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Literary structure (chiasm, chiasmus) of Book of Zechariah

Chiastic Structure and Concentric Structure and Parallel of each pericope

[1]Israel urged to repent  (Zech 1:1-6)
 
P(1:1)1:1 The LORD was indeed angry with your fathers (1:2)
  A1(1:2-3)  1:2 Return to me, says the LORD of hosts (1:3)
  A2(1:4)  1:4 Be not like your fathers whom the former prophets warned (1:4)
  A3(1:5-6)  1:5 Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, can they live forever? (1:5)
 
   A: Ancestors.

[2]First vision  (Zech 1:7-17)
 
P(1:7)the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah (1:7)
  A(1:8)  the driver of a red horse (1:8)
    B(1:9)    What are these, my lord? (1:9)
      C(1:10)      The man who was standing among the myrtle trees spoke up (1:10)
  A'(1:11)  We have patrolled the earth (1:11)
    B'(1:12)    how long will you be without mercy for Jerusalem? (1:12)
      C'(1:13-17)      the LORD replied with comforting words (1:13)
 
   A: The driver of a red horse. B: Questions. C: Answers for the questions.

[3]Second vision and third vision  (Zech 2:1-6)
 
  A1(2:1-2)  2:2 what these were (2:2)
  A2(2:3-4)  2:4 What are they coming to do? (2:4)
  A3(2:5-6)  2:6 Where are you going? (2:6)
 
   A: Questions and answers.

[4]An appeal to the exiles  (Zech 2:7-17)
 
  A(2:7-9)  2:8 People will live in Jerusalem as though in open country (2:8)
    B(2:10-13)    2:11 Up, escape to Zion (2:11)
    B'(2:14-15)    2:14 Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion (2:14)
  A'(2:16-17)  2:16 he will again choose Jerusalem. (2:16)
 
   A: Jerusalem. B: Zion.

[5]Fourth vision  (Zech 3:1-10)
 
P(3:1)3:1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, while Satan stood at his right hand to accuse him. (3:1)
  A(3:2)  3:2 the angel of the LORD said to Satan (3:2)
    B(3:3-5)    3:4 Take off his filthy garments, and clothe him in festal garments (3:4)
  A'(3:6-10)  3:6 The angel of the LORD then gave Joshua this assurance (3:6)
 
   A: Words of the angel. B: Change of clothes.

[6]Fifth vision  (Zech 4:1-14)
 
  A(4:1-7)  4:5 And the angel who spoke with me replied, "Do you not know what these things are?" "No, my lord," I answered. (4:5)
    B(4:8-10)    4:8 This word of the LORD then came to me: (4:8)
  A'(4:11-14)  4:13 He said to me, "Do you not know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord." (4:12)
 
   A: Dialogue between Zechariah and the angel. B: The words of the LORD.

[7]Sixth and seventh vision  (Zech 5:1-11)
 
  A1(5:1-4)  A scroll
  A2(5:5-8)  A bushel
  A3(5:9-11)  Two women
 
   A: Signs

[8]Eighth vision  (Zech 6:1-8)
 
  A(6:1-3)  6:1 Again I raised my eyes and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains (6:1)
    B(6:4-6)    Words of the angel
  A'(6:7)  6:7 As these strong horses emerged, eager to set about patrolling the earth (6:7)
    B'(6:8)    Words of the angel
 
   A: The horses and the chariots. B: Words of the angel.

[9]The coronation of the branch  (Zech 6:9-15)
 
  A(6:9-12a)  
"6:11 Silver and gold you shall take, and make a crown (6:11)"   
(עטרות)
    B(6:12b-13)    6:13 he shall build the temple of the LORD (6:13)
  A'(6:14-15)  
6:14 The crown itself shall be a memorial offering in the temple of the LORD (6:14)   
(והעטרת)
 
   A: The crown. B: To build the temple of the LORD.

