88 GREG GOSWELL to build the theory that he was a Davidide. If Nehemiah did have Davidic connections, nothing is made of them in this book. The hope for the future as portrayed in Ezra-Nehemiah does not include a Davidic ruler. So too, in the proclamation of Haggai, any explicit connection of Zerubbabel with the Davidic house is omitted. 9. The focus on divine action There is a distinct focus on God’s action in the final oracle, for in it God speaks about what he will do 46. By contrast, Zerubbabel is given no task nor is any active role ascribed to him. With respect to the anticipated divine action, God says he will “shake (v[r) the heavens and the earth” (v. 21; cf. 2,6). In Joel 2,10 this term is used in connection with cosmic phenomena at the time of the eschatological invasion of God’s army, and in Joel 3,16 “the heavens and the earth shake” due to the roaring of God. Other references in the Book of the Twelve include Amos 1,1; 9,1; Nah 1,5 and Zech 14,5, and in none of them is any human agency involved. God’s threat to “overthrow” (Èpj) the nations recalls the divine overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah (cf. Gen 19,25.29; Deut 29,23; Isa 13,19; Jer 20,16; 49,18 ; Amos 4,11; Lam 4,6). The Divine Warrior (who is given an appropriate title: “LORD of hosts”) is further described as destroying the “ (military) strength” (qzj) of the kingdoms. So too, the verb “destroy” (dmv) has holy war associations (e.g. Deut 2,21-22; 9,3; Amos 2,9; 9,8; Zech 12,9), and in each case it is God who is the destroyer. Specific allusion to “chariots”, “riders” and “horses” that “go down” (dry) recalls Exod 15,1.4.5.21, wherein the destruction of the Egyptian army is brought about by the Divine Warrior, and this victory has theocratic presuppositions (15,18). One of God’s chief weapons is divinely-induced panic (“everyone by the sword of his fellow”) (cf. Judg 7,22; Ezek 38,21; Zech 14,13). Nothing in vv. 21-22 suggests any military role for Zerubbabel, and he is equally passive in v. 23. 10. The kingdom focus The use of the expressions “the throne of kingdoms” and “the kingdoms of the nations” suggests a special focus on royal rule in 2,22, that is, the character of the destroyed nations as kingdoms. In the closely JTS 23 (1972) 177-181. Nehemiah 2,3 and 5 do not need to mean that the tombs of Nehemiah’s ancestors were within the city, as opposed to just outside it. As also noted by P.A. VERHOEF, The Books of Haggai and Malachi 46 (NIC ; Grand Rapids, MI 1987) 33, 34.