Page:Visions and Prophecies of Zechariah (Baron, David).djvu/298



282 VISIONS AND PROPHECIES OF ZECHARIAH

ing back of the exiles (comp. ii. 6-13, viii. 6-8, with ix. 1 1, 12 and x. 10-12).

" (6) In both there is the habit of dwelling on the same thought or word (e.g., ii. 10, II, vi. 10, vi. 12, 13, viii. 4, 5, viii. 23, xi. 7, xiv. 10, xiv. 4, xiv. 5). In both the whole and its part are mentioned together for emphasis, as v. 4, x. 4 ; and in xii. 1 2 we have every family apart, and then in ver. I 3, the specification. In both parts we have the unusual number of five sections to a verse, e.g., vi. 13, ix. 5-7.

" (7) Both divisions are written in Hebrew free from Aramaisms. In both the expressions me dbker umishabh occurs (vii. 14, ix. 8), an expression which occurs elsewhere only in Ezek. xxxv. 7.

" (8) The highly poetic language and deep prophetic insight of chaps, ix.-xiv. we consider as an additional argument in favour of the unity of authorship of the whole book. For the man to whom in his youth such mystic visions as those of chaps, i.-vi. were vouchsafed, is just such an one to whom we should not be surprised to find that in his later years such profound revelations as those contained in chaps, ix. xiv. were revealed, and who from his poetic and imaginative temperament would be likely to find suitable poetic language and metaphors wherewith to clothe them when revealed to him.

" The internal evidence being favourable to the hypo thesis of the post-exilian origin of chaps, ix. xiv., as well as of chaps, i.-viii., and to that of unity of authorship, rather than adverse to it, and there being no positive external evidence to the contrary, we conclude that it is probable that the whole of the so-called Book of Zechariah is the work of Zechariah, grandson of Iddo." x

1 \V. H. Lowe, M.A., "Hebrew Studenfs Commentary."