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Rhetoric
Within Pattern Analysis, rhetoric is the persuasive portion of a literary unit based on its structure. Certain locations within each literary unit are potentially persuasive–they are presented below for the sake of analysis. Normally, many of the potential locations can be persuasive, but often not all. The student is encouraged to listen to what the Holy Spirit seems to be emphasizing.
An A-B-C-D-E or 1-2-3-4-5 type of sequence. The exegete may use either letters or numbers. At least three elements must be present to be considered a list. All elements in a list must be about the same topic. Lists are also known as enumerations and linear patterns. The order of list items does not relate to importance unless the Bible tells us differently. Sometimes there is intensification in a list.
A frame is the repetition of a theme near the beginning and end of a structure or substructure. The surrounding layer of a frame encapsulates an inner portion. Scholars often mention a similar concept called an inclusio or inclusion where the repetition may be confined to a literary unit or it may span multiple literary units. Both portions of the frame are required. The two frame elements often do not have the same words—instead, they have the same general theme and sometimes they are antithetical. Other related names for frames are bookends, brackets, and envelopes. Oftentimes the frame contains an emphatic statement.
A summarization that concludes a basic structure which is designated with the letters SUM. For example, A-B-C-A'-B'-C'-SUM. A closing summary is also known as a concluding epitome, final unit, and an epilogue. It serves two functions: to summarize and to motivate. It is always emphatic and should be easily detected.
This structure is a LIST of five complaints by the Lord against Israel.
1) The REPEATED PHRASE at the end of each of the five lettered elements is essentially the Lord′s complaint against Israel: “Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord.
2) The FRAME provides an emphatic prophecy of a judgment to come to Israel. There is an INTERJECTION in verses 2 and 3 that they will be forcefully removed from their land and they will meet their God in verse 12. Note that it does not state they will meet their Lord.
3) The CLOSING SUMMARY emphasizes through the behold INTERJECTION that the Lord, creator of all things, understands the difference between the two types of prophecy.
4) There is an INTENSIFICATION of severity from the famine of the A element to their overthrown state in the E element. Show More Rhetoric Show Less Rhetoric
LIST:
... because you have not returned to the Lord, He will snatch you away ...
a personal address
BEGINNING MARKER: Hear this word, you cows of Bashan who are on the mountain of Samaria, Who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, Who say to your husbands, “Bring now, that we may drink!” (v1)
Israel, I will snatch you away
FRAME
The Lord GOD has sworn by His holiness, “Behold, the days are coming upon you when they will take you away with meat hooks, and the last of you with fish hooks. You will go out through breaches in the walls, each one straight before her, and you will be cast to Harmon,” declares the Lord. (v2,3)
I gave you famine (clean teeth and no bread) because of your offering
A
“Enter Bethel and transgress; In Gilgal multiply transgression! Bring your sacrifices every morning, Your tithes every three days. Offer a thank offering also from that which is leavened, And proclaim freewill offerings, make them known. For so you love to do, you sons of Israel,” Declares the Lord GOD. “But I gave you also cleanness of teeth in all your cities And lack of bread in all your places, (v4-6A)
a repeated phrase
SUB-UNIT MARKER: “Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord. (v6B)
I gave you rain in some places and drought elsewhere
B
“Furthermore, I withheld the rain from you While there were still three months until harvest. Then I would send rain on one city And on another city I would not send rain; One part would be rained on, While the part not rained on would dry up. So two or three cities would stagger to another city to drink water, But would not be satisfied; (v7,8A)
a repeated phrase
SUB-UNIT MARKER: Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord. (v8B)
I gave you disasters to harm your crops
C
“I smote you with scorching wind and mildew; And the caterpillar was devouring Your many gardens and vineyards, fig trees and olive trees; (v9A)
a repeated phrase
SUB-UNIT MARKER: Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord. (v9B)
I gave you a plague like Egypt
D
“I sent a plague among you after the manner of Egypt; I slew your young men by the sword along with your captured horses, And I made the stench of your camp rise up in your nostrils; (v10A)
a repeated phrase
SUB-UNIT MARKER: Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord. (v10B)
I defeated you, only a few survived
E
“I overthrew you, as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, And you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze; (v11A)
a repeated phrase
SUB-UNIT MARKER: Yet you have not returned to Me,” declares the Lord. (v11B)
Israel, your God will meet you in His wrath
FRAME
“Therefore thus I will do to you, O Israel; Because I will do this to you, Prepare to meet your God, O Israel.” (v12)
CLOSING SUMMARY: see! The Lord God!
SUM
For behold, He who forms mountains and creates the wind And declares to man what are His thoughts, He who makes dawn into darkness And treads on the high places of the earth, The Lord God of hosts is His name. (v13)