Her service is at an end

[CyrilSebastian]

In The Book of Isaiah, Chapter 40 Verse 1-2 state:
Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God,
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service is at an end,

Does service refer to servitude and exile?

 

[jcrichton]

In The Book of Isaiah, Chapter 40 Verse 1-2 state:
Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God,
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her
that her service is at an end,

Does service refer to servitude and exile?

Hi!

…I think it goes to the Coming of the Messiah (see verses 3 thru 11); but it could well be applied to the direct power changes during and after the prophet’s lifetime:

The remaining years of Hezekiah’s reign were peaceful (2 Chr 32:23–29). Isaiah probably lived to its close, and possibly into the reign of Manasseh, but the time and manner of his death are not specified in either the Bible or other primary sources. The Talmud [Yevamot 49b] says that he suffered martyrdom by being sawn in two under the orders of Manasseh.[12] According to rabbinic Literature, Isaiah was the maternal grandfather of Manasseh.[13]

The Book of Isaiah is quoted many times by New Testament writers.[19] Ten of those references are about the Suffering Servant, how he will suffer and die to save many from their sins, be buried in a rich man’s tomb, be a light to the Gentiles. The Gospel of John even says that Isaiah “saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.”[20] (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaiah)

Merry Christmas!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[Gorgias]

Does service refer to servitude and exile?

So, basically, you’re asking whether the footnote in the NAB can be believed?

The Book of Isaiah is generally recognized as having two or three distinct parts. The first part (ch 1-39) was written prior to the Babylonian exile, and remainder was written near the end of the exile, as well as after the return to the Promised Land.

So, this passage – at the very beginning of deutero-Isaiah – is a call to the nation that their exile is at its end. At the time of the appearance of the text, it would have been understood as an announcement that the pain of the exile is complete.

So, yes – it refers to “servitude and exile”.

What’s awesome about prophecy, though, is that it’s multi-valent – there are meanings upon meanings upon meanings in its folds. And so, yes – it’s also applicable to Jesus: it speaks to the end of the era in which Israel had awaited its messiah.