| Return to Hebrew Bible | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Introducing the Book of Joel The Prophets and the Books[1] The books of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi have a close relationship and, in many ways, form a set. Haggai and Zechariah are mentioned briefly in Ezra 5:1 and We know nothing about Malachi except what can be deduced from the book. In the diagram below Malachi is located generally before the moral decline in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah. Malachi may be the prophet’s name, or it could be title given to the book as a wordplay on “messenger” (mal’aki) in 3:1. The heading of the book, like Obadiah and Habakkuk, gives no personal information about the prophet. If it is the prophet’s name, it is also a wordplay on the expectation of the messenger presented in the book.
The book of Haggai has a relationship with the first half of the book of Zechariah, and the second half of the book of Zechariah has broad similarity with the book of Malachi. Haggai and Zechariah 1-8 use a series of dated headings by which to structure the oracles.[2] The dates of Haggai and Zechariah 1-8 are rooted in a foreign power (unlike the dates in Kgs, Chron, or the other prophets). The eight dated oracles are situated across seven dates (the oracles of Hag
Zechariah 9-14 present two oracles (9-11; 12-14) which, like Malachi, are headed by “an oracle of Yahweh” (Zech 9:1; 12:1; Mal 1:1). Many scholars have seen this similarity, along with mal’aki/messenger, as evidence that the three oracles came from the same source. The reason for separating the book of Malachi is sometimes said to create twelve parts to the collection of collections of prophetic writings called the Twelve—to round it out as a biblical number. The heading of the book of Malachi, however, uses the term “by the hand of” Malachi which may suggest different authors.[3] The similarity of the heading of the oracles creates broad relationship for reading Zechariah with Malachi, but the heading of the book of Malachi which, with its wordplay on “messenger” (as stated above), functions as a “separate book” in the same manner as the other “books” in the book of the Twelve Prophets. In sum, the form of the text as it stands invites a reading of the books of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi, akin to the other collections within the book of the Twelve Prophets. Moreover, the three books have been edited in such a way that they form a “set,” closing out the Twelve Prophets and the Latter Prophets. Readers are invited to look back at the “former prophets” (Zech 1:4; 7:7) and look ahead to the day of the Yahweh, beyond the confines of early days of the post-exilic community. The General Structure of the Book of Haggai[4] Have you considered your ways? Have you considered your God? A Words of Challenge 1 It is time to rebuild the house of Yahweh (2nd year of Darius, 6th month, 1st day) (1:1-11) 2 Yahweh stirred the hearts of the
leaders and people to response (2nd, 6th, 24th)
( B Words of Encouragement 3 Yahweh’s presence will be with the people (2nd, 7th, 21st) (2:1-9) 4 Priestly
rule and prophetic interpretation (2nd, 9th, 24th)
( 5 Yahweh
will overthrow kingdoms (2nd, 9th, 24th) ( The General Structure
of the Book of Zechariah[5] How do everyday
ethical responsibilities interrelate with apocalyptic vision for those who
await the return of the king? I Judgment (1-8) A A call to repentance (2nd year of Darius, 8th month) (Zech 1:1-6) 1:2-6
The call to return to Yahweh is set within the historical context of B Eight visions, and several oracles (2nd, 11th, 24th) (1:7-6:15) The structure of the eight visions first moves from universal to the temple in five steps, and then back to universal and international.[6] 1 horses patrolling the earth—all the nations (1:7-17) 2 four horns and fours craftspersons— 3 a man with a measuring line— 4 the ceremony of Joshua—the leaders (signifying his servant, the Branch) (3:1-10) 3:8
The ceremony concerning Joshua the high priest symbolized, for Joshua and
company, the coming servant of Yahweh, the Branch. See similar language in Isa
11:1; 53:2; Jer 23:5; 33:15 [MT] (cf. Zech 5 The lampstand and the two olive trees—the temple (4:1-14) 6 the flying scroll—the whole land (5:1-4) 7 the measuring basket—international ( 8 the four chariots—all the earth (6:1-15) C Fasting and hope (4th year, 9th month, 4th day) (7-8) 1 fasting for selves (7:1-7) 2 hard-hearted oppressors (7:8-14) 3 the restoration of the city of 4 fasting turned to celebration ( II The Shepherd-King (9-14) A The return of the shepherd-king for the scattered sheep (9-11) B The shepherd is struck down but he will return (12-14) The General Structure
of the Book of Malachi[7] How do you dispute the
God who has made a covenant with his people? A Six oracles of disputation (point and
counterpoint, often as questions), one (1:2-5); two (1:6-2:9); three ( B Two appendices (4:4-6 [
[1]
Materials based on my own reading, and Childs, Introduction to the Old Testament as Scripture, and ABD on Hag, Zech, and Mal.
[2]
This table is adapted from Carol Meyers and Eric M. Meyers, “Haggai, Book of,” ABD,
[3]
See Childs, Introduction to the Old
Testament as Scripture, 491-94; Hill, ABD,
4: 485.
[4]
Based on my own reading, and Childs, Introduction,
463-71; Meyers and Meyers, “Haggai, Book of,” ABD,
[5]
Based on my own reading, and Childs, Introduction
to the Old Testament as Scripture, 472-87; Carol Meyers and Eric M. Meyers,
“Zechariah 1-8,” ABD, 6: 1061-65;
David L. Petersen, “Zechariah 9-14,” ABD,
6: 1065-68.
[6]
For full chiastic views see Meyers and Meyers, ABD, 6: 1063-64; also see examples cited in Bullock.
[7]
Based on my own reading, and Childs Introduction,
488-98; Andrew E. Hill, “Malachi, Book of,” ABD, 4: 478-485.
Also see introduction to the prophets, and see bibliography on the prophets. Copyright © 2011 ScriptureWorkshop.com | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Return to Hebrew Bible |