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This page is not a lesson as such, but will assist you with your studies of Isaiah, by providing you with some useful background to the book.

Isaiah’s ministry

The book of Isaiah belongs to the latter days of the divided kingdom. Isaiah was a preacher and prophet to the smaller kingdom of Judah. Its capital city was Jerusalem (Zion). Isaiah helped to prevent Judah’s captivity and exile by Assyria when the Assyrian king Sennacherib invaded the land during Hezekiah’s reign (2Kg 17-20, 2Ch 26-32, Isa 36-39). However Isaiah’s ministry began 47 years earlier in the last year of king Uzziah, Hezekiah's great grandfather (Isa 6:1,8). Isaiah’s work spanned the reigns of four kings in Judah (Isa 1:1).

Kings of Judah in Isaiah’s Time

Isaiah prophesied in the days of the last four kings of Judah, the capital of which was Jerusalem, also called Zion. All were good kings except Ahaz. Note the mentions of Isaiah in 2Kgs 18-20 and 2Ch 26:22, 32:20-32.

Uzziah

• A good king in Jerusalem.
• Also called Azariah.
• Became king at 16 years of age.
• His father Amaziah was murdered at Lachish southwest of Jerusalem.
• Uzziah sought God in the days of Zechariah.
• Rebuilt Elath (Ezion-geber) south of Judah (1Kg 9:26).
• Conquered the Phillistines and their towns along Judah’s western border.
• Conquered the Meuenites (Simeon’s territory 2Ch 4:39-43).
• See 2Ch 26:1, 2Kg 14:21.

Jotham

• Son of Uzziah (above).
• A good king in Jerusalem.
• He "ordered his ways before the Lord".
• Became king at 25 years of age.
• Conquered the Ammonites.
• Encountered opposition from Syria and Israel.
• See 2Ch 26:23, 27:1-9, 2Kg 15:32-38.

Ahaz

• Son of Jotham (above).
• A bad king in Jerusalem.
• He worshipped idols.
• Became king at 20 years of age.
• Isaiah counselled him (Isa 7).
• In his reign Judah was attacked from all sides.
• See 2Ch 27:9, 28:1-27, 2Kg 16:1-20.

Hezekiah

• Son of Ahaz (above).
• One of the best kings in Jerusalem.
• He destroyed the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because it had become an idol.
• Became king at 25 years of age.
• Israel fell to Assyria in his reign, but Hezekiah’s prayers saved Judah, and Isaiah encouraged him.
• Hezekiah was dying, but God answered his prayers, granting him fifteen more years of life.
• See 2Ch 29-32, 2Kg 18-20.

Hoshea

• King of Israel in 12th year of Ahaz’s reign in Judah.
• A bad king and the last to reign over Israel.
• A vassal of, and paying annual tribute to, Shalmaneser king of Assyria.
• Conspired with Egypt’s king against Assyria.
• Was discovered and imprisoned by Shalmaneser.
• Samaria his capital was overthrown.
• Israel taken into exile.
• See 2Kg 17.

Kings of Israel and Judah (chart in separate window)

The Divided Kingdom

Israel’s first king was Saul from the tribe of Benjamin. The second king was David the son of Jesse from the tribe of Judah. The territories of Benjamin and Judah met at Jerusalem, and David’s throne was there. David was followed by his son Solomon. David and Solomon ruled not only the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, but also the other tribal territories of Israel, although the loyalty of these was somewhat forced. When Solomon’s son Rehoboam took the throne, the ten territories rejected him and made Solomon’s servant Jeroboam their king instead. He reigned in the city of Samaria.

Thus the kingdom was divided. There were now two kingdoms called Israel and Judah. Israel was the name retained by the ten territories, whilst Judah was the name adopted by the territories (Judah and Benjamin) remaining faithful to the throne in Jerusalem. That is not to say that the ten tribes were disloyal to the last man. Some defections to Judah from other tribes are recorded, for example, in 2Chronicles 15:9.

After a long succession of kings in both kingdoms, the time of Isaiah came. His time was critical because Assyria attacked Israel and eventually carried off its people into exile. Judah however was spared because its king Hezekiah listened to Isaiah’s word. However Isaiah foretold that Judah would also be taken captive by the Babylonians (Chaldeans), then when Persia came to power and conquered Babylon, a king named Cyrus would help a remnant to return and rebuild Jerusalem. All this came to pass.

Nations and Peoples of Isaiah's Time

Printing

A two-page print version of part one of this lesson (Isaiah's ministry and the kings of Judah) is available as a Word document.

A two-page print version of part two this lesson (about the Divided Kingdom) is available as a Word document. This also provides a list of all passages in Isaiah quoted in the New Testament.

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