Haggai: Structure and Meaning 535 The closing words of the fourth oracle (2,23) have a similar structure: awhh µwyb (1) twabx hwhyAµan (2) ydb[ laytlavAˆb lbbrz ˚jqa (3) hwhyAµan (4) ytrjb ˚bAyk µtwjk ˚ytmcw (5) twabx hwhy µan (6) The closing verse of the fourth oracle also has an alternating structure, between the contents of the messages and parenthetical clauses indicating that God is the source of the message. The elements of the uneven lines constitute the actual message, and each such part of a sentence is followed by the parenthetical clause of the divine source (indicated by even numbers). The structure of both verses is similar, except that at the close of the second there is a double alternation, whereas a tripe alternation appears at the close of the fourth oracle. In both oracles the closing verse constitutes the climax. In the second, the closing verse declares that the future glory of the Second Temple will be greater than the glory of the First. The closing of the fourth oracle constitutes the goal of the oracle which anticipates the elevation of the status of Zerubbabel, descendant of King David and God’s chosen one. This structure of a message interrupted by parenthetical clauses is designed to dramatise the contents of the message. The triple alternating structure in the fourth oracle creates an even greater dramatic effect. The dramatic fragmentation of the message by recurring expressions of the divine source of the message reinforces God’s status as originator of these changes. To sum up, the four oracles of the book are divided into two; the first two constitute the first part of the book, and the last two the second part. Connections were found between the first two oracles of each part, and between the second two oracles in each part. This structure shows that the book is not a random collection of oracles arranged in chronological order, but that it is one unified literary work. Moreover, the linguistic connections indicate that the structure and wording of the oracles belong to the same stratum (16). 5. The Meaning Why were the oracles formulated in this elaborate structure? How does the structure contribute to an understanding of the meaning of the book as a whole? Generally, scholars consider that Haggai deals principally with the question of how to motivate the people to rebuild the devastated temple in the ruined Jerusalem (17). Indeed, this is the main theme running through most of the material in the book, and this is the role attributed to Haggai in Ezra 5,1-2. (16) In light of this elaborated structure, any attempt to rearrange the order of the oracles should be rejected. I refer here especially to the proposal that 2,15-19 should follow the date in 1,15a, see e.g.: ROTHSTEIN, Juden und Samaritaner, 53-73. (17) See e.g.: MITCHELL, Haggai, 36-37.