S.W. Flynn, «Where Is YHWH in Isaiah 57,14-15?», Vol. 87 (2006) 358-370
This study suggests a reading of Isaiah 57, 14-15 in the Hebrew Bible which goes
against the theological Tendenz of some Versions and the interpretation of some
contemporary scholars. It explores how both the Versions and contemporary
scholarship have interpreted the passage, draws a parallel between the two
interpretations, and suggests that their either/or distinction of what the passage
means may not reflect the complex nature of sacred space and Divine Presence in
the BH. This study suggests that the text holds two meanings that are
complementary. Yet these meanings are placed in a respective foreground and
background which reveals their levels of emphasis intended by the
author/redactor of Trito-Isaiah.
366 S.W. Flynn
destination that is evident in the reference to the gates µyr[vb wrb[ wrb[
“pass through, pass through the gatesâ€. Such a reference makes the
scene more literal in the mind of the reader and clearly implies an
earthly temple. This echoes the temple processions in the Psalms. Ps
24,7 goes so far as to anthropomorphize the gates of the Temple with
the imperative: “Lift your head O gates and lift up O ancient
doorways†(16).
In Isaiah 56,7 the marginalized are invited into the earthly temple,
“my holy mountainâ€, as an alternative to idol worship discussed in Isa
57. This and other texts with Ëšrd that imply an earthly Temple may
increase the likelihood that the “road/way†could have implied the
earthly temple also in Isa 57, 14. As Isa 57,14 sets up the requirements
of the community, Isa 57,15 describes the scene imagined by the
author/redactor. An analysis of key terms from Isa 57,15 and their use
elsewhere, shows that from Trito-Isaiah’s perspective, one cannot
merely assume YHWH dwells only in heaven.
The term µr which appears as a qal participle form in Isaiah 57,15
is used in Ps 99,2 to describe YHWH exalted above all the peoples and
echoes a similar scene to Isa 57,15. But the place is given a particular
location: “YHWH is great in Zion and he is exalted µrw over all the
peopleâ€. We realize that µr (also here represented as a qal masculine
singular participle) cannot just denote YHWH exalted in heaven but
can also mean YHWH exalted on Mount Zion. This is likely since the
Psalm ends by commanding the worshipper to “bow down before His
holy mountain†(Ps 99,9). Likewise, Ps 138,6 expresses YHWH
exalted (µr), implying the holy temple since the worshipper bows low
towards the lkyh (138,2) (17).
acn appears in Isa 57,15 as a nifal participle. This form appears
again in Isa 57,7 regarding a place where sacrifice is offered albeit at
a pagan shrine. Isa 2,2 refers to the house of YHWH lifted up on the
highest hill to which nations come, implying the earthly temple, and
Isa 6,1 uses it in the unforgettable image of YHWH’s train filling the
temple. There could be a debate whether this is the earthly or the
(16) See also Ps 5,8 about which Broyles says that statements like “make
straight your way before me are not general petitions for guidance but are requests
for direct admittance into Yahweh’s holy court†(C. BROYLES, Psalms [NIBC 11;
Massachusetts 1999] 59).
(17) This Psalm could expresses a more developed theology of simultaneous
existence (see footnote 18) in both the heavenly or earthly temple, but such a
development does not negate the function of the earthly temple.