Texts in Conversation
Zechariah 9:3 draws on stock language also found in Micah 7:10 to describe Tyre’s pride in its wealth and defenses, comparing its silver and gold to dust and mud. This imagery, used with contempt, also echoes earlier warnings in Ezekiel where Tyre’s riches and walls are doomed to be scattered and trampled.
Share:
Micah 7:10
Hebrew Bible
8 My enemies, do not gloat over me! Though I have fallen, I will get up. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. 9 I must endure the Lord’s fury, for I have sinned against him. But then he will defend my cause and accomplish justice on my behalf. He will lead me out into the light; I will witness his deliverance. 10 When my enemies see this, they will be covered with shame. They say to me, “Where is the Lord your God?” I will gloat over them; then they will be trampled down like mud in the streets. 11 It will be a day for rebuilding your walls; in that day your boundary will be extended. 12 In that day people will come to you from Assyria as far as Egypt, from Egypt as far as the Euphrates River, from the seacoasts and the mountains.
Date: 6th Century B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Zechariah 9:3
Hebrew Bible
1 This is an oracle, the Lord’s message concerning the land of Hadrach, with its focus on Damascus: The eyes of all humanity, especially of the tribes of Israel, are toward the Lord, 2 as are those of Hamath also, which adjoins Damascus, Tyre, and Sidon, though they consider themselves to be very wise. 3 Tyre built herself a fortification and piled up silver like dust and gold like the mud of the streets. 4 Nevertheless the Lord will evict her and shove her fortifications into the sea—she will be consumed by fire. 5 Ashkelon will see and be afraid; Gaza will be in great anguish, as will Ekron, for her hope will have been dried up. Gaza will lose her king, and Ashkelon will no longer be inhabited.
Date: 5th Century B.C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Search:
Notes and References
"... Tyre, who is so proud of the rampart defense of her island which she has built, is the same one who received in Ezekiel 26:14 the threat, 'you shall never be rebuilt'. Her gold which is like the 'mire of the streets' (Zechariah 9:3), a term of contempt in Micah 7:10 as, later, in Zechariah 10:5, ironically recalls the threat of Ezekiel 26 that the streets of Tyre will be trampled by the invader following the breaching of the walls, while her silver, which is 'like dust' (Zechariah 9:3) recalls the threat of Ezekiel 26:12 'your dust they will cast into the midst of the waters'. These allusions are strikingly echoed in Zechariah 9.3-4 ..."
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.