[10]Question of prophet  (Zech 7:1-7)
 
  A(7:1)  
7:1 the word of the LORD came to Zechariah (7:1)   
(היהדבריהוה)
    B(7:2-3)    Question of a prophet
  A'(7:4)  
7:4 Thereupon this word of the LORD of hosts came to me: (7:4)   
(ויהידבריהוה)
    B'(7:5-7)    The words of the LORD
 
   A: The word of the LORD came. B: Question and answer.

[11]Punishment for rejecting God's demands  (Zech 7:8-14)
 
P(7:8)This word of the LORD came to Zechariah (7:8)
  A(7:9-10)  7:10 do not plot evil against one another in your hearts. (7:10)
    B(7:11-12)    7:11 But they refused to listen (7:11)
    B'(7:13)    7:13 as they had not listened when he called (7:13)
  A'(7:14)  7:14 but would scatter them with a whirlwind among all the nations that they did not know (7:14)
 
   A: Disasters. B: Not to listen.

[12]The promise about Zion  (Zech 8:1-8)
 
  A(8:1-3)  
"8:3 I will return to Zion, and I will dwell within Jerusalem (8:3)"   
(ושׁכנתי)
    B(8:4-5)    8:5 The city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in her streets. (8:5)
    B'(8:6)    8:6 shall it in those days be impossible in my eyes also? (8:6)
  A'(8:7-8)  
8:8 I will bring them back to dwell within Jerusalem. (8:8)   
(ושׁכנו)
 
   A: To dwell in Jerusalem. B: Miracle.

[13]The seed of peace  (Zech 8:9-13)
 
  A(8:9)  8:9 Let your hands be strong (8:9)
    B(8:10)    8:10 For before those days there were no wages for men, or hire for beasts; (8:10)
      C(8:11)      8:11 But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in former days, says the LORD of hosts, (8:11)
    B'(8:12)    8:12 for it is the seedtime of peace: the vine shall yield its fruit, the land shall bear its crops, and the heavens shall give their dew; (8:12)
  A'(8:13)  8:13 let your hands be strong. (8:13)
 
   A: Let your hands be strong. B: Fruits. C: The remnant of this people.

[14]Judgment for peace  (Zech 8:14-17)
 
  A(8:14)  8:14 I determined to harm you (8:14)
  A'(8:15-17)  8:15 I have determined to favor Jerusalem and the house of Judah (8:15)
 
   A: Harm / favor.

[15]Joyful fasting  (Zech 8:18-23)
 
  A(8:18-19)  8:19 cheerful festivals for the house of Judah (8:19)
    B(8:20)    8:20 There shall yet come peoples, the inhabitants of many cities; (8:20)
      C(8:21)      8:21 I too will go to seek the LORD (8:21)
    B'(8:22)    8:22 Many peoples and strong nations shall come (8:22)
  A'(8:23)  8:23 ten men of every nationality shall take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment (8:23)
 
   A: Judah. B: Many peoples. C: To go to seek the LORD.

[16]Judgment on Israel's enemies  (Zech 9:1-8)
 
  A(9:1)  
9:1 for the eyes of men and all the tribes of Israel are on the LORD (9:1)   
(עין)
    B(9:2-4)    9:4 Lo, the LORD will strip her of her possessions (9:4)
      C(9:5-6)      Destruction of foreign country
    B'(9:7)    9:7 take from his mouth his bloody meat, and his abominations from between his teeth (9:7)
  A'(9:8)  
9:8 for now I have seen with my own eyes (9:8)   
(בעיני)
 
   A: Eyes. B: Removal. C: Destruction of foreign country.

[17]The coming ruler of God's people  (Zech 9:9-11:3)
 
  A(9:9-10)  9:9 Rejoice heartily, O daughter Zion, shout for joy (9:9)
    B(9:11-15)    
9:12 In the return to the fortress of the waiting prisoners (9:12)   
(שׁובו)
      C(9:16-10:1)      
"9:16 And the LORD, their God, shall save them on that day, his people, like a flock (9:16)"   
(והושׁיעם)
        D(10:2)        10:2 they have no shepherd (10:2)
        D'(10:3-5)        10:3 My wrath is kindled against the shepherds (10:3)
      C'(10:6-9)      
10:6 the house of Joseph I will save (10:6)   
(אושׁיע)
    B'(10:10-12)    
10:10 I will bring them back from the land of Egypt (10:10)   
(והשׁיבותים)
  A'(11:1-3)  11:3 Hark! the wailing of the shepherds (11:3)
 
   A: Voices. B: To return. C: Salvation. D: Shepherd.

