Grove in the sea

In the first of his night visions, Zechariah (1:8) sees myrtle trees “in the ravine” (NASB). Some commentators take the word translated as “bottom” or “ravine” as symbolic of the low and depressed condition of the Jewish community in Zechariah’s day. But the word is best translated not as “ravine,” but as “depths” of the sea (cf. Exodus 15:5; Nehemiah 9:11; Jonah 2:4). The myrtle grove is “in” the depths of the sea. This might suggest water coming from beneath the ground to nourish the myrtle grove. Like the tree of Psalm 1, the myrtle grove is fed by subterranean waters from the deeps.

The wording of Zechariah 1:8, though, suggests something more unusual – a grove that is actually “in” the depths. That does describe Israel’s situation, but not a condition of depression. Rather, it describes Israel’s condition in exile: They are Yahweh’s grove of myrtles, His “booth” and temple, but now cast out into the “depths” of the sea. Think of a garden floating on the waves of the ocean. Or perhaps an underwater grove, Yahweh’s grove overflowed by Gentiles but still His grove.