Conservapedia

Chiastic literary structure of the Book of Zechariah

The chiastic literary structure of the Book of Zechariah is that of a double chiasm:

A1 (1:1–6) — command to turn to the LORD of Hosts
A2 (1:7–17) — vision of a man riding a red horse:
  1. God's jealousy for and return to Zion (1:7–16)
  2. restoration glimpse (1:17)
A3 (1:18–21) — vision of the scattering of the Hebrews
B (2) — vision of Jerusalem's measuring and announced rehabitation
C1 (3) — message of redemptive hope to the High Priest Joshua:
  1. Joshua crowned with a mitre (3:1–5)
  2. messianic prophecy about the BRANCH (3:6–9)
  3. redemptive ingathering of the exiles (3:10)
C2 (4:1–7) — the Spirit of the LORD of Hosts
C3 (4:8–14) — God's messengers throughout the earth:
  1. heavenly spirits sent to probe the earth (4:8–10)
  2. inquiry by Zechariah the Prophet and answer from the angel (4:11–13)
  3. the Lord of the entire earth (4:14)
D1 (5:1–3) — the angel explains the vision to Zechariah:
  1. Zechariah lifts up his eyes to behold the vision (5:1–2)
  2. the angel explains the purpose (5:3)
D2 (5:4) — judgment against wickedness
D3 (5:5) — revelation
D4 (5:6) — ephah going forth
D3' (5:7) — revelation
D2' (5:8) — exposure of wickedness
D1' (5:9–11) — the angel explains the vision to Zechariah:
  1. Zechariah lifts up his eyes to behold the vision (5:9–10)
  2. the angel explains the purpose (5:11)
C3' (6:1–7) — God's messengers throughout the earth:
  1. heavenly spirits sent to probe the earth (6:1–3)
  2. inquiry by Zechariah the Prophet and answer from the angel (6:4)
  3. the Lord of the entire earth (6:5–7)
C2' (6:8) — the Spirit of the LORD of Hosts
C1' (6:9–15) — message of redemptive hope to the High Priest Joshua:
  1. command to make crowns from silver and gold for Joshua (6:9–11)
  2. messianic prophecy about the BRANCH (6:12–14)
  3. redemptive ingathering of the exiles (6:15)
B' (7:1–7) — reflection upon Jerusalem's previous habitation
A3' (7:8–14) — God's reason for scattering the Hebrews
A2' (8:1–17) — deliverance promise:
  1. God's jealousy for and return to Zion (8:1–6)
  2. restoration details (8:7–17)
A1' (8:18–23) — multitudes across the planet will seek after the LORD of Hosts
A (9–10) — God delivers His people at a "national" level:
  1. earthly heathen empire (9:1–3)
  2. God's ordained destruction of the earthly empire (9:4–8)
  3. the coming of the Lord (9:9)
  4. divine ordering restored (9:10)
  5. hydration unto everlasting life (9:11–13)
  6. God's dominion over the planet (9:14)
  7. God saves His people (9:15–17)
  8. enemies of the LORD confounded (10:1–3)
  9. the house of Judah fights in the battle against the enemies of God (10:4–5)
  10. long-separated Joseph saved by God (10:6–10)
  11. Egypt abased (10:11)
  12. walking up and down in Yahweh's name (10:12)
B (11:1–11) — earthly false leaders destroyed to purify the remnant:
  1. earthly false shepherds abased (11:1–3)
  2. sheep led to the slaughter (11:4–5)
  3. smiting (by reason of transgression) (11:6)
  4. God cuts off reprobates for good (11:7–9)
  5. the poor of the flock recognize the word of the LORD (11:10–11)
C (11:12–17) — messianic atonement for sin and the contrast between the true Shepherd vs. false shepherds:
  1. Judas Isacriot's betrayal of the Son of God, sacrificed to atone for human sin (11:12–13)
  2. corollary of the the Old (Mosaic) Covenant's destruction (11:14)
  3. punishment of idols (11:15–17)
D1 (12:1–2) — Yahweh strengthens Jerusalem
D2 (12:3) — glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem
D3 (12:4) — destruction by fire of Jerusalem's enemies
D4 (12:5) — heartfelt acknowledgment that Jerusalem's inhabitants find strength through the LORD of Hosts
D3' (12:6) — destruction by fire of Jerusalem's enemies
D2' (12:7) — glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem
D1' (12:8) — Yahweh strengthens Jerusalem
C' (12:9–13:3) — messianic atonement for sin and the contrast between the true Shepherd vs. false shepherds:
  1. recognition and acknowledgment of the Son of God's sacrifice atoning for human sin (12:9–14)
  2. New Covenant activation (13:1)
  3. punishment of idols (13:2–3)
B' (13:4–9) — earthly false leaders destroyed to purify the remnant:
  1. earthly false prophets abased (13:4–5)
  2. sheep led to the slaughter (13:6)
  3. smiting (by reason of transgression) (13:7)
  4. God cuts off reprobates for good (13:8)
  5. trialed one-third call upon the name of the LORD and are recognized as God's people (13:9)
A' (14) — God delivers His people at a "national" level:
  1. earthly heathen empire (14:1–2)
  2. God's ordained destruction of the earthly empire (14:3–5a)
  3. the coming of the Lord (14:5b)
  4. divine ordering restored (14:6–7)
  5. hydration unto everlasting life (14:8)
  6. God's dominion over the planet (14:9)
  7. God saves His people (14:10–12)
  8. enemies of the LORD confounded (14:13)
  9. the house of Judah fights in the battle against the enemies of God (14:14–15)
  10. outcasts of Israel (house of Joseph, a.k.a. Ephraim) saved by God (14:16)
  11. Egypt abased (14:17–19)
  12. holiness unto Yahweh (14:20–21)
Retrieved from "https://www.conservapedia.com/index.php?title=Chiastic_literary_structure_of_the_Book_of_Zechariah&oldid=2143548"