ZECHARIAH One way to remember what the name Zechariah means is to remember it means to "remember". It's not going to change your work-a-day needs a great deal. Much depends upon what National Geographic does with its recently acquired purchase of "The Gospel According to Judas Iscariot."
They now have the MMS and all the do-dads which go with such a purchase. We shall now see what sort of a ripple or wave it makes on the religious life of America and of the world. In that section of Noah Webster's fine but wordy book listing "Common Names" (names not to give your children) it is suggested that "Zechariah" means "God Will Remember" while others suggest "Will Reward" or "will be aware of."
It was a popular name. If you look it up in the Westminster Dictionary you will sort through thirty "Zechs" until you land on our particular Z-31. Technically he was what is known as one of twelve "Minor Prophets". He merits seven full columns in Westminster Dictionary and a dozen pages in Dumalow's "Commentary". His book consists of fourteen chapters rather than the page-and-a-half most of the minors get. Part of this length is due to the fact that he, unlike others, made use of various tools used by bigger prophets - dreams, visions,
Zechariah was the grandson of Iddo who is mentioned in Neh.12:4-10 as being one of the priestly families who returned to Jerusalem, after the exile years.
Generally speaking, the exile years were 597 BC down to about 538 BC. That's when Cyrus issued his proclamation which allowed all Hebrew who wished to do so to return to their home land. This puts him in the company of an oldster of the family named Haggai. He was Zechariah's grandfather and this suggests he was younger than the other minor prophets.
Scholars now agree that there are some problems with authorship. Zechariah has been credited with just eight of the fourteen chapters between the years of perhaps 520 to 518 BC. Chapters 9 to 11 were written by a "Second Z" and inserted at around 300 BC. Chapter 12-4 were appended at about 250 BC by a mysterious "3rd Z."
It was seem that the book has been more or less "pinned down" now, I have an idea we will see numerous studies made of the recently located Gospel story as told by - of all people - Judas Iscariot. The extreme novelty of such an idea has a like reaction on the mind of many fringe "believers" who have not been able to understand the concept of "God is Love".
Should these strange writings get into "the wrong hands" might well signal disaster for the church. Counter denominationalism could mean the end of the church itself.
We should be thankful for one favor.
Be thankful that it is to be "National Geographic" rather than "Walt Disney."
A.L.M. April 14,2006 [c498wds]
