The Structure of Isaiah 42.10-17 as Approached Through Versification and Distribution of Poetic Devices

Abstract

The curious poem in Isa. 42.10-17 is not easily reduced to any of the Gattungen of classical Hebrew poetry. A fresh analysis of its structure is attempted here, based on a colometric arrangement of the text and a charting of its poetic and 'rhetorical' features adapted from M. O'Connor's system. Long-range repetitions and correlationns are not ignored, but methodological priority is given to devices bonding small braces of verse. A loose envelope structure A-B-C-B'-A' emerges, in which the threefold C element (vv. 14, 15, 16α) exhibits an interesting progression: v. 15 illustrates the irrational ranting announced in v. 14, but prepares at the same time the saving guidance motif of v. 16α, which in turn justifies the praise of YHWH in vv. 10-12 and the confi dent dismissal of idolatry. These results agree broadly with those obtained by K.P. Darr in a recent study using other methods (CBQ 49 [1987], pp. 560-71).