Mark J. Boda, «Freeing the Burden of Prophecy:Mas%s%a4) and the Legitimacy of Prophecy in Zech 9–14», Vol. 87 (2006) 338-357
Prior to the 1980’s the definition of the Hebrew term mas%s%a4) as a reference to
prophetic speech or literature, was largely dominated by etymological
argumentation. However, Richard Weis, in his 1986 Claremont dissertation
leveraged form-critical categories and evidence to argue that this term was a
formal tag defining a particular type of literature, an argument that has been
applied and developed by the subsequent work of Marvin Sweeney (Isaiah,
FOTL; Book of the Twelve, Berit Olam) and Michael Floyd (JBL 12.1 [2002] 401-
422). This paper offers a critical review of this history of research with a view to
its impact on the interpretation of Zechariah 9–14. A new proposal is put forward
for the use of this term in Zechariah 9–14, one that reveals the influence of
Jeremianic tradition and highlights concern over certain prophetic streams in the
community that produced these texts.
Freeing the Burden of Prophecy:
Ma¢¢ a’ and the Legitimacy of Prophecy in Zech 9–14
¯
Zechariah 9, Zechariah 12 and Malachi 1 all begin with the same
grammatical construction hw:hy“Arb'd“ aC;m' (ma¢¢Ë’, debar YHWH). This
˘
phrase appears to serve as an editorial superscription introducing each
of the sections which follow the construction: Zech 9,1a (Zech 9–11),
Zech 12,1a (Zech 12–14), Mal 1,1a (Malachi), a theory that is
bolstered by the thematic and stylistic integrity of each of these
sections as well as by the use of the term ma¢¢Ë’ to introduce prophetic
pericopae and corpora elsewhere (Isaiah 13–23, Nahum, Habakkuk).
The purpose of this paper is to explore this term ma¢¢Ë’ in order to
ascertain its function as an editorial marker. Does it merely signal a
new section of prophecy, does it function also as a form-critical
designation identifying the subsequent section as a specific kind of
prophecy, or does it function as a traditio-historical signal affirming
the renewal of prophecy in the Persian period?
I. Ma¢¢Ë’in the Hebrew Bible: Etymological definitions
The lexeme ma¢¢Ë’ occurs 67 times in the Hebrew Bible. On four
occasions it is a name of a person or region (Gen 25,14; 1 Chr 1,30;
Prov 30,1; 31,1). Thirty-five times the word is used to describe
something which is carried by another, either in the literal sense of
carrying a heavy object or in the figurative sense of bearing a
responsibility (compare Exod 23,5 and Num 11,11). This evidence
suggests that this word is closely related to the Hebrew verbal root, n¢’
(to bear, carry). Important for our discussion, however, is the fact that
on 28 occasions, these same letters are used to describe or introduce
prophetic speech (1), and throughout the history of interpretation many
have sought to determine the meaning and significance of these
occurrences.
(1) 2 Kgs 9,25; Isa 13,1; 14,28; 15,1; 17,1; 19,1; 21,1.11.13; 22,1; 23,1; 30,6;
Jer 23,332x.34.352x.383x; Ezek 12,10; Nah 1,1; Hab 1,1; Zech 9,1; 12,1; Mal 1,1;
Lam 2,14; 2 Chr 24,27. There is some debate whether the appearances in Prov
30,1; 31,1 refer to a place or speech form.
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