This course examines the book of Isaiah in its socio-political contexts, with particular attention to the Assyrian and Persian empires. It evaluates �empire� as a category for studying the ancient Near East, traces Israelite prophecy�s responses to shifting political circumstances, and considers ways in which prophecy and empire persist in our contemporary context. The book of Isaiah will be analyzed both in its constituent parts (First, Second, and Third Isaiah) and as a canonical whole.