Violence, Otherness and Identity in Isaiah 63:1-6

Violence disturbs. And violent depictions, when encountered in the biblical texts, are all the more disconcerting. Isaiah 63:1-6 is an illustrative instance. The prophetic text presents the "Arriving One" in gory details (''trampling down people''; ''pouring out their lifeblood'' v.6). Further, the introductory note that the Arriving One is “coming from Edom” (cf. v.1) may suggest Israel''s unrele...