Page:Visions and Prophecies of Zechariah (Baron, David).djvu/297

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

AN EXAMINATION OF MODERN CRITICISM 281

On the other hand, there are strong reasons, even apart from " tradition " (which in this case includes the testimony of the compilers of the Old Testament Prophetic Canon

centuries before Christ, and of the Talmud) which has

t ;| always ascribed this scripture to Zechariah to believe that it was the same human pen which committed to writing the series of visions in chaps, i. vi. and the address to the deputation from Bethel in chaps, vii., viii., that the Spirit of God used also to write the last six chapters. The internal proofs of the integrity of the whole book have been thus summarised by another writer, of which, for the sake of conciseness, I gladly avail myself:

"(i) Both portions exhibit an extensive acquaintance with the writings of the later prophets.

" (2) They both exhibit also an extensive acquaintance with the earlier books, thus: In chap. i. 46, chap. vii. 12, reference is made to the former prophets generally. 1

"(3) In both divisions there are similar if not identical expressions to represent the whole people, such as the house of Israel and the house of Judah (viii. 1 3), the house of Judah and the house of Joseph (x. 6).

"(4) Chap. xi. I i is very similar to ii. 911, and the promise x. i to that of viii. 12. In both portions Jerusalem is bid rejoice (ii. 10, ix. 9), and in both the only King of Israel mentioned is the Messiah.

"(5) In both portions there are promises of the bring-

1 Chap. ii. 12 (E.V. 8) recalls the thought, though not the phraseology, of Ps. xvii. 8 ; chap. iii. 8, vi. 12, alludes to Isa. iv. 2, as well as to Jer. xxiii. 5 and xxxiii. 15 ; chap. iii. 10 is from Mic. iv. 4; chap. vi. 13 evidently refers to Ps. ex. 4; chap. viii. 8 recalls Hos. ii. 21 (E.V. 19); chap. viii. 20-22 in substance may be compared with Mic. iv. I, 2, Isa. ii. 2, 3. And in the Second Part, chap. ix. 1-8 bears some resemblance to Amos i. 3, ii. 6 ; chap. ix. IO (first half) is borrowed from Mic. v. 10, and (second half) from Ps. Ixxii. 8 ; chap. xiii. 2 is a quotation from Hos. ii. 17 or Mic. v. 12, 13 (comp. Isa. ii. 18,

20) ; and ver. 9 from Hos. ii. 20 (E.V. 23) ; compare also chap. ix. 16 with Isa.

xi. 12; chap. x. 12 with Mic. iv. 5; chap. x. 10-12 with Isa. xi. 15, xiv. 25, x. 24-27, xxx. 31, etc. ; chap. xii. 8 with Joel iv. 10; chap. xii. IO with Joel iii. i, 2; chap. xiv. 3 with Isa. xxxiv. 1-4; chap. xiv. 6, 7 with Amos v. 18-20; Joel iv. (E.V. iii.) 15; Isa. xxx. 26; chap. xiv. 8 with Isa. xi. 9, ii. 3, Mic. iv. 2; chap. xiv. n with Amos ix. 13-15; chap. xiv. 20 with Isa. xxiii. 18; chap. xiv. 21 with Isa. iv. 3, xxxv. 8, Joel iv. (E.V. iii.) 17, etc.