Book of Zechariah

Tanakh Torah | Nevi'im | Ketuvim Books of Nevi'im
First Prophets
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2. Judges
3. Samuel
4. Kings
Later Prophets
5. Isaiah
6. Jeremiah
7. Ezekiel
8. 12 minor prophets Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi

Russian icon of the prophet Zechariah

The Book of Zechariah is a book of the Hebrew Bible and Christian Old Testament and Jewish Tanakh attributed to the prophet Zechariah, who prophesied after the Babylonian exile during the bebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem.

A contemporary of Haggai who, the Book of Zechariah contains several powerful visions, including one in which people from all nations come to attend Temple. The rebuilding of the Temple is portrayed the necessary prelude to coming messianic age. The prophet seemed to pin his messianic hopes at first on Jerusalem's governor, the Davidic descendant Zerubbabel, who supervised the rebuilding (Zechariah 4:7), and also on the high priest Joshua, whom Zechariah identifies as "the Branch" who will bring God's salvation.

The later chapters of the Book of Zechariah are thought by many modern scholars to come from a different, probably later, writer. They speak of a Messiah who suffers, a fact which had a major impact on Christian writers of the New Testament. Zechariah's early visions—such as the apocalyptic four chariots and their horses, seven lampstands, and two olive trees—strongly influenced the writing of the Book of Revelation.

Historical Context

Darius the Great reign over the Persian Empire in the time of Zechariah

Zechariah’s ministry took place during the reign of Darius the Great (Zechariah 1:1) and was contemporary with Haggai. After the fall of Jerusalem in 587 B.C.E., many Jews had been exiled to Babylon and some had now been allowed to return to Jerusalem and begin rebuilding the Temple of Yahweh there. Earlier, the prophets Ezekiel and Jeremiah had written both prior to the fall of Jerusalem and during the period of exile. Scholars believe Ezekiel, with his blending of priestly ceremony and prophetic vision, heavily influenced the visionary works of Zechariah 1-8. Zechariah is specific about dating his writing, and most scholars put that date at (520-518 B.C.E.).

After Cyrus the Great overthrew the Babylonians and allowed the Jews to return to Jerusalem, the first wave of the return took place under a Jewish prince known as Sheshbazzar (Ezra 1). After the death of Cyrus in 530 B.C.E., Darius consolidated power and took office in 522 B.C.E. His system divided the different colonies of the empire into easily manageable districts overseen by governors. Here, Zerubbabel comes into the story, a descendant of King David appointed by Darius as governor over the district of Yehud (Judah). Zechariah also emerged during Darius' reign, centering around the rebuilding of the Temple.

Unlike the Babylonians, the Persian Empire went to great lengths to keep cordial relations with their vassal states. The rebuilding of the Temple was encouraged by the Persians in hopes that it would strengthen the authorities in local contexts. This policy was good politics on the part of the Persians, and the Jews viewed it as a blessing by Yahweh.

According to the Book of Ezra, controversy broke out when Zerubbabel and Joshua refused to allow the local inhabitants—the future Samaritans—to assist in the rebuilding process. Opposition to the project then arose, and construction was temporarily halted. Exactly when Zechariah's prophecies occurred during this process is uncertain. However, it was only during the reign of Ataxerxes that the work was completed, after Ezra was sent by the Persian ruler from Babylon with a new wave of exiles and clear authority to complete the work.

The prophet Zechariah

Zeruabbel and Joshua begin the rebuilding of the Temple

Zechariah's name means "God has remembered." He describes himself (1:1) as "the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo." In Ezra 5:1 and 6:14 he is called "the son of Iddo," who was probably his grandfather. His prophetical career began in the second year of Darius of Persia, about 16 years after the return of the first company from their Babylonian exile. He was contemporary with Haggai (Ezra 5:1).

Zechariah expresses an urgent hope that the rebuilding of the Temple of Jerusalem will usher in a messianic age. Given the fact that the a descendant of King David, Zerubbabel, ruled as governor of Judah during this time, this hope was immediate and conceived in historical terms. Probably a priest himself, Zechariah also placed great hope in the high priest Joshua (also called Jeshua), who seems to have even eclipsed Zerubbabel in Zechariah's subsequent messianic vision.

