report of an oracular inquiry (2:1–20); and a psalmodic representation of prophecy (3:1–19). The reasons for preferring these structural divisions are presented in the analysis of each section below. The main consideration here is how these three sections cohere in forming the book as a whole. The theme of unjust imperial domination is common to all sections of the book; but each treats this theme in a somewhat different way so as to indicate a progression in the way Yahweh is understood to be involved
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