Quiz on the Book of Isaiah

When this issue of Dor le-Dor reaches you, will be into the book of Isaiah in your Bible reading cycle. The following quiz concentrates entirely on the early chapters in the Book of Isaiah (Chap. 1-12). This has the effect of making the quiz much simpler and we hope more meaningful, since it concentrates on fewer phases of the career and literature of Isaiah.

1. Isaiah speaks of God bringing “over Mt. Zion” visions similar to those seen during the Exodus from Egypt. What are these sights?
2. The prophet refers to more than a dozen foreign lands and peoples in his writings. How many in this part of the book (1-12) can you name?
3. Where do we learn that Isaiah had a very low opinion of some of the “daughters of Zion”?
4. Why does Isaiah use the parable of “The Vineyard of my Friend” (Chap. 5)?
5. Which colors does Isaiah use to represent sinfulness and innocence?
6. What are the main characteristics of the utopian Era as Isaiah conceived it?
7. Which popular modern Israeli dance derives from a verse in Isaiah?
8. Which phrase from the Book of Isaiah occupies a very prominent place in Jewish liturgy?
9. How does Isaiah use his son as a sign of Judea’s impending disaster?
10. Where do we read of an alliance between Syria (Aram) and Israel against Jerusalem? How does Isaiah describe these allies?
11. Who will give Judea a “shave” according to Isaiah’s predicition?
12. Invaders have usually attacked Jerusalem from the north. Where in the Book of Isaiah is this northern approach actually outlined step by step?
13. In his description of the ideal king in 9:5, a child rules. Where does Isaiah speak of child rulership in derogatory terms?
14. What name will be given to a child as a sign to King Ahaz that Judea’s attacker will be defeated?
15. Who is referred to as a boastful ax and saw?
16. Despite his dire predictions for the future Isaiah always offered hope that a remnant will survive. What sign did he present for this thought?
17. The U.N. has recently attempted to besmirch and distort the meaning of “Zionism.” Can you recall some phrases from Isaiah using the term “Zion”?

Answers

Printed on page 180 of the issue.

1. The cloud of smoke by day and the flaming fire by night (4:5).

2. Lebanon (2:13); Tarshish (2:16); Aram (Chap. 7, etc.); Assyria (many times, especially in Chaps. 7 and 8); Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar and Hamath are all mentioned in 11:11; Phillistines, Edom, Moab and Amon in 11:14.

3. 3:12 and 16ff.

4. Probably as an attention-getting device and to drive his message home more graphically.

5. Red is equivalent to sin, probably relating it to blood. White stands for innocence (1:18; see also v. 15).

6. In Chap. 2 Isaiah describes the Temple Mount in Jerusalem as the focal point of all nations who will express the desire to learn God’s ways and walk in them. “The Torah shall go forth from Zion” and weapons shall be converted to tools of peace. Some of the words from this section are inscribed on the wall across from the United Nations complex in New York City.

   In Chap. 11 the prophet speaks of a descendant of David imbued with divine spirit and wisdom. He will be just and righteous. Beasts of prey will become peaceful. “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord . . .”

7. The Mayim Dance is based on 12:3. “With joy shall you draw waters from the wells of salvation.”

8. The key sentence in the Kedushah: Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh . . . (6:3).

9. He names him Maher-shalal-hash-baz (8:3).

10. In 7:1-4. The prophet calls them “two smoldering stumps of firewood.”

11. God will use the Assyrian king as a razor to “shave . . . the head and the hair of the feet and . . . the beard” (7:20).

12. Chap. 10:28-32 describes the swift advance of the Assyrian army through northern towns and villages towards Jerusalem.

13. In 3:4 he declares: “I will make children their princes and babes shall rule over them.”

14. Immanuel, meaning “God is with us” (7:14).

15. The Assyrian invader in 10:15.

16. Another son is named Shear Yashuv (7:3). See also the promises in 10:19-22 and 11:11-12.

17. 1:27 — “Zion shall be redeemed with justice.”
    2:3 — “Out of Zion shall go forth the Torah.”
    10:24 — “My people that dwells in Zion, be not afraid of Asshur.”