HAGGAI AND ZECHARIAH 1-8: DIARCHIC MODEL OF LEADERSHIP IN A REBUILDING PHASE

  • Danie O’Kennedy Old and New Testament University of Stellenbosch
Keywords: Haggai, Zechariah 1-8, Joshua, Zerubbabel, Leadership

Abstract

Yahwists in the post-exilic community in Jerusalem envisioned their future in diverse ways. The books of Haggai and Zechariah 1-8 emphasize that in a rebuilding phase God does not merely use a holy place but also special leaders. These books advocate a diarchic model of leadership in which the responsibilities are shared by a religious leader (Joshua) and a political leader (Zerubbabel). This article focuses on this diarchic model of leadership and offers possible responses to the following questions: What do we know of these two leaders? Why did Joshua need purification (Zech 3)? Who was the most influential leader or was there a balance of leadership? Was there conflict between these leaders? The article concludes with a comparison between the diarchic model of leadership in the post-exilic community in Jerusalem and leadership in the first years of a new democratic South Africa.
Published
2013-06-12
Section
Articles