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3. The Structure of Individual Sections of Zechariah 151
prophets and the present word. Since Zechariah is here spoken of in
the third person it is probable that this belongs to the latest editorial
stage. Most scholars consider this to be clumsy, since 7.9-10 represents
the words of the former prophets (7.7) to the fathers (cf. 7.11), and
not a word via Zechariah to his contemporaries. 1
'The word of Yahweh of hosts was to me' is found in 7.4; 8.1, 18.
The first of these introduces the off-putting reply (vv. 5-7) which
delays the answer to the question put to the prophet; Zech. 7.9-14 2
elaborates on the lack of concern the Israelites have shown to obey
Yahweh and reports the result of it. Zech. 8.2ff, on the contrary, is
concerned with the imminent action of Yahweh which will reverse the
state previously depicted. The phrase 'Thus says Yahweh of hosts'
(7.9J#l-4; 8.2J#l-4, 4.##l-4, 6.##l-4, 7 .##1-4, 9.##l-4, 14.##2-5,
19.##l-4, 20.##l-4, 23.##l-4) occurs frequently in this section and
with obvious emphasis. The last occurrence of the phrase, 8.18, introduces
at last the answer to the question in 7.3. Again, 'Thus
says.. .hosts' is frequent (three times in five verses).
Thus we have a division into major sections, and both continuity
and emphasis achieved by these phrases. This conclusion is in accord
with that reached by literary-critical methods, as is the observation
that 7.8-14 may be due to a redactor. What is not usually suggested is
that the insertion may be for purposes of balance or structure. 3
tf~in only occurs in vv. 1 and 3. It is not even used in 8.19 and ma
be discounted.
1. See, e.g., Rudolph, Haggai, p. 142; cf. p. 160 n. 1 below.
2. This may or may not be an editorial addition. It certainly is closely related to
the forms and message of earlier prophets. See, e.g., Petersen, Haggai and
Zechariah, pp. 288-91, who also, however, argues that vv. 9-10 are not a 'pale
copy of prophetic speech' but 'vigorous prophetic discourse'. Cf. Beuken, Haggai-
Sacharja, pp. 124-38; Chary, Les prophetes el le culte, p. 123.
3. Even the Anchor Bible does not entertain seriously the possibility that
Zech. 7-8 as a whole might be put together artistically; cf. e.g. p. 307, where 7.9-
10 is compared with 8.16-17. Chary (Les prophetes et le culte, pp. 117-18),
considers the literary structure of chs. 7-8, but apart from noting the correspondence
between 7.2-3 and 8.18-19, his comment consists of little more than a division int
units with form-critical notes. He describes 8.20-23 as added by the redactor of the
whole book (i.e. Zech. 1-8) but does not notice the link with 7.2. See pp. 70-71 i
Chapter 2 above.