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3. The Structure of Individual Sections of Zechariah 123
This, together with the fact that the oracle is marked off by an
inclusio, confirms that we should consider the text that we now have
as made up of two main parts. 1
6 This is a word to Zerubbabel
Not by might. .. strength, but by my Spirit
says Yahweh Sebaoth
7 Who are you, great mountain? 2
before Zerubbabel -M^ch
and he/one will bring forth rwftrin p«n
shouts (niKitfn)
8 IF And the word of Yahweh came to me saying
9 The hands of Zerubbabel founded this house, and
his hands will finish it
and you will know that Yahweh Sebaoth has sent me to you
10 For who has despised (ra + *?) day of small things?
And they will rejoice
and they will see the stone, the tin
in the hand of Zerubbabel
This does not exhibit clear signs of editorial planning. It seems to me
to be less tightly structured than any of the sections we have so far
considered. As it stands it has no proper introductory or concluding
formulae, and must be regarded as dependent upon the outer sections
of ch. 4. It has certain ragged features, for example the changes of
person are frequent and abrupt; we find: 3 sing, of Yahweh, Zerubbabel
and 'whoever' ; 2 m.sing. addressing the mountain; 3 pi. indefinite; 2
m.pl. (2 f.pl. of 'hands' is understandable). Nevertheless, there is a
the section (Haggai, pp. 111-12).
1. Petersen and the majority of commentators hold to the two sections mentioned
here. Petitjean argues for a unified oracle, after moving v. 8 to the beginning.
Amsler has three separate oracles: vv. 6ab, 7, 8-10a (Agee, Zacharie, Malachi,
pp. 92-95).
2. The mountain has been interpreted as difficulties facing Zerubbabel (van
Hoonacker, Rignell, Baldwin); or as personal opposition from Persian (Sellin) or
Samaritan (Elliger, Rudolph) sources; or as Joshua the rival to Zerubbabel
(Petersen); or as mythical forces (Horst). See Amsler, Agee, Zacharie, Malachi,
p. 93. Whatever is the case, the purpose of addressing the mountain is to encourage
Zerubbabel to believe that God will enable him to succeed in the task to which he has
been called, and to make clear to the people that God has called him, and his
completion of the task will be a sign of Yahweh's involvement through him.