Jerusalem: A Counter-Imperial Theme in Third Isaiah

What is it about?

The discourse of third Isaiah celebrates Jerusalem and imagines Jerusalem in a glorified symbolism. The paper argues that Jerusalem receives its utmost attention and is articulated in a glorious symbolism because it is the fulcrum of a counter-imperial imagination, an imagination that disrupts the Persian imperial discourse.

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Photo by Chris Galbraith on Unsplash

Photo by Chris Galbraith on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The theme of Jerusalem has been seen as a dominant discourse in the biblical narratives, especially in the post exilic times. This paper, however, argues that Jerusalem is an ambivalent space for the colonized people of Yehud, and hence, it has been employed by the Third Isaiah as a counter imperial trope representing the self of the marginalized subjects of the Persian empire.

Perspectives

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I hope that this article will further the debate of the narrative of Jerusalem in the biblical discourse. It will help the readers to understand the subversive nature of prophetic imagination. I wish that this article would energize and motivate the readers to be truly prophetic in our communities by imagining alternative dreams and aspirations that align with the marginalized.

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