Structure in Isaiah 23

The first section of Isaiah 23, verses 1-7, forms a small chiasm:

A. Howl; ships of Tarshish, v 1

B. Sidon and Nile, vv 2-4a

C. Sea speaks, v 4b

B’. Report of Tyre reaches Egypt, v 5

A’. Tarshish; howl, vv 6-7

Two additional notes. First, the B section is marked off by an inclusio referring to Sidon: “merchants of Sidon” in v 2 and “O Sidon” in v 4a. The first line urges the merchants of Sidon to be silent, and the section ends with an exhortation to Sidon to be ashamed. Second, the whole passage is surrounded by a chiastic inclusio:

A. Howl ( yalal , a rhyme with halal , “praise”)

B. Ships of Tarshish

B’. Tarshish

A’. Howl ( yalal )