speak.20 YHWH now promises מוֹפְתִים (“signs”) in the heavens and the earth that announce the imminent day of YHWH, which he then identifies as blood, fire, and columns of cloud. The keyword מוֹפְתִים resonates with the Exodus plagues (cf. Exod 7:14–24; 10:21–29), since around half of its occurrences are found in those narratives or in later reflection upon them.21 However, the promised outpouring of the spirit mitigates their terrifying nature for the Judahite community. Strazicich captures the
Page 140