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3. The Structure of Individual Sections of Zechariah 101
rrn occurs twice in an emphatic construction in the form of rvrm,
which probably recalls Exod. 3.15. The beginning of v. 9 looks as
though it might be a new repetition of the covenant promise: 'I will be
to her...'
run occurs in vv. 5, 7 to introduce a new feature in the series of
visions. Its first occurrence introduces 'a man and in his hand a
measuring line' (v. 5). This is then explained by means of a question
and answer; nn reappears to introduce a new element: two angels 'go
out' and meet. The 'other angel' says to 'the angel who spoke with
me', 'Run and tell that young man 1 that:
8b Jerusalem will dwell as villages without walls;
because of abundance of people and animals
in its midst; (a)
9 for / will be to it, (b)
oracle of Yahweh, (IF)
a wall of fire around, (c)
and (for) glory (d)
/ will be (b)
in its midst.' (a)
The structure of vv. 8b-9 is easily seen: even if this is not accepted as
an undisputable chiasmus, it is an important centre with a double-layer
inclusio. The correspondence between rona and eJ» mnn does not show
up on the list. Perhaps the lack of verbal correspondence is deliberate,
so that the chiasmus is not made less distinct; this may only be regarded
as a plausible speculation. 'I will be' is emphatic, as is seen by "OK in
v. 9a, andrrrtK in v. 9b, which are both, strictly speaking, unnecessary.
1. Keil, after an involved discussion (Twelve Minor Prophets, pp. 242-5),
concludes that:
1. the man with the measuring line is the angel of Yahweh.
2. 'another angel', i.e. 'the angel who spoke with me' meets him.
3. the man (angel of Yahweh) tells 'the angel who spoke with me' to give the
message about Jerusalem to 'that young man' (i.e. Zechariah).
I think that the more usual interpretation is likely to be right, for: this is a rather
complicated understanding; 'another angel' would not naturally mean 'the angel who
spoke. ..'; it is odd that in a passage where the word 'angel' is used freely, the
'angel of Yahweh' should be described so obscurely; it seems sensible to assume that
the message is relevant to someone who is engaged in measuring Jerusalem. It would
be quite in order according to this interpretation to think of 'another angel' as the
angel of Yahweh (who appeared in ch. 1).