The Formation and Intention of the Haggai-Zechariah Corpus

Because of the similar dating system in the books ofHaggai and Zechariah, since the end of the 19th century it has been proposedthat these two books once formed an independent collection: the Haggai-Zechariahcorpus. But neither the formation nor the intention of this corpus has beenadequately explained. This article shows that only the book of Zechariahunderwent redaction in the course of the composition of this “Book of the Two.”This position stands in contrast with the common assumption that both booksunderwent redaction in the process. Then the article shows that theHaggai-Zechariah corpus can be understood as a reaction to the decreasing hopefor divine salvation in the fifth century. In the light of, and despite thenegative experiences that characterize this period, the Haggai-Zechariah corpusadheres to the promises of the early pre-exilic prophecy. But in order to adhereto these promises, the conditions for their fulfillment had to be (re)defined.