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Dick Osseman | all galleries >> Istanbul >> Museums - Müzeler >> Pammakaristos Church > Istanbul June 2010 9611.jpg
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26-JUN-2010

Istanbul June 2010 9611.jpg

A viewer informed me: "From left to right: prophets Zacharias (= Zechariah) - Obadiah - Habakkuk"

On (the Book of) Zacharias (Enc.Brit.): also spelled Zacharias, the 11th of 12 Old Testament books that bear the names of the Minor Prophets, collected in the Jewish canon in one book, The Twelve. Only chapters 1–8 contain the prophecies of Zechariah; chapters 9–14 must be attributed to at least two other, unknown authors. Scholars thus refer to a “second” and “third” Zechariah: Deutero-Zechariah (chapters 9–11) and Trito-Zechariah (chapters 12–14). According to dates mentioned in chapters 1–8, Zechariah was active from 520 to 518 BC. A contemporary of the prophet Haggai in the early years of the Persian period, Zechariah shared Haggai's concern that the Temple of Jerusalem be rebuilt. Unlike Haggai, however, Zechariah thought that the rebuilding of the Temple was the necessary prelude to the eschatological age, the arrival of which was imminent. Accordingly, Zechariah's book, and in particular his eight night visions (1:7–6:8), depict the arrival of the eschatological age (the end of the world) and the organization of life in the eschatological community. Among Zechariah's visions was one that described four apocalyptic horsemen who presaged God's revival of Jerusalem after its desolation during the Babylonian Exile. Other visions announced the rebuilding of the Temple and the world's recognition of Yahweh, Israel's God.

On (the Book of) Obadiah: "also spelled Abdias, the fourth of 12 Old Testament books that bear the names of the Minor Prophets, in the Jewish canon treated as one book, The Twelve. Obadiah, with only one chapter consisting of 21 verses, is the shortest of all Old Testament books and purports to be a record of “the vision of Obadiah.” Nothing is known of the prophet except for his name, which means “servant of Yahweh.” In the book, Edom, a long-time enemy of Israel, is castigated for its refusal to help Israel repel foreigners who invaded and conquered Jerusalem. To many scholars this reference suggests a date of composition after the Babylonian conquest of 586 BC. Others, noting the anti-Edomite sentiments in II Kings 8:20–22, consider a date as early as the 9th century BC also probable. The book announces that the Day of Judgment is near for all nations, when all evil will be punished and the righteous renewed. The final verses prophesy the restoration of the Jews to their native land."

And on (the Book of) Habbakuk: also called The Prophecy Of Habacuc, the eighth of 12 Old Testament books that bear the names of the Minor Prophets. The book betrays the influence of liturgical forms, suggesting that either Habakkuk was a cult prophet or that those responsible for the final form of the book were cult personnel. It is difficult to fix the date of the book, but the mention of the Chaldeans as Yahweh's agent (1:6) suggests the period of Chaldean power following their successful revolt against the Assyrians in 626 BC. A more precise date depends on the identity of “the wicked” and “the righteous” who are mentioned in the book. If “the wicked” are the Assyrians and “the righteous” are the Judaeans, then the book must be dated before 612 BC, when the Assyrian Empire finally fell. According to this interpretation, Habakkuk announced the eventual collapse of the wicked oppressors (Assyrians) of the people of Judah. In the meantime, he consoled, “the righteous shall live by his faith” (2:4). Chapter 3, a psalm complete with musical directions, does not appear in the Habakkuk commentary from Qumrān, but there is as yet no convincing reason to deny its authenticity.

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Guest 02-Mar-2011 14:11
Kaandorp
From left to right: prophets Zacharias (= Zechariah) - Obadiah - Habakkuk