130. - Collection Point® | The Total Digital Asset Management System

70 Structure and the Book ofZechariah
this section. Many exegetes regard it as a literary unity with certain
redactional elements (vv. 13a, 15b) and the end of the preceding
vision (v. 15a). Horst distinguishes three main parts (vv. 9-13, 14 +
15a) within the section; 1 Rignell has two parts: vv. 9-12 and 13-15. 2
Petitjean argues for two principal parts, vv. 10-12 and 13-15ac (i.e.
15a, b), which have been given the form of a literary unity by the
addition of vv. 9 and 15b (i.e. 15a). 3
Different answers have been given concerning the connection
between this section and other parts of the book: a prophetic action to
be seen as a fitting sequel to the whole series of visions, a transitional
passage leading to chs. 7-8, 4 or a completely new start to the second
major division of the whole book. 5 A. Koehler regarded this as a
prophetic commission at the close of the visions. 6 A. van Hoonacker
argued that the 'ideal scene' here described is analogous to the visions,
and belongs with them. 7 Other scholars would also confirm this view;
the reference to Joshua in both 3.1 and 6.11, and the new beginning in
7.1 show that the section 1.7-6.15 is a redactional unit.
Although no modern scholars, as far as I am aware, would consider
this the start of a new major section in the book of Zechariah, it is
formally more similar to 1.1-6 and 7.1-8.23 than the preceding
section. It may therefore be worthwhile to look for connections
between 1.1-6 and 6.9-15, with or without chs. 7-8.
7-8: Prophetic Response to a Question
These chapters must be treated together, however we may choose to
divide them up. The question about fasting (7.3) is not answered until
8.18-19, and the final verses 8.20-23 are very similar to 7.1-2. The
incident of the people of Bethel sending to 'entreat the favour of
Yahweh' becomes a sign of what 'many cities' (v. 20) and even 'many
1. Die zwolf kleinen Propheten, p. 237.
2. Die Nachtgesichte, pp. 240-42.
3. Les oracles, pp. 271-303, esp. 301-303.
4. P.D. Burkius, Gnomon in Duodecim Prophetas Minores (Heilbronn, 1753),
pp. 526-27, quoted in Petitjean, Les oracles, p. 268.
5. E.g. Didymus, In Zachariam, (6.9-8.15), and S. Jerome (6.9-10.12),
mentioned in Petitjean, Les oracles, p. 268.
6. Weissagungen Sacharjas erste Halfte Cap. l-Vlll (Erlangen, 1861), p. 108,
mentioned in Petitjean, Les oracles, p. 269.
7. Les douze petits prophetes (Paris: Gabalda, 1908), pp. 628-29.