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150 Structure and the Book ofZechariah
Yahweh' (mrr '3S n'n) and to ask a question about fasting: should they
go on fasting in the fifth month as has been the custom for so many
years? This is countered with a question about their motive in fasting
(not only in the fifth but also in the seventh month). The answer to the
question comes only at the end of ch. 8: the fasts of the fifth, and
seventh, and also the previously unmentioned fourth and tenth
months 1 will become 'seasons of joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts'.
This, then, already forms an inclusio around the intervening material.
But there is a further inclusio of the whole when the phrase 'entreat
the favour of Yahweh' reappears twice (vv. 21-22). A climax is
achieved in vv. 20-21: not only the inhabitants of Bethel, but many
cities will go to entreat the favour of Yahweh; this is further enlarged
in vv. 22-23'many peoples and strong nations' will also come, even
ten times the number of Jews will come from outside, since they have
heard that 'God is with you' (v. 23, cf. 8.3). There may be further
intentional correspondence between the picture of Jerusalem in the
centre of many people and cities, and with many inhabitants, in vv. 6-
7, and Jerusalem as the centre, in effect, of the world in vv. 20-23.
Within these two inclusios we have a further one formed by
mention of the appeal of the former prophets: 'Render true judgments.
. .not devise evil in your heart...' (7.9-10), and the renewed
appeal in 8.16-17.
Repeated Words and their Function
rufo is used as follows: 7.1 in dating the oracle; 7.3, 5, referring to the
period of the exile during which the fast has been kept. The word is
not taken up at the end, although there is some contrasting resonance
between the years of exile and the seasons of gladness to come
(v. 19). This is not concrete enough to lay any weight on.
nm~iK occurs in dating the oracle in 7.1, 'fourth year.. .fourth day'
and (*D»m) in adding the fourth month in the reply in 8.19. We may
ignore this.
rr-or *?K mrr -01 rrn occurs in 7.1 and 7.8. It is the most important
of a number of introductory formulae in this section. Thus v. 8 is
marked off as a new beginning. It forms a contrast with the previous
reference to the words of Yahweh by the 'hand' of the former
1. This again is reminiscent of the 'growing phrase' (Magonet) noted in 2.1-4
above p. 98 n. 1.