In the New Testament, Zechariah is apparently confused with another prophet by the same name, Zechariah son of Jehoiada, who was killed in the Temple area for speaking out against King Jehoash (2 Chronicles 24:20-21). In in Matthew 23:35, Luke 11:50-51 Jesus seems to refer to this earlier Zechariah as "Zechariah son of Berechiah."

A tradition preserved in the Lives of the Prophets states that Zechariah actually died a peaceful death "when he had attained a great age" and was buried near Haggai.

Authorship

There is no consensus as to the date and authoriship of the Book of Zechariah. Although there is no doubt that Zechariah was a historical person and that some of his prophecies are preserved in the Book of Zechariah, not all scholars accept the book as the writings of one individual.

Chapters 1–8 are often treated as being the work of the "original" Zechariah. His followers or other prophetic writers are then seen as composing chapters 9–14. In this view the character of the original prophet is to be found within the visions of chapters 1–8.

Many contemporary scholars speak of at least two additional writers besides the historical Zechariah, known as Deutero- and Trito-Zechariah. This is based in part on the existence of two distinct "introductions" (9:1 and 12:1), setting apart what appear to be separate sections with distinct styles and concerns. These are often dated to the fourth and third centuries B.C.E., respectively. Much of these sections consist of denunciations of Judah's enemies and predictions of Jerusalem's future greatness. These chapters are also notable for several depictions of a suffering messianic figure that seems to have influenced later New Testament writers in their portrayals of Jesus.

Some commentators, however, see no reason to doubt that the entire book was written by the historical Zechariah. Finally, some analysts regard certain sections of the second part of the book as older than the first, and as pre-exilic in date.

Composition

The return from exile is the theological premise of prophet's visions in chapters 1-6. Chapters 7–8 address the quality of life God wants his renewed people to enjoy, containing many encouraging promises to them. Chapters 9-14 comprise two "oracles" of the future.

Chapters 1 to 6

Zechariah's vision of the flying scroll

Zechariah's vision of the four chariots, engraving by Gustave Doré.

The book begins with a preface (1:1-6), which recalls the nation's past history, for the purpose of presenting a solemn warning to the present generation. Then follows a series of eight visions (1:7-6:8), succeeding one another in one night, which may be regarded as a symbolic history of Israel, intended to furnish consolation to the returned exiles and stir up hope in their minds. The symbolic action, the crowning of Joshua (6:9-15), describes how the kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of God's Messiah.

• Chapter one—An angel stands among the myrtle trees and promises God's mercy to Jerusalem. God declares: "I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt." (1:16)

• Chapter 2—Zechariah sees a builder with a measuring line who is about to survey the holy city. God will serve as the city's walls, and those who remain in exile are exhorted to return immediately.

• Chapter 3—The prophet beholds the high priest Joshua. Satan accuses him but Yahweh rebukes Satan for this. Joshua's sins are cleansed, he is dressed in clean priestly garments, and commanded to govern according to God's ways. God will soon send a messianic figure called the Branch.

• Chapter 4—The angels wakes Zechariah with a vision of seven lampstands and two olive tees. Zerababel is revealed as the builder of chapter 2: "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground... Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. " (4:7-10) The two olive trees are interpreted as two men anointed "to serve the Lord of all the earth." (4:11)

• Chapter 5—A 30-foot long flying scroll appears, contain a curse against thieves and perjurers. The prophet also beholds a measuring basket, in which the sins of Israel are to be weighed. The basket is transported through the air by two women with storks' wings to Babylon.

• Chapter 6—Zechariah's beholds a vision of four heavenly chariots which bear a marked resemblance to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse in the Christian Book of Revelation. "The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses. The third white horses, and the forth chariot dappled gray horses." He is then commanded by the angel to place a crown on the head of the high priest Joshua, who is now identified as will reign "the Branch" and will reign as both priest and king.

