Wilson de Angelo Cunha, «A Brief Discussion of MT Isaiah 24,14-16», Vol. 90 (2009) 530-544
Recent scholarship interprets Isaiah 24,14-16 in light of a “prophetic disputation pattern” genre, which sees the praise in vv. 14-15 as an assertion and the “I” statement in v. 16b as the counter-assertion, thus, correcting the assertion in vv. 14-15. This article seeks to challenge this interpretation and argue that the “I” statement in v. 16b does not need to function as a “counter-assertion” to the praise in vv. 14-15 but, rather, as introducing the proclamation of judgment for the unrighteous (v. 16c).
540 Wilson de Angelo Cunha
the earth†in v. 14b. LXX found the latter in the image of the “gleaningâ€
of v. 13 and in the expression “a few will be left†in v. 6. This second
group is portrayed as praising God for their salvation in vv. 14b-15.
Third, LXX interpreted the phrase qydxl ybx not as a divine epithet but
as a message of hope to the “godlyâ€. Consequently, v. 16a functions as a
proclamation of “hope†to the “righteous peopleâ€. And, fourth, LXX Isa
took the “I†statement in Hebrew, translated as “theyâ€, not as a
prophetic “counter-assertion†to the praise in vv. 14-15 but, rather, as an
announcement of doom for another group of people, that is, the law
breakers. The latter must be identified with the “ungodly†in v. 8.
3. Reading MT Isa 24,14-16
The discussion of how LXX Isa read Isa 24,14-16 offers helpful
insights and confirms our reading of this text. As a way of suggestion,
this final section will make brief proposals for dealing with the three
main problems of Isa 24,14-16 discussed thus far.
a) The Identification of the hmh
As we have seen, LXX Isa found the subject of the hmh “they†in
vv. 1-13. Although LXX Isa divided v. 14 into two groups by the
insertion of the particle dev “but†in its second clause, such a reading is
not supported by MT. To the contrary, MT Isa 24,14 as a whole has
only one subject, that is, the unidentified hmh “they†of v. 14a.
However, LXX is helpful in that it shows the subject of the hmh may be
found in vv. 1-13.
It is possible to take the subject of hmh as “those who have been
spared†from the judgment announced in vv. 1-12.13. As previous
scholars have noted, the expression “gleanings†implies the sparing of
a few from judgment (38). Besides, the phrase “and a few will be left†in
v. 6 can be taken at face value indicating the remaining of a few
people(39). Taking vv. 13-14 together entails the following aspects:
First, v. 14 does not start a new section but is linked with v. 13. It
has been rightly pointed out that the particle hk in v. 13 points to an
action that lies ahead instead of one that lies in the past. In this way, v.
13 is better taken as the beginning of a new unit (40). And, second, vv.
(38) GESENIUS, Jesaja, 766; GRAY, Isaiah, I, 415; KISSANE, Isaiah, I, 273;
VERMEYLEN, “‘Isaïe’â€, 15, n. 42.
(39) MOTYER, Isaiah, 202.
(40) Cf. KÖNIG, Jesaja, 229, n. 1. Cf. also the expression hk yk of v. 13a in Isa
8,11; 18,4; 21,6.16; 30,15; 31,4; 36,16; 45,18; 49,25; 52,3.4; 56,4; 57,15; 66,12,
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