Get Ready
Zechariah prophesied to the returned Israelites along with Haggai. His book has been called the most “messianic” book in the Old Testament because it contains eight references to the “Anointed One” in its relatively short content.
Author
Most scholars agree that Zechariah, the prophet, wrote this book. He identifies himself as the son of Bechariah and also a descendant of Iddo, a priest, in the introduction. We also know that his ministry, from 520-475 BCE, overlapped that of Haggai. He is referred to as a “young man,” [2:4], so he probably was born in Babylon and was part of the first group of returning Jews in 538 BCE.
Some authorities believe that the significant differences between the two major parts of the book mean the second section was written by an unknown person several years after the temple was rebuilt. (See “Structure,” below, for details on the two sections.)
Context
The Jews who returned to Palestine after their Babylonian captivity faced a very uncertain future. They knew they had to rebuild Jerusalem’s defenses for security against the people the Babylonians had transplanted to Canaan over the previous seventy years. They also knew they had to rebuild the temple so they could restore sacrificial worship of the Lord. And they had to take care of themselves and their families.
The combination of scarce building materials and ongoing harassment by the local inhabitants made this work difficult. Many of the Jews focused on their own homes and their own livelihood and security (which was not all that prosperous or secure – see the previous book, Haggai).
Structure
As noted earlier, Zechariah has two distinct sections:
- In the first section [chapters 1-8] the prophet encourages the Jews to complete rebuilding the temple. Zechariah presents eight different visions that call the people to finish the task. This section also includes a vision in which a high priest named “Joshua” is crowned – a preview of Jesus’ role as both prophet and priest in God’s kingdom.
- The second part [chapters 9-14] presents the prophet’s vision of the coming Messiah and the prosperous future of Israel under his reign. Among the details in this prophecy is the picture of the Messiah entering Jerusalem: Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey, [9:9]. Matthew would use Zechariah’s prophecy 400 years later to describe Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem the week before his crucifixion [Matt 21:5].
Most scholars believe the second set of prophecies was more than 40 years after the first. The difference in subject matter, as well as Zechariah’s age, would explain the differences in language and style.
Major Themes
Zechariah presents two major messages and links them as he links the priestly and prophetic functions in his prophecy (in fact, he may have been a priest as well as a prophet).
The first message concerns the Israelites’ sin and their need to repent – especially their failure to complete rebuilding the temple and restoring sacrificial worship. In other words, he prophesied about the importance of the function of priests in maintaining the people’s relationship with God.
The second message focuses on God’s promises for the future of the Jews. There are four parts in this prophecy:
- God will strengthen Israel and defeat all the enemies of the nation.
- The Jews will ultimately acknowledge that Christ died for them: When they look on the one whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn, [12:11].
- God will eliminate idolatry and kill those who worship idols.
- God will establish his reign over the entire world at Jerusalem.
Zechariah’s language and images link him to both the prophet, Daniel, and the Apostle, John, author of Revelation. In his vision, Christ will return as the righteous warrior and ruling judge on the “Day of the Lord” – images of the end times used by the other two prophets.
Get into the Word:
1. Who wrote this book? How does he identify himself? What else do we know about the prophet? When was his ministry? Why is there some disagreement about the author of this book?
2. What was the situation for the Jews when this book was written? How long had they been in their homeland? What major tasks did they face in Palestine? What made these projects difficult for the Jews? What did they end up doing about the tasks? What were the consequences of these decisions?
3. How is this book organized? What are the primary parts of the book? What does each part deal with? When was each section probably written? How might this affect the style and language of each primary section?
4. What are the major messages of this prophecy? How does the prophet present God’s word to the Jews? What sin does the prophet focus on? How should the people deal with this problem? Why is this so important to God? Why should completing the temple be important to the people?
5. What is the second major theme of this prophecy? What aspects of Israel’s future does the author describe? What images does he use? What other Biblical writers used similar images? How do you suppose the prophet’s audience responded to these images? How do you respond?
Bible Trivia:
Zechariah uses three different images that figure in Jesus’ last days:
The donkey colt that Jesus rode into Jerusalem the week before his death and resurrection [Zech 9:9, Matt 21:5].
The thirty pieces of silver as wages for a shepherd [Zech 11:12-13] and Judas’ payment for betraying Jesus [Matt 26:15, 27:5-8].
The description of the savior as “the one whom they have pierced,” [12:11] pointing to Jesus’ crucifixion.
