national heritage. As transmitters of Yahweh’s word in a period where it might not have been otherwise heard, they serve as spokesmen for Yahweh and also as tradents of the past. With society lacking a king and a palace, there was no course but to develop another society with different emphases. All this was accomplished by Haggai and First Zechariah who, according to the wisdom of later rabbinic tradition, were among the last of the prophets and were among those who were responsible for assuring