A Translation of Zechariah 1:11b with Its Historical Contexts and Literary Approach

This paper aims to suggest an alternative translation and exegetical ideas for Zechariah 1:11b, a report by a horse rider after patrolling the whole earth in the first night vision of Zechariah. Bible translators conventionally translate כָל־הָאָרֶץ יֹשֶׁבֶת וְשֹׁקָטֶת as "the whole earth at rest and in peace"(NIV 2011). However, this conventional translation causes problems in terms of historical and literary contexts: (1) the second year of Darius the Great was not peaceful, so such a translation creates discrepancies with biblical history; (2) Rather than praising God after the report, the messenger of Yahweh laments. Thus, the nuance of the messenger's report must have been negative.BR To find a better translation for Zechariah 1:11b, it first discusses the historical context of the second year of Darius the Great with Herodotos's Histories and the Bisitun inscription. All written historical resources witness severe political and military conditions against Darius the Great. Darius's early reign was never peaceful. Second, it discusses its literary context and the occurrences of two keywords יֹשֶׁבֶת and שֹׁקָֽטֶת, which may have deeper meanings than "remains at peace and rest." Through case studies of these two vocabularies, this paper suggests translating יֹשֶׁבֶת as the gesture of sitting in depression and frustration, and שֹׁקָטֶת as the gesture of dropping hands and heads after being defeated by someone.BR The new suggested translation of Zechariah 1:11b may affect the translation and exegesis of the entire book of First Zechariah. It shows a pattern of moving from depression and frustration to encouragement and resilience. The eight night visions of Zechariah may imply repeated patterns of frustration and resilience, possibly thanks to the continuous ministry of Zechariah for the people of Yehud during the five years of reconstructing the Second Temple.