Stories of the Prophets (Before the Exile)

on in th

had come over young Isaiah, since the physicians

sonal friend of the king. Isaiah, too, was a prime favorite of Uzziah's, not by virtue of his f

ry distinguished honor for so young a man. But no one thought, for an instant, that this change in manner and b

a matter of little consequence to most of the royalty in Jerusalem. They lived the joyous life, paid little attention to the Temple and its priests, and often laughed at the whole religious ri

nsive. His cleverness and wit had made him famed far and wide. His occasional poems, written for sport and festivals, showed a genuine talent, almost a genius, for the p

ble change took place in Isaiah. He seemed to have quarreled with Prince Jotham, who had been reigning a

ices had been offered and the priests had gone home. His jolly friends would make sport of him; but his more sober-minded companions became quite alarmed when, instead of displaying his usual good humo

g to life. Jerusalem had doffed its gala attire and the whole of Judah was prepared to go into mourning for its king. For a month or more the

n Jerusalem and all through Judah was, therefore, genuine and sincere, when the king died. The pomp and ceremony that characterized t

ace. He walked beside Jotham, his bosom friend; but did not accompany the new king on the return to the palace. In the slight confus

proper. Two priests, who had just come out of the chamber where the implements for sacrificing were kept, bowed low to him and passed out into the Inner Court. Isaiah wa

. Before him, in the Hekal, was the Altar of Incense, on which coals from the recent sacrifices were still alive. To the right of the Altar was the Menorah, the s

it became thicker and thicker, and filled the whole Temple. His eyes gazed from the Altar to the glittering gold curtains behind it. The reflection from the coals, and the p

human eyes, except those of the High Priest, once a year

ubim of wood and gold, that surmounted the Ark, he beheld Seraphim, the fiery Angels, standing attendant before Him. Each of the Seraph

holy, is the

rth is full

d shake under him, at the sound of the calling.

e i

und

man of un

g among a people

e seen the King,

ne of the Seraphim flew to the Altar and, with a pair of tongs, took from it a live coal. From

has touch

thine iniq

sin fo

the voice of God

shall

will go

stretching out his hands towar

re

d m

lips apart, his face expressing the fear and angui

ay to thi

again, but u

again, but p

e heart of

dull, and bes

their eyes and he

ould understand an

it the sound of doom and the end of his nation. The very thought of it terrified him. Holding his head with both hands his

! How

answer

are in ruin with

s without a h

become utte

h sent the

the land the deserte

there be a

turn be fue

erebinth a

falling, but a

speaking, Isaiah remained in the position

e Priests' Hall and the Inner Court were deserted. Before him a thin line of blue and purple smoke

ool palm rest against his burning forehead. Then he slowly found