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36 Structure and the Book ofZechariah
This raises the question: which stage of the text's history are we
interested in? De Waard seems to assume that the final editor was one
who disturbed the structure. Does this mean we are really interested
in the purposive editor? Or should we presume that in seeking a
coherent stage we might arrive at the words of Amos himself?—or
the true canonical text?—or something with more authority at least
than our Masoretic Text? In any case the question needs to be addressed.
If a structure is discernible in two or more supposed redactional
stages we should be interested in both, but the only (almost) certain
stage is the final one.
Verse 7 is treated as transitional, preparing for vv. 8-9. Yet this
does not prove its independence. It does not necessarily interrupt the
flow of vv. 6, 8 unless we can prove that there must follow a
characterization of the God whom they are to seek, and not of those
who are exhorted to seek. In fact, v. 7 makes good sense where it is:
v. 6 Seek Yahweh...
v. 7 O you who turn justice to wormwood. ..
v. 8 (Seek) him who made the Pleiades. ..
Verses 8-9 is seen in hymnic form; 'Yahweh is his name' occurs in
the middle and is often said to disturb its flow. Yet we could as easily
take it (as de Waard does) to be the central assertion and focus of
these verses.
We must note here that 5.7a is very similar to 6.12. 'Wormwood'
occurs nowhere else in Amos, and only six times more in the Hebrew
Bible. We ought therefore to consider whether some larger structural
arrangement is suggested. Obvious immediate correspondences are:
5.3 dec'ination
[large section on 'seek and live' containing:]
5.7 turn justice to wormwood
5.18-20 Woe (to those who desire the Day of Yahweh)
5.21 -23 I hate your feasts and sacrifices
5.24 Justice
5.25-27 No sacrifices in the wilderness
[?6.8?] [hate, pride, strongholds]
6.1-3, 4-6 Woe (to those at ease. .. to those on ivory beds)
6.9 ten men left in a house will die
6.12 turned justice to wormwood.
This is not to suggest that any author/editor actually intended this;
the matter must be investigated properly. It does confirm that care