The Book of Isaiah: Patchwork of literary fragments versus predetermined literary structure? Part II

Abstract

In Part I of this study three possibilities to describe or define the literary character of Isaiah were briefly reviewed. In the present study a combination of some aspects of these approaches will be engaged in a different way to understand the literary character of Isaiah. These aspects include the use of a particular single concept as unifying factor, parallelisms as identified by the second group as per major sections of the book as well as the so-called triadic pattern (in adapted form) identified by O’Connell (1994:236). This approach will hopefully highlight something of the book’s extensive and intricate literary shape. Since literary structuring is the main focus of the study, the subject will be dealt with in a somewhat technical manner.