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3. The Structure of Individual Sections of Zechariah 109
(b) (b) d f g f hhh d g-k-l-m (b 1 ) m nk (b 1 ) pf 1 pf nk (qq)
5 6 7 8 9 10-11 12 13 14 15 16-17
Possibilities, dfgfd. ..g. This is not plausible because of the gap
between the second f and d; it is much more likely that dfgf hhh dg
represents the author/editor's intention. If we regard the first two f's
as a preparation for the second two in vv. 14-15, then dg hhh dg
represents a chiastic structure of some sort. 1 This is plausible because
of the prominent position of the identical form roim at the end of
v. 8 and v. 9, and because ntf' and TQD are both important in this
context. We need to ask whether this helps to explain the meaning
and/or composition of the text. Following up this lead we note the
similarity between the ideas expressed in the climax to v. 9,
roim rrnK TQD'TI, and in vv. 14b-15b.
We note that hhh dg represents the first three verses of the supposed
editorial addition, or at least elaboration of what has gone before.
After a general prophecy concerning the material well-being of
Jerusalem that is to come, there is an indication of how this is to be
brought about. Jerusalem will dwell as unwalled villages (v. 8).. .but
to bring this about the one who dwells with the daughter of Babylon
must escape (v. 11). It is unfortunate that the meaning of TOD "in»
(v. 12) is so obscure but it is probable that it has some connection
with TQ3 1 ? in v. 9. 2 It is interesting that v. 8 has mna whereas 'nfena
occurs in v. 10: the contrast between being spread abroad because of
God's blessing and scattered because of God's judgment is striking.
Verse 12 looks like an attempt to tie together the two parts of the
whole section (vv. 5-15) since TQ3 inn is immediately followed by
Ti^tf, and several other words which seem to be significant in what
follows (viz. D'la, ^tf, cf. roan). The overall structure of vv. 10-1
could, moreover, be more clearly seen with v. 12 omitted; we should
simply need to replace DirbK by DDDK D'Vptfn D'un or a similar phrase. 3
1. In Watson's terminology this is split member chiasmus (Welch [ed.],
Chiasmus in Antiquity, pp. 124-25). He expresses it ab-c // c-ab; we simply have a
stronger centre. Examples offered are: Judg. 1.15; Isa. 13.21b; 27.lib; 43.15;
60.2b, 20; 64.la; Hos. 4.9; Hab. 2.1; Pss. 7.16; 15.3b; Job 10.5; 19.9.
2. See p. 106 n. 1.
3. G.A. Smith apparently omits v. 12. R.L. Smith (Nahum-Malachi, p. 196)
claims, without giving references, that Watts and Ackroyd move 2.12-13 to follow
2.4. Actually the latteronly says that'[2.12f.] linksclosely to [2.1-4]' (PCB, p. 647).