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This article discusses the MT of Isa 33,12 and argues that the verse line "the nations will be burned to lime (שִׂיד)" is difficult in its context and distorts the parallelism, describing the fall of the enemy of Judah with the help of plant-imagery. Although Am 2,1 is often mentioned in connection with Isa 33,12, closer analysis shows that there are differences between the two texts. It is suggested that the LXX should be followed here, which goes back to a Hebrew text reading שָׂדַי, "field", "(agricultural) land" instead of שִׂיד, "lime". This emendation (metathesis) is most likely also supported by the independent tradition of the Targum (ניר, "field, land (to be ploughed)" < נור). The metaphor of burning field not only fits its present context well, but it has biblical parallels and it is supported by agricultural customs known from the Near East.

This article argues that Isaiah's so-called ‘refrain poem’ (Kehrvergedicht) in Isa. 9.7–20 is a composite text, going back to two early prophecies with different concerns. Isaiah 9.7–17* focused originally on the arrogant refusal of the divine word, while Isa. 9.18–20* reflected on the chaotic social circumstances in Samaria in the eighth century. The refrains in vv. 9,11cd, 16ef and 20cd were added to these two already connected prophecies at a later stage. The theological summary in v. 12 is yet another addition, closely affiliated with 5.24–25. Unlike v. 12, the refrains do not have the repentance of Israel in view, nor its final destruction, but the fall of Assyria in Isa. 10.5–15, 24–27. The refrains support the theory that the Isaianic collection was formed by means of reusing, restructuring and reinterpreting earlier material. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0309089216690385

This study argues that the phrase פָּרָשָׁיו וּפָרָשָׁיו should be emended to פָּרָשָׁיו וּפָרְשׂוּ, "their horses (or: horsemen) swarm out (or: spread out)". This reading is indirectly supported by some of the ancient witnesses (LXX and 1QpHab) and is better suited to its context than the Massoretic version.

This study argues that Isa 10,16–19, located in the context of the anti-Assyrian prophecy, provides essential clues in understanding the formation of the book of Isaiah. While current research often takes this text as a late redactional composition, it is more reasonable to argue that the pericope was relocated by the editors from a prophecy originally threatening Israel with destruction. This level of meaning is endorsed by the specific metaphors used, as well as arguments from the context, most notably vv. 20–23, which still regard vv. 16–19 as an anti-Israel text. As a result of this editorial process, the earlier message of judgment on Israel becomes a threat against Israel’s enemy. Restoring world order by inverting fates according to the measures of proportional retribution, often explicitly formulated in prophetic literature, elucidates the rationales behind inverting texts within the editorial process.