One Isaiah 85 especially 41:26 ; 48:3, 6, 14, that the first appearance of Cyrus had been predicted by an ancient prophet, and observing cer- tain Isaianic elements in the phraseology of these chapters may have identified'the prophet with Isaiah” (“Introduction to the Book of Isaiah,” p. 238). Why .not regard “the editor’s” inference legitimate? Dr. George Adam Smith likewise allows that Cyrus is the fulfillment of former predictions. He says: “Nor is it possi- ble to argue as some have tried to do, that the prophet is predicting these things as if they had already happened. For as part of an argument for the unique divinity of the God of Israel, Cyrus, alive and irresistible, and already accredited with success, is pointed out as the unmistakable proof that former prophecies of a deliverance for Israel are already coming to pass. Cyrus, in short, is not presented as a predic- tion but as a proof that a prediction is being fulfilled” (Hast- ings’ Dictionary of the Bible, art. “Isaiah”, p. 493). Further, he says: “The chief claim, therefore, which chapters 40 ff. make for the God of Jehovah is His power to direct the his- tory of the world in conformity to a long predicted and faith- fully followed purpose. This claim starts from the proof that Jehovah has long before predicted events now happening or about to happen, with Cyrus as their center” (Idem, p. 496).* Hence in any case it must be allowed that Cyrus is the sub- ject of prediction. It really makes little difference at which end of history one stands, whether in the eighth century B. C. or in the sixth, Cyrus, to the author of chapters 40 - 48 , is the subject of prediction. Whether, indeed, he is really predicting Cyrus in advance of all fulfillment, or whether Cyrus to him is the fulfillment of some ancient prediction does not alter the fact that Cyrus was the subject of prediction on thé part of somebody. As was stated above, the whole question is, which does the prophet emphasize, (1) the fact that he is predict- *The italics are ours.
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