Israel's messianic hope, though implicit in the teachings of some of the earlier prophets, finds its first clear expression in the prophecies of Isaiah. The term Messiah means "anointed one," or one who has been chosen by Yahweh for the accomplishment of a specific purpose.
Hebrew kings and priests, as well as prophets, were usually anointed in a special ceremony that symbolized their dedication to the work for which they were called. When Saul was chosen as the first king of Israel, he was anointed by Samuel, and this ceremony symbolized people's hope that the nation, under Saul's leadership, would realize its chosen destiny. But Saul did not measure up to these expectations, and the same was true of all the kings that followed in the line of succession of King David. The man who succeeded King Uzziah was notoriously weak and incompetent, and it was during his reign that Isaiah centered his attention on the coming of a Messiah who would possess the good qualities that were so lacking in the kings. In one prophecy, the Messiah is portrayed as an ideal king; in another one, he is characterized as an ideal judge who will understand the problems of the poor and the oppressed. He will ensure that their rights are protected and that they are given their just dues. During the centuries that followed the career of Isaiah, the concept of a coming Messiah took on a number of different meanings and became one of the most important ideas of Judaism.
One of the best-known passages in the Book of Isaiah is recorded in Chapter 2 and deals with the subject of the coming of a warless world. Looking into the distant future, the writer envisions a time when the nations will "beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up swords against nation, nor will they train for war anymore." This prophecy, like the one recorded in Chapter 11, in which "The wolf will live with the lamb" and "They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain," seems to be an admirable supplement to the idea of a coming Messiah, who will be know as "Prince of Peace." Although these passages have often been attributed to Isaiah, the evidence indicates very strongly that these prophecies come from a later period. The same is true of several of the oracles concerning foreign nations, especially the ones having to do with the destruction of Babylon and the future regeneration of the Assyrian nation. That these oracles were finally included in the collection of Isaiah's own work indicates the high esteem with which they were regarded.
