I like the prophets. They're some of my favorite -- okay, probably my favorite -- section of the Bible. Which may be a bit odd. Oh well. Anyway, I've long been fond of Zechariah. Sure, he has some imagery which is hard to make heads or tales of -- but he also has some insanely beautiful language. Zechariah 14 captured my imagination especially.
But that's not my point tonight.
We're translating Zechariah in both Hebrew and Greek class this semester (easier to do in Greek, more beautiful by far in Hebrew). So here are the wonderful verses of the day.
"Run, say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.’” (Zech 2:4-5, ESV)
Here's my class's translation:
"Run, say to the young man, 'Jerusalem will be settled as the open country for sheer number of men and cattle in the midst of her. And I will be for her -- the declaration of Yahweh -- a city-wall of fire around, and I will be the glory in her midst."
This is just beautiful! (Especially having an idea what Jerusalem looks like, great sprawl-y city that it is now!)
There will be so many men and cattle that the city can't be walled. Historically, this leaves the city as a not-city. But they have something far better than a physical stone wall, which can be attacked and laid siege to and broken. Rather, God Himself is a wall around and a glory in the midst of the city...
Too lovely.
I can't wait!
