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276 VISIONS AND PROPHECIES OF ZECHARIAH

entire angelology of the visionary part : the figure of Satan,

the seven eyes of God," etc.

(c) " A much more important point is that the outward,

historical, and political situation presupposed in chaps, ixxiv.

is not that of the age of Zerubbabel" But is that so really ?

Let me put over against this statement, one by another

German commentator, who was certainly not less scholarly

nor less painstaking than those against whom he contends.

" The current opinion of these critics, that the chapters in question date from the time before the Captivity" writes

Professor Keil, " is completely overthrown by the circumstance that even in these oracles the condition of the covenant nation AFTER THE CAPTIVITY forms the historical ground and starting-point for the proclamation of the picture of the future development of the Kingdom of God" which state ment he proceeds to prove (to my mind satisfactorily) by a number of references in these chapters. And that the historic foreground and starting-point of these chapters are not only post-exilic, but might very well fit in with the time of Zerubbabel, is also shown by Hengstenberg, Stahelin, Havernick, Koehler, Kliefoth, Lange, Bredenkamp, and other prominent Bible scholars and commentators.

To show that the critics themselves are far from sure of "the historic and political situation presupposed in chaps, ix. xiv.," we might point again to the group which includes Eichhorn, H. E. G. Paulus, Vatke, B. Stade, etc., and their English exponents Driver, George Adam Smith, etc., who, though denying Zechariah s authorship, yet ascribe a post- exilic origin for these chapters, some of tJiem as late, or even later, than joo B.C., which guesses are also based chiefly on the supposed " historical and political situation " which they discover in these chapters.

Misconceptions and Misinterpretations

It can be shown, however, that many of the supposed " results " and conclusions of modern critics are based, not only on misconceptions as to the " outward, historical, and