1874] VARIOUS EXTRACTS 239 



Keil, Kohler, etc., is supported by arguments so strong 

 that, e.g. Pressel, a man not attached to the critical school, 

 has lately given his assent to it. In this defection we 

 may, probably, see the signs of a final abandonment of 

 the traditional view on all hands. 



Were we discussing the Book of Zechariah as a whole, 

 we should begin by calling attention to the great difference 

 of style and manner between ch. ix.-xi. and the preceding 

 part of the book. Such differences are enumerated in 

 the Commentaries and Introductions (pro : Hitz. Kno. ; 

 con: Bleek, Havern.), and are best felt by reading 

 the two texts side by side. Our plan confines us to a 

 constructive plan. Laying aside the traditional view 

 altogether for the present, let us examine this prophecy 

 just as we examined that of Joel. If there we clearly 

 were able to assign a date, it is surely not presumptuous 

 to expect to find a similar task possible here ; especially 

 as the prophecy is most rich with concrete historical 

 colouring. 



The outline is as follows : 



ix. i. The threatening word of Jahveh the God 

 whose eyes view the heathen and the tribes of Israel 

 alike sweeps like a storm through Syria and alights upon 

 Damascus. Thence it passes to Hamath, and on to the 

 rich cities of Phoenicia, smiting them with destruction. 

 Still flying southward it lights upon the Philistines, and 

 destroys the pride and independence of their cities, but 

 at the same time drives them from their idols and unites 

 them to Judah on the same terms as the Jebusites (whom 

 Solomon made tributary). Meantime, God who has now 

 looked down from heaven and seen what is done on earth, 

 encamps over His house that it may no longer suffer from 

 hostile incursions and oppression. And now (v. 9) , amidst 

 joyous shouts, the Messiah comes riding upon an ass, not 

 escorted by chariots and horses and all the panoply of 

 war, but upheld by His righteousness and so ever victori 

 ous. For before this peaceful king the hostile armaments 



