01_van Wieringen_481-497_481-497 10/12/15 10:10 Pagina 495 495 THE “I”-FIGURE’S RELATIONS IN THE POEM IN ISA 38,10-20 495 The relation between Hezekiah and the community is repre- sented by setting in parallel the threatened Jerusalem (Isaiah 36– 37) and the deceased King (Isaiah 38): there is neither a future for the King without the community (the narrative of Isaiah 36–37), nor a future for the community without the King (the narration in Isaiah 38). The poem deals with the establishment of this mutual relationship. In this way, the poem and the poem’s narrative context in chapters 36–38 also complement each other. In sum, the intensification of the first stage in the second stage prepares for the ellipsis in the poem and the open ending of chapter 38. The ellipsis is prepared for by the absence of direct contact be- tween Hezekiah and God, although they are in contact with each other via the prophet Isaiah. The non-open ending of chapters 36– 37 gives the information necessary to resolve the open ending of chapter 38. V. Textual context 3: the poem and chapter 39 Isaiah 39 is also a narration with an open ending. However, this open ending is brought about by surprising changes within the characters’ relations to each other. In chapters 36–37 and in chapter 38, including the poem in vv. 10-20, Hezekiah has estab- lished a direct and praying relationship with the Lord, and this di- rect relation between the Lord and Hezekiah is further indicated by the ellipsis. However, none of these relationships remain in chapter 39. Here there is absolutely no contact between Hezekiah and the Lord. Parallel to this, the interaction with the prophet Isa- iah no longer takes place at Hezekiah’s request. On the other hand, Hezekiah enters into a relation with Babel. This contrasts with his avoidance of direct contact with Assur, as can be found in chapters 36–37: Hezekiah gives Babel a warm welcome and shows everything to Babel. The direct speeches constituting this relation between Hezekiah and Babel are present in the narration as an ellipsis. Even when the prophet Isaiah inquires about what Babel has said (v. 3), there is no direct speech expressing the con- tent of the contact between Babel and Hezekiah. Isaiah 39 is a parallel of the ellipsis in the poem, but it concerns a different ad- dressee, namely Babel instead of God who is the addressee in the poem’s ellipsis.