Chapters 7 and 8

• Chapter 7—Two years later, a delegation from Bethel comes with a question for "the prophets" as to whether the days of mourning for the destruction of the Temple should be kept any longer. God responds through Zechariah to the effect that the real question is whether the people and their rulers are doing justice.

• Chapter 8—God reiterates his plan to show mercy to Jerusalem and bring about the return of more exiles. The times of fasting will be transformed into an occasions for festivals. Men from all nations will cling to the Jews, knowing that God is with them.

Chapters 9 to 14

• Chapter 9—Judgment is pronounced on Judah's enemies in terms reminiscent of the prophets of old. The prophet pronounces a famous messianic prophecy: "Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." (9:9)

• Chapter 10—Not only Judah, but the "lost" northern tribes as well will be resored by the Messiah's coming. "I will bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria. I will bring them to Gilead and Lebanon, and there will not be room enough for them." (10:10)

• Chapter 11—The tone shifts to doom as God declares "I will not be your shepherd. Let the dying die, and the perishing perish. Let those who are left eat one another's flesh." Another famous prophecy is uttered: "I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord to the potter." (11:13)

• Chapter 12—An oracle of disaster for those who would attack the holy city: "When all the nations of the earth are gathered against her, I will make Jerusalem an immovable rock for all the nations." The house of David will turn to God in mourning and supplication.

• Chapter 13—The land will be purified and the prophets will no longer prophecy. Even God's "shepherd" will be struck. Two-thirds of the people will perish, but the remaining third will be refined until God can truly say "They are my people," the the people reply that "The Lord is our God."

• Chapter 14—A great battle will be fought over Jerusalem, in which Yahweh himself will stand on the Mount of Olives, which will be split in two. God himself will rule the world, and a great plague will torment the nations which attacked Jerusalem. Ultimately even the Gentiles will join in celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles and worship God as their true king.

Themes

For Christian writers, Jesus' triumphal entry was a fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy concern the messianic king riding on a "colt, the foal of a donkey."

The early chapters of the book (Chapters 1-6) display an urgent historical hope for the restoration of the Temple of Jerusalem and the ministry of the "two olive" trees, especially the "Branch." This figure is clearly identified as the high priest Joshua, while the other "anointed one" seems to be Zerubbabel, the governor, who was in fact of Davidic lineage.

The rest of the book is not strictly historical but more theological and pastoral. The main emphasis is that God is at work and plans to live again with his people in Jerusalem. He will save them from their enemies and cleanse them from sin.

Zechariah's concern for purity is apparent in the temple, priesthood and all areas of life as the prophecy gradually turns its hope from the governor in favor of the high priest, and the sanctuary becomes ever more clearly the center of messianic fulfillment.

Impact on Christian tradition

Most Christian commentators read the series of predictions in chapters 7 to 14 as messianic prophecies pertaining to Jesus, either directly or indirectly. These chapters seem to have been much read by Christian writers who sought scriptural basis for the idea the Messiah would suffer. The earlier chapters, meanwhile, had a significant impact on the Book of Revelation, which seems to have used several of Zechariah's themes, such as the four heavenly chariots and their colored horses, the seven lampstands, two olive trees, etc.

References

ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

• The Student Bible, NIV. Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992.
• D. Guthrie, (ed.) New Bible Commentary. New York: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1970.
• Stephen G. Dempster, Dominion And Dynasty: A Theology Of The Hebrew Bible. Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 2003. ISBN 978-0830826155
• Carroll Stuhlmueller, Haggai and Zechariah: Rebuilding With Hope. Edinburgh: The Handsel Press Ltd., 1988. ISBN 978-0905312750.
• This entry incorporates text from the public domain Easton's Bible Dictionary, originally published in 1897.

External links

Translations

• Zechariah (Judaica Press) translation with Rashi's commentary at Chabad.org

• Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)

Preceded by: Haggai	Hebrew Bible	Followed by Malachi
	Christian Old Testament

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