ORCID

James W. Watts: 0000-0002-4872-4986

Document Type

Article

Date

1996

Keywords

Psalmody, pslams, prophecy, Habakkuk, Bible, Judaism, victory hymns

Language

English

Disciplines

Biblical Studies | Religion | Rhetoric and Composition

Description/Abstract

The psalm in Habakkuk 3 resembles songs in Exodus 15, Deuteronomy 32 and 33, Judges 5 and 2 Samuel 22 in its archaic linguistic formations and vocabulary stock, victory hymn form, and appearance outside of the Psalter. Unlike these hymns set within prose narratives, however, Habakkuk 3 appears within a book of prophetic poetry structured in a liturgical and dramatic fashion. Habakkuk, therefore, offers an ideal case for the comparative study of prophetic and narrative composition through the use of the same literary device. The results of such a comparison reveal a sophisticated text which mixes inherited generic conventions to create novel effects. I am delighted to dedicate this essay to my father, John D.W. Watts, whose early work included the form-critical description of inset hymnody in Amos.

Additional Information

Part of JSOT Supplements (235).

Source

local input

COinS