[18]Two kinds of shepherds  (Zech 11:4-17)
 
  A(11:4-9)  11:4 Shepherd the flock to be slaughtered (11:4)
    B(11:10-11)    
"11:10 Then I took my staff "Favor" and snapped it asunder, breaking off the covenant which I had made with all peoples; (11:10)"   
(ואגדע)
      C(11:12)      
Thirty pieces of silver   
(שׁלשׁים)
      C'(11:13)      
Thirty pieces of silver   
(שׁלשׁים)
    B'(11:14)    
"11:14 Then I snapped asunder my other staff, "Bonds," breaking off the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. (11:14)"   
(ואגדע)
  A'(11:15-17)  11:15 This time take the gear of a foolish shepherd. (11:15)
 
   A: Commands to shepherd the flock. B: To snap asunder the staff. C: Thirty pieces of silver.

[19]Jerusalem's victory  (Zech 12:1-6)
 
P(12:1-2)An oracle
  A1(12:3)  On that day
  A2(12:4-5)  On that day
  A3(12:6)  On that day
 
   A: On that day.

[20]Mourning for the pierced one  (Zech 12:7-14)
 
P(12:7)
  A1(12:8a)  On that day
  A2(12:8b)  On that day
  A3(12:9)  On that day
  A4(12:10)  On that day
  A5(12:11-14)  On that day
 
   A: On that day.

[21]Idolatry cut off  (Zech 13:1-6)
 
  A1(13:1)  On that day
  A2(13:2-3)  On that day
  A3(13:4-6)  On that day
 
   A: On that day.

[22]The shepherd struck, the flock scattered  (Zech 13:7-9)
 
  A(13:7-8)  
13:8 one third shall be left (13:8)   
(והשׁלשׁית)
  A'(13:9)  
13:9 I will bring the one third through fire (13:9)   
(השׁלשׁית)
 
   A: One third.

[23]The day of the LORD is coming  (Zech 14:1-7)
 
  A(14:1)  14:1 Lo, a day shall come for the LORD (14:1)
    B(14:2-3)    14:2 the rest of the people shall not be removed from the city (14:2)
      C(14:4)      14:4 The Mount of Olives shall be cleft in two from east to west by a very deep valley (14:4)
    B'(14:5)    14:5 you shall flee by the valley of the LORD's mountain (14:5)
  A'(14:6-7)  14:7 There shall be one continuous day, known to the LORD (14:7)
 
   A: The day of the LORD is coming. B: To survive. C: The mountain shall be cleft in two.

[24]Fight in Jerusalem  (Zech 14:8-19)
 
  A(14:8)  14:8 living waters shall flow from Jerusalem (14:8)
    B(14:9)    14:9 The LORD shall become king over the whole earth (14:9)
      C(14:10-12)      14:12 this shall be the plague with which the LORD shall strike all the nations (14:12)
      C'(14:13-15)      14:15 shall be the plague upon all the beasts that are in those camps. (14:15)
    B'(14:16)    14:16 All who are left of all the nations that came against Jerusalem shall come up year after year to worship the King, (14:16)
  A(14:17-19)  14:17 no rain shall fall upon them (14:17)
 
   A: Water. B: The king of the world. C: The plague.

[25]Final victory  (Zech 14:20-21)
 
  A(14:20-21a)  On that day
  A'(14:21b)  On that day
 
   A: On that day.


Citations of the Bible are from New American Bible, New Revised Standard Version and New Jerusalem Bible.

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Literary Structure of the Bible by Hajime Murai is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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