Includes bibliographical references (p. 204-219).

Outlining the task : backgrounds and goals -- On enemy images -- Enemy images in texts from the ancient Near East -- Enemy images and biblical exegesis : perspectives on previous research -- On the Book of Isaiah as object of the investigation -- Problems, goals, and methods -- Images of empires -- Isa 5:26-30 : a prologue to the discourse on empires -- Images of Assyria -- Images of Egypt and Cush -- Images of Babylon -- Empire portraits : comparisons and conclusions -- Images of neighbouring nations -- Images of Ephraim/Israel and Aram -- Images of Edom -- Images of other neighbouring nations -- Neighbouring nations : comparisons and conclusions -- Anonymous enemies -- Rebels and stubble : characterization of anonymous enemies -- Key passages -- Links to images of nations and empires -- Named and unnamed enemies in a macrostructural perspective -- The enemies and YHWH -- Enemies of YHWH -- Enemies as instruments in YHWH's service -- YHWH as enemy -- YHWH as the enemy's enemy -- Enemy images, ideology, and identity -- The Zion-centered perspective and the 701 paradigm -- Prophecies as political propaganda -- On enemy images and implied self-images -- Summary.