"The Book of the Prophet Isaiah," as it is termed in the Bible, is of the deepest interest and significance. Most scholars now contend that it deals with a wide segment of the history' and spiritual progress of the Hebrew people over some three eventful centuries. Because of this it is thought to represent the work of at least three outstanding authors.
There is little question as to the identity, date, and background of the original writer, whose name was eventually attached to the complete book, "Isaiah the son of Amoz" (Isa. 1:1). He was born and raised in the kingdom of Judah, carrying out the greater part of his literary and prophetic activity in the vicinity of Jerusalem. Hence the description of him as Isaiah of Jerusalem, or First Isaiah, the author of most of Chapters 1–39.
Isaiah son of Amoz was a contemporary of Amos, Hosea, and Micah. All four lived in Palestine during the eighth century B.C., approximately two centuries prior to the exile of the Jewish people from Palestine into Babylonia. This was a period of trial and testing Isaiah foresaw and foretold, although neither he nor his brother prophets personally experienced it.
