04_Biblica_1_A_Ossandon_Layout 1 05/11/12 12:18 Pagina 392 392 JUAN CARLOS OSSANDÓN the people. Ironically, the narrator suggests that this blind man can see more than the crowd 35. Some scholars try to explain Bartimaeus’ use of this title invoking T. Sol 20,1, where Solomon is called Son of David by one who asks to be healed 36. This seems highly improbable, because of the late date of T. Sol 37. In order to understand the cry of Bartimaeus, it is enough to suppose a reference to the book of Isaiah: Isa 29,18; 35,5; 42,6-7, 16, and Isa 61,1 (LXX) 38. Therefore, the title can be related to Mark 1,1 and 8,27-30 39. After the first cry, the narrator makes visible Bartimaeus’ faith more through his actions than through his words. His perseverance, in spite of the opposition (10,48), can be seen, in the light of Jesus’ statement in 10,52, as a consequence of a solid and bold faith that does not fade in front of the backlash. The use of a reinforced com- parative in v. 48 stresses that the intensity of Bartimaeus’ request grows in front of the unfavorable atmosphere. The gesture of throwing off the mantle (10,50) should be consid- ered as the expression of an inner disposition, and not only an anec- dotal detail or a means to increase the story’s liveliness. The mantle was the house of the poor man, his only shelter to spend the night in (cf. Exod 22,25-26; Deut 24,10-13). But it must be abandoned if it 35 ECKSTEIN, “Markus 10,46-52”, 49; C. FOCANT, L’évangile selon Marc (Commentaire biblique: NT 2; Paris 2004) 405-406. 36 D.C. DULING, “Solomon, Exorcism, and the Son of David”, HTR 68 (1975) 235-252; J.H. CHARLESWORTH, “The Son of David: Solomon and Jesus (Mark 10:47)”, The New Testament and Hellenistic Judaism (eds. P.J. BORGEN — S. GIVERSEN) (Aarhus 1995) 72-87; J.M. VAN CANGH, “‘Fils de David’ dans les évangiles synoptiques”, Figures de David à travers la Bible. XVIIe congrès de l’ACFEB (Lille, 1er-5 septembre 1997) (eds. L. DESROUSSEAUX — J. VERMEYLEN) (LD 177; Paris 1999) 345-396; C.A. EVANS, Mark 8:27- 16:20 (WBC 34B; Nashville, TN 2001) 126-135. 37 See R.T. FRANCE, The Gospel of Mark: A Commentary on the Greek Text (NIGTC; Grand Rapids, MI 2002) 423; FOCANT, Marc, 409. 38 See D. ROURE, “La figure de David dans l’évangile de Marc: des tradi- tions juives aux interprétations évangéliques”, Figures de David à travers la Bible. XVIIe congrès de l’ACFEB (Lille, 1er-5 septembre 1997) (eds. L. DES- ROUSSEAUX — J. VERMEYLEN) (LD 177; Paris 1999) 397-412. 39 And also to Mark 12,35-37. I do not include this pericope in the discus- sion, because I intend to explain Bartimaeus’ cry and his faith in Jesus in the context of what the reader of Mark already knows, and not what he or she is going to learn later.