The ephah vision in the Book of Zechariah provides a unique window into the ancient Near Eastern tradition, where depictions of deities accompanied by hybrid guardian creatures dominate both literary texts and visual art. In this sacred text, a vision describes an ephah, a measuring container, in which a woman identified as הרשעה (ha-ra'shah), translated as "the wicked" or "the guilty," is placed. Winged creatures resembling storks are described as lifting the ephah into the air, indicating their role as transporters directed by the interpreting angel.
Interpretations by several scholars suggest that the "woman" in this vision might represent a goddess figure venerated in Judah's past, possibly associated with Asherah, whose cult image was established in the Jerusalem Temple in ancient times. This is consistent with historical records of King Manasseh introducing the image of Asherah into worship in Jerusalem (2 Kings 21:7). Identifying the "woman" as הרשעה (ha-ra'shah) can be seen as an indictment of her cult, yet also as a near statement of her identity.
The deportation of this "woman" to Babylon, accompanied by her hybrid guardian creatures, reflects a typical ancient Near Eastern practice, where divine images were often moved from one location to another, continuing their worship in new places. This analogy is found in other biblical accounts where the gods of the Edomites were brought back to Judah after their defeat, or when Chemosh, the god of the Moabites, was exiled with his priests and followers (2 Chronicles 25:14-16, Jeremiah 48:7).
The approach of Zechariah's vision to visual expression is also noteworthy. Although the description of the "woman" is minimal, detailed attention is given to the winged creatures, reflecting a tendency towards ekphrasis in ancient literature. Such visual elements demonstrate how ancient Near Eastern traditions influenced literary narratives, blending visual imagery into sacred texts to convey theological and symbolic messages.
Conclusion
The ephah vision in the Book of Zechariah not only portrays ancient religious practices but also offers a window into understanding how visual culture and literary texts complemented each other in creating richly meaningful religious narratives. This approach opens up further discussion about the poetics of ekphrasis in prophetic visions, highlighting the complex interaction between imagery and words in conveying spiritual and religious experiences.
Sumber:
Haupt, P., 1913. The visions of Zechariah. Journal of biblical literature, pp.107-122.
Marenof, S., 1932. Note concerning the Meaning of the Word" Ephah," Zechariah 5: 5-11. The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures, 48(4), pp.264-267.
Seybold, K., 1974. KLAUS SEYBOLD, Die Bildmotive in den Visionen des Propheten Sacharja. In Studies on Prophecy (pp. 92-110). Brill.
White, J.J., 2018. Image in Text: Interpreting the Ephah Vision of Zechariah 5: 5–11. Journal of Biblical Literature, 137(4), pp.871-891.