01_van Wieringen_481-497_481-497 10/12/15 10:10 Pagina 491 491 THE “I”-FIGURE’S RELATIONS IN THE POEM IN ISA 38,10-20 491 The discussion about the second sign is the reason for the open ending of the narration in Isaiah 38. Because wayyiqtol-forms in- dicate consecutive narrative actions, the wayyiqtol-forms in vv. 21- 22 cannot be interpreted as a kind of plusquamperfectum 21. Hezekiah poses a question concerning what sign will be given to indicate that he will go up to the house of the Lord 22. This question remains unanswered within the narrative of Isaiah 38 itself 23. In a way, a continuation of the ellipsis found between vv. 14 and 15 of the poem occurs at the end of the narration. The ellipsis in the poem deals with an act of the Lord, namely a direct speech that is not described. At the end of the narration, there is also an act of the Lord, this time concerning a sign that is not described, creating an open ending to chapter 38. In sum, the narration and the poem of Isaiah 38 complement each other regarding the relation between Hezekiah/“I”-figure and the Lord. This complementary relation is literarily shaped by the use of ellipsis in the poem and by the open ending in the narration. IV. Textual context 2: the poem and chapters 36–37 Isaiah 38 fits closely within the broader narrative context of Isa- iah 36–39. The open ending of Isaiah 38 can be understood in its relation to chapters 36–37. Furthermore, the solution to the open ending of chapter 38 prepares for the open ending of chapter 39 24. I would like to deal with the question of how Isaiah 38 relates both to chapters 36–37 and to chapter 39. 21 See also VAN WIERINGEN, Isaiah 38–39, 31. Pace E.W. BULLINGER, Figures of Speech Used in the Bible (London 1898 [reprint: Grand Rapids, MI 1968]) 707, who interprets vv. 21-22 as a hysterologia (= the first thing is mentioned last). 22 It is significant that, concerning the sign, Hezekiah does not ask whether the Lord will heal him (which is the case in the so-called parallel text of 2 Kgs 20,8). Hezekiah’s question only concerns the ascent to the house of the Lord; in the Isaian narrative he has already been healed. 23 It is interesting to note that H. WILDBERGER, Jesaja. Kapitel 28–39 (BKAT 10/3; Neukirchen-Vluyn 1982) 1447, wonders what reason there could be for having the narration end with a question. 24 Not only do chapter 38 and chapter 39 have an open ending, but the en- tire Book of Isaiah also has an open ending; see further A.L.H.M. VAN WIERINGEN, The Reader-Oriented Unity of the Book Isaiah (ACEBT Supple- ment Series 6; Vught 2006) 194-203.