Voices in Isaiah 1-4

Hi Daniel, I am totally with you on the multiplicity of voices in texts like Isaiah, and others also. These voices are not readily distinguished nor identified in the Hebrew text. In your post, I only see a list of named voices and Ch/V references, is that right? I’d want to know more! a. The Prophet is the mediating voice for these, is that correct? I take it that the Herald is the Prophet? He also speaks the Word of Yhwh/LORD? He attributes to heavens and earth their voice? He attributes the Jerusalem-People’s voice? In 2.2-4 he reports a popular song? Am I following your intention correctly here? b. Then, for each mediated voice, I am asking myself: What indications of the voice are there in the text? Rather, I am asking you to set out your criteria for each voice each time. Ronnie

Hi Ronnie Glad others are thinking along the same lines. The list of voices is something I made for our translation teams who are deciding what kind of Isaiah translation to make. Some clearly hear multiple voices and want readers to get that in translation, while others feel a pull from their traditional readings that only allow for one voice (Isaiah's) and occasionally a second (Yahweh's, but only when clearly noted in Hebrew). I think that if we only account for these two voices, then passages like Isaiah 9 have to be Isaiah's voice, and that makes Isaiah 9 a failed prophecy (which I don't believe it is, I think our traditions of reading are flawed). Because of this reason for making the list, I've tried not to step on more traditional toes than need be. I want to show my teams how I read the prophet, not dictate how they should make their Bible. But since you're a