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3. The Structure of Individual Sections of Zechariah 137
Zechariah 6.1-8
This section forms an easily recognizable self-contained unit: the
eighth and final vision of Zechariah the prophet. The only words
common to vv. 1-8 and 9-15 are p, Kft (vv. 1, 13) and omtf (vv. 1,
13), so that there is no point in combining these two tables.
A look at the table of repeated words (figure 7) reveals that there
are very few distinctive words. The only serious candidates are:
1. The colours of the horses (vv. 2-3, 6-7), which belong
together with 'four', 'chariots', 'go forth' and 'horses'. These
point to the fact that the description given by the prophet in
vv. 1-3 is closely matched by the explanation in vv. 5-6 +
7.#1.
2. n:i? + IQK. 'Then I answered and said to the angel who talked
with me, "What are these, my lord?"', which is immediately
followed by 'And the angel answered and said to me,
"These... " '. This can only, at most, strengthen the obvious
link between vv. 4 and 5.
3. mi, which is used first of the 'four winds of the heavens', and
secondly of 'my spirit'. There may well be an intended resonance
here, but it is impossible to build a theory on this
single repetition (with different forms).
4. psx p» (6, [2x]). The first occurrence is in the explanation
(vv. 5-6 + 7.#1) of the purpose of the four chariots; the
second two are in vv. 7-8 which describe the fulfilment of
that purpose.
5. The hithpael of~pn. This occurs in v. 7 only, where there is
further repetition:
~pn (qat) + -pn (hithpael) + p«3 (+ ~IDK) +
•pn (qal) + -pn (hithpael) + p»a +
•pn (hithpael) + p»O +
This gives the reader ample time to realize that the same
phrase was used in the first vision.
The structure of the unit is, in general, clear.
1-3 Vision described (four chariots and different coloured horses)
4 Question about the vision
5-6 Vision explained (in terms of the purpose of the chariots)
7-8 Progress in the vision: Intention carried out; purpose achieved