and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother sheep. (Isa. 40:10–11) The purpose of the poetic opener is to permit the community to reexperience the embracive quality of Jewishness welcomed in its peculiarity. 2. In order to create imaginative space for Jewishness, the poet employs two kinds of rhetorical strategies.14 First, it is important to debunk the vaunted powers of Babylon. This is done by teasing and mocking the gods of the empire. In Isaiah 46:1–2, the gods are mocked as dumb