Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi (review)

Hebrew Studies 38 (1997) 149 Reviews ample, the caricature of a prophet in which Jonah is the anti-hero, and the fact that the true heroes of the book are foreigners. His failure to appreciate the significance of irony and of hyperbole, whether in the description of the size of Babylon or the Ninevites' response to a 5-word sermon which mentions nothing about repentance yet draws the whole populace and its animals to repent in sackcloth and ashes, is missed. The implied criticism of Israel-few of whom took any notice of the true prophets, in contrast to Nineveh, all of whom including animals turned to God after a one-line sermon from Jonah-is missed because of the insistence that the book must be treated as historical in every detail. He suggests that the inclusion of the animals was the action of "a desperate monarch." Failure to appreciate the nature of the material in Jonah probably leaves no alternative view. In his treatment of the poem in chapter 2, Page fails to distinguish between the use of language in narrative and in poetry. Figurative language in the poem is regarded as historical description. There is little sensitivity to the subtleties of poetic language. His interpretation of the size of Nineveh follows that of the NIV, but he fails to justify that choice, merely dismissing other possibilities. The repentance of the Ninevites is taken as historical fact, but that raises so many problems in the light of history that Page has to go to great lengths to explain that their conversion must have been only a temporary one. Smith and Page have written commentaries which are faithful to their theological viewpoint. This will perhaps satisfy a particular type of audience , but it cannot but frustrate those who may be looking for a commentary which, while conservative in its approach, is nevertheless willing to tackle some of the hard issues which the texts of these books raise. Graham S. Ogden United Bible Societies Canberra. Australia HAGGAI, ZECHARIAH, MALACHI. By Paul L. Redditt. The New Century Bible Commentary. Pp. xxvii + 164. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1995. Paper, $14.95. The form of the New Century Bible Commentary is familiar, and its excellent presentation of contemporary scholarship in a manner that is ac- Hebrew Studies 38 (1997) 150 Reviews cessible to pastor, student, and teacher is widely appreciated. Redditt sets out to study the last three of the minor prophets at each major level of their composition, paying attention to the social setting of each phase. The texts are characterized as literary products which from the beginning were composed to be read. Complex views of the literary composition are put forward in places, for example on Zechariah 9-14, and, in a relatively short commentary such as this, it is hard to do such an argument full justice. Haggai urges the rebuilding of the Temple. The unclean altar contaminates the people themselves. In his final sermon, Haggai addresses Zerubbabel as God's signet ring and servant, thus proclaiming the restoration of the Davidic kingdom in Judah and reversing Jeremiah's condemnation of Jehoiachin's progeny. Haggai was prefaced to the third edition of Zechariah 1-8, identified by Redditt and dated to the period just before the completion of the Temple. The first edition was the seven night visions and two exhortations comprising the appeal of Zechariah to exiles who remained in Babylon; the second edition was the application of these visions to the beginning of the construction of the Jerusalem Temple of 520, mentioning the investiture of Joshua son of Jehozadak as high priest (3:1-7, 9) and the role of Zerubbabel. A particularly clear example of this is the treatment of 4:6blOa which is seen as an insertion to the vision of the lamp stand. I have some hesitations about the way in which the commentary deals with verses 6b-lOa only after verse 14. The author himself says that there is no reason to suppose that the verses ever appeared anywhere other than their present position (p. 67). Yet one can understand his wish to deal first with the presumed original version. The problem could perhaps have...