Isaiah, prophet

Biography

He is a wonderful poet: the elegance of his style, the vividness of his images and the literary beauty of his prophecies make him a “classic” of Israeli literature. He was born in Jerusalem in the year 765 BC and it seems that he was from an aristocratic class family with superior culture. His vocation was expressed when in a vision he heard the voice of the Lord telling him: "Whom will I send? Who will go on my behalf to bring you my messages? And Isaiah answered: "Here I am, Lord. Send me." And Isaiah began to bring God's messages to the Israelites, asking them to depart from their life of sin. But what the Lord had warned was fulfilled: "Having ears, they will not want to listen." Isaiah insisted on his warnings and recommendations, telling them that if they did not convert they would be taken prisoners into exile. They did not listen to him and the nation of Israel was taken prisoner to a strange country. One of the most famous prophecies that that great seer made was that of Emmanuel. He said this: “Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a child who will be called “God with us.” An ancient Jewish tradition says that Isaiah was martyred and killed by the impious king Manasseh.