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3. The Structure of Individual Sections of Zechariah 141
close. We note also that it is only the north-going black horses who
have the participle of RX\ However this might be explained, it has the
effect of emphasizing them further, and of making them suitable to
stand for all those who 'go forth'. Thus, in v. 8b, we assume that
since the most important and difficult task has been accomplished (the
north being the home of the gods, and the most feared enemies of
Israel), then God's Spirit must be at rest in the whole earth too. 1
The structure of the passage may be described in the following way.
The plural participle m/D'R2£' is apparently one that controls the overall
shape. It occurs right at the beginning of the description of the
vision, along with the four chariots, and also at the end of vv. 4-5,
where we find:
1. The prophet's question and the angel's explanation of
(presumably) the four chariots.
2. The phrase p«n "?D ]n», which we noted right at the end of
Zechariah 4, and which also forms a climax here.
In addition D't«r, together with pax pR, forms an envelope for the
final section. We have noted the difficulties in the text and the
uncertainty that results from this. Nevertheless, the text that we have
presents a regular and logical pattern. The change from feminine to
masculine plural participle is striking, as is the avoidance of the
participial form between vv. 6a and 8bct. Setting this out we have:
HIRST + four chariots
chariot + horses M(5?)
nuts' + four rnrrn; Lord of all the earth
D'RX' + horses 2 + pax pR
1R2T + (horses) 3 ~ 4(5)
D'RX' + pax pR. . .pax pR
In addition to this, note the two threefold repetitions: 'mountains' and
'patrol the earth', which occur just after the first D'R^ and just before
the last. Also that irn occurs at the centre of the very small chiasmus
formed by pax pR in v. 8. We leave these as observations, since we
cannot prove that their positioning is significant.
It seems fair, though over-simplified, to represent the structure of
1. Baldwin mentions 'sinister associations' as in Jer. 1.14; 4.6; 6.22;
Ezek. 1.4, etc. (Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, p. 131); Petersen speaks of the north
as the 'land of exile, punishment and imprisonment', Haggai and Zechariah, p. 271.