59 STRIKING SHEPHERD THE Christian version and interpretation as we meet it in Mark, Mat- thew and Justin. The new Christian element is that God now ex- plicitly strikes the shepherd. Justin even goes back to the Hebrew text by quoting a Jewish revised LXX which correctly renders the Hebrew. The outsiders in the tradition process are the LXX, John, and Barnabas. The LXX gives an idiosyncratic translation, which has not exerted influence in early Christianity unless after revision towards the Hebrew. John omits that God strikes the shepherd, be- cause it does not fit in with his Christology. The most conspicuous outsider is no doubt Barnabas. The author of the epistle turns the quotation into a strong anti-Jewish statement: in spite of the good intentions of the shepherd, the sheep will strike him, and therefore they will be punished. This interpretation of Zech 13,7 is part of the anti-Jewish tendency of the epistle: according to Barnabas, God never made a covenant with the Jews, and they completely misunderstood his law (see, e.g., 4,6-7; 8,7; 14,1-4). Obscure apocalyptic texts often generate multiple meanings. Zech 13,7 proves to be no exception. In Christianity, the applica- tion to Jesus’ passion and death in Mark, Matthew and Justin has won the day. Barnabas has remained the great outsider, and from the point of view of Jewish-Christian relations it is probably best that he remains the great outsider in the future as well 50. Tilburg School of Theology Maarten J.J. MENKEN P.O. Box 80101 3508 TC Utrecht, The Netherlands SUMMARY This paper traces the development of the textual form and the interpretation of Zech 13,7 in the earliest known Christian texts in which this OT passage is quoted or alluded to (Mark 14,27; Matt 26,31; John 16,32; Barn. 5,12 ; Justin, Dial. 53,5-6). It starts with some observations on the Hebrew text and on some of the ancient versions, notably the LXX, which offers a peculiar rendering. Next, the early Chris- stian versions and interpretations are discussed, and their relations are detected. Obscure apocalyptic texts often generate multiple meanings. Zech 13,7 proves to be no exception. I thank Dr J.M. Court for his correction of my English text. 50