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21. “Those That Sleep in the Dust . . . Will Awake”: Zechariah, Apocalyptic Literature, and Daniel
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21 “Those That Sleep in the Dust . . . Will Awake” Zechariah, Apocalyptic Literature, and Daniel Primary Reading: Zechariah 1, 2, 5, 7, 8; Daniel 1–6, 8, 9, 12. Zechariah Stands on a Cusp Zechariah and the Classical Prophets The first part of Zechariah (chaps. 1–8) forms a literary unit composed a little more than 2500 years ago, in the late sixth century B.C.E. The rest of the book seems unrelated to this first part; on those grounds, it seems that a later editor added the latter part (just as someone affixed Isaiah 40–66 to oracles by the earlier prophet Isaiah son of Amoz; see “Out of Many, One” in chapter 17).1 In this chapter, I will focus only on the first portion of the book. Zechariah 1–8 share many features with the classical prophetic books (see above, chapters 15–19, esp. chapter 16). Zechariah employs many of classical prophecy’s typical formulas, such as ne’um YHWH (“—declares the LORD”) and ko amar YHWH (“Thus said the LORD:”). Like the classical prophets, Zechariah depicts God as universal (“The many peoples and the multitude of nations shall come to seek the LORD of Hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the LORD”; 8:22). These prophecies presume a special relationship between Israel and its God that entails obligations on the part of each party (“Turn back to me—says the LORD of Hosts—and I will turn back to you”; 1:3). Israel’s obligations include ethical as well as cultic responsibilities (“These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to one another, render true and perfect justice in your gates. And do not contrive evil against one another, and do not love perjury, because all those are things that I hate—declares the LORD”; 8:16–17). Although 209 Zechariah never uses the classical prophet’s phrase “Day of the LORD,” he seems to have that notion in mind (“In that day many nations will attach themselves to the LORD and become His people, and He will dwell in your midst. Then you will know that I was sent to you by the LORD of Hosts”; 2:15). According to Zechariah, this day will be a rather peaceful, pro-Israel occasion. Thus Zechariah subscribes to four of the five main ideas of classical prophecy . At the same time, he significantly alters the fifth characteristic idea—about a “remnant.” Earlier prophets had predicted the return of a remnant, but Zechariah never does so. Why not? Because he believes that his generation, which has experienced both exile and return, is the remnant. This idea appears several times: (8:6) Thus said the LORD of Hosts: Though it will seem impossible to the remnant of this people in those days, shall it also be impossible to Me?—declares the LORD of Hosts. (8:11) But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as before— declares the LORD of Hosts—(12) but what it sows shall prosper: The vine shall produce its fruit, the ground shall produce its yield, and the skies shall provide their moisture. I will bestow all these things upon the remnant of this people. For Zechariah, there is no future remnant because he believes that he is already living in that future. Because Zechariah has identified himself as part of the remnant that others prophesied about, he uses phrases that set him apart from earlier prophets. Key among these is the idea of “the earlier prophets”—found only in this book— which Zechariah uses three times: (1:4) Do not be like your fathers! For when the earlier prophets called to them, “Thus said the LORD of Hosts: Come, turn back from your evil ways and your evil deeds,” they did not obey or give heed to Me— declares the LORD. (7:7) Look, this is the message that the LORD proclaimed through the earlier prophets, when Jerusalem and the towns about her were peopled and tranquil, when the Negeb and the Shephelah were peopled. (7:12) They hardened their hearts like adamant against heeding the instruction and admonition that the LORD of Hosts sent to them by His spirit through the earlier prophets; and a terrible wrath issued from the LORD of Hosts. 210 How to Read the Bible [44.213.99.37] Project MUSE (2024-03-19 10:31 GMT) Given that classical, preexilic prophecy lasted a long while—at least two hundred years...