Chapter 12 provides a clear example of a poorly divided chapter, as it is undoubtedly a continuation of Chapter 11. Chapter 11 described the salvation and the miraculous reality of the end of days (אחרית הימים), while Chapter 12 presents the song that the Israelites will sing at the time of salvation.

The song expresses the theological message that has been central to the prophetic visions we’ve studied: the recognition that salvation comes from God and that trust should be placed in Him, not in foreign nations. The phrase “עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת יָהּ וַיְהִי לִי לִישׁוּעָה” is borrowed from Shirat HaYam (Shemot 15:2). Indeed, looking back at Chapter 11, one can observe a kind of reenactment of the splitting of the sea: “The Lord will destroy the Egyptian Sea gulf and wave His hand over the River... He will beat it into seven separate streams that people may cross in their shoes” (11:15). Thus, the salvation in Chapter 11 and the song in Chapter 12 strongly parallel the salvation of the Exodus.

While discussing the parallel to the splitting of the sea, it’s worth briefly noting that some of the depictions of the end of days in Chapter 11 also echo the story of Creation: the peace among animals, and even between humans and the serpent, represents a rectification of the flaws from the creation narrative. Both motifs — rectifying the world’s creation and reenacting the Exodus — lead to the establishment of the spiritual center in Jerusalem (11:9; 12:6).

Another key element in the song of this chapter is the call to proclaim God’s name to the nations: “Give thanks to the Lord; call on His name; proclaim His acts among the peoples; recount: His name is transcendent” (12:4). Here, the people of Israel fulfill Yeshayahu’s messages: proclaiming God’s name to all the nations and recognizing the exaltation of God alone.