1874] VARIOUS EXTRACTS 245 



If Zechariah is the author, the concrete colouring is 

 allegorical and symbolical. 



Now this conclusion may not seem to carry us far in 

 our present enquiry. But it is very important as regards 

 the general theory of Old Testament criticism as regards 

 the prophetical writings. It is often maintained that 

 the only ground for disputing traditional authorship is 

 rationalism i.e. a desire to dispute the divine illumination 

 of the prophet. But the present discussion shows us 

 that this is not true, unless all literal interpretation is 

 rationalism and allegorical exegesis is alone evangelical. 

 And how little this is the case, we have already seen in 

 discussing the book of Joel. Let us suppose that our 

 prophecy had come to us in a separate form like the book 

 of Joel without date. No one would have seen in it traces 

 of composition after the Exile. Such traces are, indeed, 

 sought by Hengstenberg and others (see a condensed list in 

 Koehler s article in Herzog, xviii. 358), but rather weigh 

 on the other side (are either futile or self-destructive). 

 The mention of Greece (ix. 13) may be explained by Joel 

 iv. 6, 7 ; or if this be denied, is it easier to explain it in 

 connection with Zechariah s time ? Ch. ix. 8 is said to 

 imply a previous destruction of the temple. Really the 

 oppressor in this verse is not a sovereign like the Great 

 King, levying regular tribute, but a passing conqueror, 

 making a raid in the land and again withdrawing. This 

 suits the first times of the Assyrian invasions or such a 

 plundering of Jerusalem as we found indicated in Joel 

 iv. 6, 7; (cf. 2 Chron. xxi. 17-18). Again (Havern. 424) 

 the time of the exile is said to appear in ix. 12, 10, 6, as 

 already present. But the first passage has an exact 

 parallel in Joel iv. (cf. Is. xi. 15-16; Micah vii. 12), while 

 with the second we must connect the next verse in which 

 the &quot; sowing among the nations &quot; appears as future i.e. 

 just as in Amos and Hosea, etc., chastisement must 

 precede deliverance. 



Quite different, as we have seen, are the indications of 



