Chapter Three. Strophe II: 18:3

Abstract

Three observations support the notion that 4 strophes (vv. 3–6) forms a new stanza: the change of scene, characters, and style. First, a new series of scenes starts by v. 3. Second, the characters on the scene in stanza I are “a people tall and smooth-skinned”, and a group of unidentified messengers who are given a command to go to Cush. In stanza II, on the other side, there are five different characters on the scene two referred to as individuals, and three as collectives. Third, there is a change of style from stanza I to stanza II. Verse 3 brings in three groups of characters: (i) “all”, and (ii) those who will raise the standard on the mountains, (iii) and those who will blow the horn. The theme of summoning people has in principal three forms of usage in the Old Testament: either for purpose of war, warning or peace.Keywords: Old testament; strophes (vv. 3–6); summoning people