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3. The Structure of Individual Sections of Zechariah 189
would seem odd for it to have been put in completely by accident.
Presumably an editor of some sort thought it belonged here. Three
words here are taken up in 11.1-3 ('Lebanon', 'brought down' and
'pride') and we must ask why this should be. Was 11.1-3 composed so
as to add on to this existing unit? Or were the words added here so as
to prepare for them in 11.1-3? The latter seems more probable. It is
difficult to imagine that two independent units both contained all
three. This means we have further reason to suggest that an editor has
been at work in 10.1 la. Note that the words 'gather' and 'return'
form an abba chiasmus in vv. 8, 9 and 10, which suggests the work of
an (another?) editor. Let us suppose, first of all, that there were two
stages in the composition of 10.10-11, viz:
Stage 1 Stage 2 added:
10 I will cause them to return
from land Egypt
from Assyria
I gather them
to land of
Gilead and Lebanon
11 (references to Egypt?)
0'3n
brought down
pride of
Assyria
. ..Egypt. ..
This is not very satisfactory, since Titf« ]iw n~nm is an integral part of
the unit. It is better, therefore, to suppose that one person added
vv. 10-11 (with the possible exception of v. lla), and it is natural to
give him credit also for 10.12 (since he is apparently aware of
structural matters), and 11.1-3.
On this supposition, we can make good sense of this final unit. In
form it is a summons to lament, signifying a prophecy of judgment
against Israel's enemies. Lebanon is commanded to open its doors for
fire to devour its cedars. Presumably the editor thought that Lebanon
needed to be conquered, not just to receive people from Israel on
a friendly basis. The great trees of Lebanon (cedars, cypresses, cedars
near the end of this section, would also probably not escape notice.