is taken as applicable in part to CYRUS
the context and the similar verse in Isaiah 43;3 concerning Israel says,
"Egypt for your atonement, CUSH and Seba underneath you." This
shows that the primary application is to Israel. In all the rest of
chapter 45 following verse 14, Israel is addressed to and mentioned:
"Israel shall be saved" (45;17) "the seed of Jacob"
(45; 19), "all the seed of Israel" (45;24). 





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