49: The lampstand, flying scroll and chariots – Zechariah 4:1-5:4, 6:1-8
Get Ready
Are you a fan of “modern” art, with highly symbolic subjects depicted on the canvas? Or do you prefer your paintings to be more representational or “realistic” and the subject looks like it does in a photograph? Which style is easier for you to understand – to “see” what the artist is trying to convey?
The Word
4The Lampstand and the olive trees
The angel who talked with me came again, and wakened me, as one is wakened from sleep. 2 He said to me, “What do you see?” And I said, “I see a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl on the top of it; there are seven lamps on it, with seven lips on each of the lamps that are on the top of it. 3 And by it there are two olive trees, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left.” 4 I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 6 He said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts. 7 What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain; and he shall bring out the top stone amid shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!'”
8 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 9 “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 10 For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel.
“These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth.” 11 Then I said to him, “What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?” 12 And a second time I said to him, “What are these two branches of the olive trees, which pour out the oil through the two golden pipes?” 13 He said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” I said, “No, my lord.” 14 Then he said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”
5The flying scroll
Again I looked up and saw a flying scroll. 2 And he said to me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll; its length is twenty cubits, and its width ten cubits.” 3 Then he said to me, “This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole land; for everyone who steals shall be cut off according to the writing on one side, and everyone who swears falsely shall be cut off according to the writing on the other side. 4 I have sent it out, says the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter the house of the thief, and the house of anyone who swears falsely by my name; and it shall abide in that house and consume it, both timber and stones.”
6The four chariots
And again I looked up and saw four chariots coming out from between two mountains – mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second chariot black horses, 3 the third chariot white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled gray horses.
4 Then I said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 The angel answered me, “These are the four winds of heaven going out, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go toward the west country, and the dappled ones go toward the south country.” 7 When the steeds came out, they were impatient to get off and patrol the earth. And he said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. 8 Then he cried out to me, “Lo, those who go toward the north country have set my spirit at rest in the north country.” NRSV
Get into the Word
1. Who is involved in this vision? What are they talking about? How does the prophet describe things in the vision? Can you visualize what the prophet is describing?
2. How does the angel explain the meaning of this vision? How does this message relate to the unfinished task the Jews are supposed to be working on? What is really going to get the job done?
3. How does the angel complete the explanation of the vision? How does this affect the message of the vision?
4. What is the subject of the next vision? How does the prophet describe this thing? Why do you think it is the size Zechariah describes? How does the angel explain this vision? Why does he call it a “curse”? Who is affected by this vision? What did they do [see Notes]?
5. What does the prophet see in the next vision? What detail does he give? How does the angel explain this vision? What does this vision represent? What other prophets have used similar images to describe God’s judgment?
Get Personal
How do you respond to God’s “To Do” list? How has God helped you be aware of his plan for you life? How does he help you stay “on task”?
Notes . . .
4:1. Angel — in the Old Testament angels both conveyed and interpreted messages from God [check Gabriel in Dan 8:16].
4:2. Lips — a pinched area on the edge of the lamp bowl which would hold a wick with the end of the wick resting in the oil.
4:3. Olive trees — in ancient times a lamp often represented a deity and trees represented worshippers [the anointed ones” in v. 14].
4:6. Zerubbabel — was the Jewish governor of Palestine under the Persian emperor.
4:7. Top stone — probably “chief” or “most important” stone – Zerubbabel would place the corner stone from the former temple, which would start the rebuilding process (which v. 9 confirms).
4:10. Plummet — the meaning of this word is unknown; but Zerubbabel completed rebuilding the temple in 516 BCE.
Seven eyes — seven signified completeness – God’s vision sees everything, everywhere.
5:1. Flying scroll — “flying” here means unrolled or spread out (like a flag “flying” in the breeze).
5:2. Length . . . width — 30 feet long was not unusual, but 15 feet wide would have made it very unwieldy.
5:3. Curse — summons to a legal proceeding – the Jews had broken their oath to rebuild the temple and were “stealing” time to build their own houses [similar to Malachi 3:8-10].
5:5-11. The woman in a basket — this vision represents the removal of sin from Israel.
6:1. Chariots — often represented the four winds or spirits of God. The angel confirms this in v. 5 [also compare with Jer 49:36-37, Dan 7:2-3, and Rev 61-8]. There is a similar vision of horsemen in the first vision [1:7-17]. The significance of the colors is not explained, but the impression is that they cover the entire world.
6:8. North country — Babylon (which was northeast of Jerusalem) was the seat of idol worship and the source of the major attacks on Israel.
Memory Verse
Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts, [4:6].
Next Lesson
Malachi 3: The coming messenger and tithing.
