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"There are many items that are parallel in Zechariah and in Jeremiah, and
consequently Jeremiah may have prophesied the same things as did Zechariah, although
they are only recorded in the writings of the latter."
Scrivener says:--
"However Ieremiou may perplex us, it is unquestionably the true reading. No solution
seems so easy as Lightfoot's, who supposes that the book of Jeremiah, being actually
arranged by the Jews as first of all the prophets, gave its name to the whole book of
writings: an opinion which is somewhat countenanced by chapter 16: 14: `Jeremiah or
one of the prophets'."
Alford says:--
"The citation is not from Jeremiah, and is probably quoted from memory and inaccurately."
The argument put forward by many, namely, that Matt. 27: says: "which was
spoken by the prophet Jeremiah", instead of "which was written", does not hold good,
for quite a number of quotations that were manifestly written by the prophet named in
the respective passages, are introduced by the same formula. For example, Matt. 2: 17
and 3: 3.
Turning from these endeavours to reconcile the apparent inaccuracy, we turn to
Matt. 27: 9, 10, and ask, "What is the event, or incident, or transaction, which
involved a fulfilling of the ancient prophecy quoted?" The answer is: "The buying of a
field":--
"And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field to bury strangers in.
Wherefore that field was called, "The field of blood, unto this day" (Matt. 27: 7, 8).
Where in the N.T. the treachery of Judas is the subject of O.T. quotation, Psalms 41:,
69: and 109: are cited. Matt. 27: 9, 10, however, is concerned rather with what was
done with the thirty pieces of silver which Judas cast down into the temple:--
"They took the thirty pieces of silver . . . . . and gave them for the potter's field."
But neither in verses 12 or 13, nor anywhere in Zech. 11:, is a field so much as
mentioned. While it is true that Zechariah speaks of thirty pieces of silver, there is no
statement that anything, certainly not a field, was purchased with the money.
In the attempt to make the passage in Zechariah correspond with Matt. 27:, it has
been taught that:--
(1)
Zechariah spoke contemptuously when he said: "If ye think good, give me my price."
(2)
That the thirty pieces of silver was a paltry sum.
(3)
That the money was "flung" down in contempt.
(4)
That the word "potter" is a correct translation, and means a worker in clay.
Let us deal with the features in order:--