07_Biblica_AN_Rogland_Layout 1 01/04/14 12:05 Pagina 123 123 HEAVENLY CHARIOTS AND EARTHLY REBELLION IN ZECHARIAH 6 exegetical analysis of the pericope: vv. 1-3 provide an initial description of the going forth of the divine chariotry, and in v. 4 the prophet inquires as to the meaning of what he has seen. In vv. 5-6 the messenger explains that the chariot teams have gone forth in response to rebellion against the Lord of all the earth and to oppose it, providing additional detail as to some of their movements. Verse 7 resumes the visionary narrative (either by con- tinuing the main story line or by providing a “flashback”, if wacy ~ycmahw is understood as a pluperfect) with a focus upon the strong/dappled horses. In response to this activity, v. 8 makes the concluding assertion that the Lord’s spirit/wrath has been given rest in the northland. Such a statement indicates that, at the very least, the rebellion in the north has been quelled 26. Far from being an account of a peaceful, uneventful patrol of the heavenly emissaries, then, Zech 6,1-8 describes a military mission engaged in conflict and warfare. Erskine Theological Seminary Max ROGLAND 1500 Lady Street Columbia, SC 29201 (USA) SUMMARY This article proposes that Zech 6,5 #rah-lk !wda-l[ bcythm indicates that the heavenly chariots are sent forth in response to rebellion against the Lord. It argues that !m plus the infinitive has a causal force and that l[ bcyth means “to take a stand (in opposition or rebellion)” (cf. Ps 2,2) rather than “to present oneself”. This rebellion is the antecedent of the pronominal suffix in v. 6’s Hb-rva, indicating the object against which the chariotry is going forth. Rather than being the narrative of a peaceful patrol, the vision indicates that God’s emissaries are engaged in warfare. 26 Compare 2,10-11 [ET: vv. 6-7] (cf. MEYERS – MEYERS, Haggai, Zechariah 1–8, 324) and 5,5-11 (cf. WILLI-PLEIN, Haggai, Sacharja, Maleachi, 115), which designate “the land of the north/Babylon” and “Shi- nar” as the chief center of enmity towards God’s people and the place where wickedness is imprisoned.