How many years does the Book of Isaiah cover?

Answer 1

Isaiah the prophet lived in Jerusalem which was the chief area of his ministry. He wrote the Book of Isaiah over a period of time during this ministry. This time period is recorded as being during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. That is between c. 740 BC until c.700 BC.

The word of the Lord came to Hosea during the time of Isaiah and also to Amos; also to Micah.

Answer 2

Isaiah, son of Amoz, also known as First Isaiah, signed that he was writing of the events he saw during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. Naturally he did not need to have been a prophet during the entire reigns of Uzziah or Hezekiah. On his statement, he was a prophet for more than thirty two years.

There was also an author, now known as Second Isaiah, who wrote more than a hundred years later during the Babylonian Exile and whose works were subsequently added to those of First Isaiah. The length of his writing career is uncertain.

Third Isaiah is a further, anonymous author who wrote shortly after the Return from Exile.

Jewish answer:

According to Jewish tradition there was only one Prophet Isaiah; and he was a prophet for eighty-six years.

Answer 3

Scholars say that the Book of Isaiah was written by three authors, now known as First Isaiah (Isaiah, son of Amoz), Second Isaiah and Third Isaiah. .

First Isaiah, whom we know as the Isaiah who signed his work in verse 1:1, wrote during the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah of Judah. Both Uzziah and Hezekiah had long reigns, so Isaiah could have observed events for a period of up to 94 years, but something over 60 years is likely.

There was then a break of over a hundred years before an anonymous author, now known as Second Isaiah decided to add new material to the by-then ancient book, during the Babylonian Exile. Another author continued to write during the early years after the Return from Exile. Overall, Second Isaiah and Third Isaiah wrote for some decades.

The Book of Isaiah, with its multiple authors, covers events spanning around a hundred years, in addition to the extended gap between First Isaiah and Second Isaiah.

Answer 4

Isaiah prophesied in the reigns of the following kings.

Uzziah reigned 52 years.

Jotham reigned 16 years.

Ahaz reigned 16 years.

Hezekiah reigned 29 years. Total: 113 years. However, Isaiah began prophesying in the middle of Uzziah's reign (Rashi commentary), giving a total of around 80-85 years in which he prophesied.

How many prophets wrote Isaiah?

Only one. Non-traditional theories claiming more than one author of the Book of Isaiah are unproven. The Septuagint and the Dead Sea scrolls (and all other ancient sources) include the complete text of Isaiah, refuting the "Deutero Isaiah" theory.See:

One Isaiah (a Christian post)

Refuting the Documentary Hypothesis

The authorship of the Hebrew Bible

Archaeology

Answer 5

Scholars say that the Book of Isaiah was written by three authors, now known as First Isaiah, Second Isaiah and Third Isaiah.

First Isaiah, whom we know as the Isaiah who signed his work in verse 1:1, wrote during the reigns of Kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah of Judah. Both Uzziah and Hezekiah had long reigns, so Isaiah could have observed events for a period of up to 94 years, but something over 60 years is likely.

There was then a break of over a hundred years before an anonymous author, now known as Second Isaiah decided to add new material to the by-then ancient book, during the Babylonian Exile. Third Isaiah wrote during the early years after the Return from Exile.

The Book of Isaiah, with its multiple authors, covers events spanning around a hundred years, in addition to the extended gap between First Isaiah and Second Isaiah.

Answer 6

Isaiah, of which there was only one in The Bible, prophecied from 740BC until 700BC. This is able to be known from the dates of the kings reigns mentioned.