06_An_Cranz_586-598_586-598 14/12/15 11:47 Pagina 586 ANIMADVERSIONES Ritual Elements in Zechariah’s Vision of the Woman in the Ephah 1 I. Introduction: Zech 5,5-11 and Ancient Near Eastern Rituals Modern scholars have often attempted to pinpoint the origins and in- spirations for Zechariah’s visions by tying their elusive imagery and sym- bols to ancient Near Eastern customs and artifacts. The vision of the woman in the ephah is no exception to this tendency. In Zech 5,5-11, the interpreting angel presents the prophet with a vessel containing a woman. The angel equates the woman with wickedness and returns her to the container which is then carried far away to the land of Shinar. For the most part, these verses have been interpreted as an expression of God’s act of banning guilt and wickedness from the country after the return from the Babylonian captivity 2. As such Zech 5,5-11 seems to correspond to other visions of Zechariah which exemplify how Israel’s guilt can only be atoned for by God himself 3. Yet, what distinguishes Zech 5,5-11 from other passages in the prophetic vision-cycle is the expression of expiation in ritual terms. The corporeal representation and disposal of an unwanted entity are typical attributes of ancient Near Eastern elimination rituals. Consequently, Zech 5,5-11 has been subject to comparisons with other rituals from the Bible or Israel’s surrounding cultures. Some commen- tators take this passage as an indicator for a far-reaching program of cultic purgation in post-exilic Judah 4. Others turn to priestly rituals and argue 1 This article is based on a paper I delivered on November 24 at the SBL 2014 Meeting in San Diego. I would like to thank Steve Weitzman for reading an earlier draft and providing valuable feedback. Thanks must also go out to the journal’s anonymous reviewer for helping improve this article. 2 For this interpretation and alternative readings of this vision, see V. BACHMANN, “Frau, im Efa”, Wörterbuch alttestamentlicher Motive (eds. M. FIEGER – J. KRISPENZ – J. LANCKAU) (Darmstadt 2013) 146-149, esp. 148. 3 Cf. Zech 3,1-7 and Zech 5,1-4. See H. DELKURT, “Sin and Atonement in Zechariah’s Night Vision”, Tradition in Transition. Haggai and Zechariah 1–8 in the Trajectory of Hebrew Theology (eds. M. BODA – M. FLOYD) (LHBOTS 475; London – New York 2008) 235-251, here 235. 4 See L. RIGNELL, Die Nachtgesichte des Sacharja. Eine exegetische Stu- die (Lund 1950) 193. A similar scenario is suggested by P.R. ACKROYD, Exile and Restoration. A Study of Hebrew Thought in the Sixth Century B.C. (Phil- adelphia, PA 1968) 205; M. DELCOR, “La vision de la femme dans l’épha de BIBLICA 96.4 (2015) 586-598