Module Religion Writing

11.2.TheProphetsWantaTempleinJerusalem.HaggaiandZechariah.pptx

The Prophets Want A Temple In Jerusalem: Haggai and Zechariah

Postexilic Prophecy: Core Features

In the context of Persian rule

Restoration of Temple

Rise of the High Priest

Transformation (eschatologization) of Davidic kingship

How to relate prophetic traditions and emerging apocalyptic tradition

Critique of sin but not the same calls for national punishment as before

Model of Herod’s Temple (Israel Museum, Jerusalem)

Haggai: A Prophet of the Persian Era

520 BCE

Dated to the time of a Persian, not a Judean, king

Two core addressees: Zerubbabel, Davidic “governor”; Joshua, high priest

Zerubbabel—grandson of the exiled Judean king (Jehoiachin). Heir to the Davidic throne

Joshua—son of the exiled High Priest (Jehozadak)

Exile ended 19 years earlier, but still no temple

God is critical that they built (nice) houses for themselves first

Result—drought. Proposed solution—build the temple.

The Temple and Zerubbabel, God’s Signet Ring

Whips up support for the temple

The temple is built—very quickly

Proclaims that the God will soon make the (meager) temple glorious

Connects the construction of the temple to agricultural abundance

Proclaims that God will overthrow kingdoms through Zerubbabel—the first Jewish messiah?

A revolutionary oracle (2:20-23)

Zerubbabel—probably assassinated by the Persians

The Rebuilding of the Temple (Dore, 1866)

Zechariah 1-8

520-518 BCE. Same time as Haggai

Encourages construction of the temple (like Haggai)

Zech 9-14 written later

Zech 1-8: eight visions

Zechariah: in some ways more reminiscent of the later apocalyptic tradition than the older prophetic tradition

Vision of the Horses (Zech 1). From a Sicilian manuscript (ca. 1300)

Zechariah’s Visions about Priests, Messiahs and the Temple

Zech 3: the investiture of the high priest, Joshua. A political, not only religious, figure.

Branch—a Davidic title. Zerubbabel.

Zech 4: “two sons of oil” (anointed ones)—Zerubbabel and Joshua, anointed by God to wield power. Dyarchy of the early Second Temple period.

Scriptural basis for a kind of bi-messianism.

Zech 6: fund-raising for the temple and the construction of crowns.

Zechariah’s vision of Joshua (ch. 3). Christoph Weigel, late 17th cen.