THE REV. J. J. LIAS, M.A., ON THE UNITY OF ISAIAH. 



75 



(7) The tendency to break suddenly into song. This is 

 another feature common to all the portions of the book and 

 altogether peculiar to Isaiah. It is true that Habakkuk has a 

 song at the end of his poetry, but it does not break out in the 

 midst of it. In the undisputed Isaiah there is a song in 

 chap, v, 1-7 — 



" Now will I sing to my well beloved 

 A song of my beloved touching his vineyard." 



In the "fragments" we have (chap, xii, 1-6) — 



" The Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song ; 

 He also is become my salvation." 



And chap, xxvi, 1-4 — 



" In that day shall this song be sung in the Land of Judah ; 

 We have a strong city ; 



Salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks." 



while in the " second " Isaiah invitations to break into singing 

 occur and many songs. Even the historical portion breaks out 

 into poetry in Isaiah's message to Hezekiah, and it includes 

 Hezekiah's song of thanksgiving, and this in the space of four 

 chapters. 



(8) The piling up of ideas or imagery is a peculiarly Isaianic 

 feature — the building up of ideas, sometimes of a similar and 

 sometimes of a contrary nature, with a most powerful effect. 

 Take the three following instances from the undisputed Isaiah, 

 from the " fragments," and from the " second " Isaiah respec- 

 tively : — 



" The day of the Lord of Hosts shall be 

 Upon every one that is proud and lofty, 

 And upon every one that is lifted up ; 

 And he shall be brought low ; 



And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and 

 lifted up, 



And upon all the oaks of Bashan," etc. (chap, ii, 10-17). 



" It shall be 

 As with the people, so with the priest ; 

 As with the servant, so with his master ; 

 As with the maid, so with her mistress " (chap, xxiv, 2). 



" Behold my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry ; 

 Behold my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty ; 

 Behold my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed " 

 (chap, lxv, 13-U). 



