A Brief Discussion of MT Isaiah 24,14-16 541 13-14 are connected by the use of yiqtol verbs. The change from qatal in v. 12 to yiqtol verbs in v. 13 clearly signals the latter as the start of a new unit. And as v. 14 continues to use yiqtol verbs, it seems logical to take v. 14 as the continuation of v. 13. There are two major arguments against taking vv. 13-14 together, one being of a syntactical nature and the other of a thematic one. As for the former, it has been argued that v. 14 “lacks any syntactical link to the preceding material”. As for the latter, it has been noted that there is a change of participants from a speech by Yahweh in v. 13 to the expression of joy by an unidentified “they” in v. 14 (41). Against these arguments, it should be noted that v. 14 is syntactically linked with v. 13 by the use of yiqtol verbs in both verses. Besides, the use of hmh “they” points back to v. 13. It should be noted also that the change of participants as signaling the start of a new section is not followed consistently. For instance, one commentator took clause 16a with vv. 14-15 (42). The problem is that this clause introduces a new participant with the verbal form “we have heard” in contrast with imperatival calls to praise in v. 15. Although there is a new participant in v. 16a, which has no waw connecting it to the preceding verse, v. 16a was still taken together with vv. 14-15. Some commentators argued that the change of mood from the cessation of merrymaking in vv. 1-13 and the expression of joy makes it difficult to take vv. 13-14 together (43). Against this position it can be argued that the cessation of merrymaking is directed to one group of people and the expression of joy to another. In this sense, vv. 14-15 could still be seen as the expression of joy by those who were spared from the judgment announced in vv. 1-13. b) The Interpretation of qydxl ybx About the interpretation of qydxl ybx in v. 16a, our suggestion is to take it no as a divine epithet but as addressed to the “righteous people” in general as the LXX translator did. Two points support our which usually points to the beginning of a new unit or sub-unit. Although hk yk invariably appears in the stereotyped phrase hk yk followed by the name of the deity, the only exception being Isa 24,13, from the point of view of syntax and form-criticism the phrase hk yk usually points to the beginning of a new unit. (41) Cf. SWEENEY, Isaiah, 328. (42) Cf. SWEENEY, Isaiah, 326, 328-329. (43) Cf. J. BLENKINSOPP, Isaiah 1-39. A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (AB; New York 2000) 354.