Zechariah

What makes Zechariah special?

Zechariah is made up of a number of different kinds of writings found in prophetic literature, including visions, speeches of prophets (oracles), and apocalyptic writings. Apocalyptic writings often focus on the “end of time” when God will defeat evil and bring about a new creation. This type of writing commonly includes visions and symbolic imagery using animals, angels, demons, and numbers. They were often meant to comfort people who were experiencing oppression by promising them the final victory over their “enemies.” See also mini-article called “Apocalyptic Writings,” DAN 2.1.

New Testament Gospel writers quote Zechariah (Matt 21.5; Mark 14.27; John 12.15) or refer to certain passages indirectly (compare, for instance, Matt 26.15 and Zech 11.12; Matt 26.28 and Zech 9.11) to show that Jesus is the fulfillment of prophecies of a coming Messiah. Many references to Zechariah also appear in Revelation, because both books have visions of God's victory over all enemies and the creation of a new Jerusalem where God will bless and give new life to all who are faithful (compare Rev 22.1 and Zech 14.8; Rev 22.3 and Zech 14.10-11).

Why was Zechariah written?

The people of Judah returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon in 538 b.c. They soon laid the foundation for a new temple to replace the one destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 b.c. But the work stopped, so in 520 b.c. Zechariah joined the prophet Haggai in encouraging the people of Jerusalem to complete the work of rebuilding the temple. Why was rebuilding the temple so important? It was to be the center of worship and a symbol of God's renewed blessings for the restored people of God.

In addition, Zechariah focuses on other concerns that the people of Judah had after the exile. Because Judah was now only a small province in the Persian Empire and there were no more kings in Israel, what kind of political leadership could they expect? What about God's promise to King David that one of his descendants would rule over Israel (2 Sam 7.12-16)—was this still to be expected? Would God continue to protect them now that they were back in their homeland? God had punished them in the past by letting their enemies take over their land and send many of them into exile. Would God punish them in this way again? What could they expect to happen in the near future? Where did they fit in God's plans for the rest of the world?

Zechariah said that David's descendant, Zerubbabel, would be the governor of Judah, and Joshua would be the high priest. Zechariah also said that in the future, Judah and Jerusalem will be attacked by enemies, but the Lord will appear and rescue his people. The people will turn back to the Lord, and he will forgive them. The mountains around Jerusalem will be flattened, while Jerusalem remains on the mountain towering high above the land around it. Life-giving streams will flow from Jerusalem, and all people on earth will worship the Lord (14.8-11).

What's the story behind the scene?

Zechariah is really two books rolled into one. The first book (chapters 1–8) was written by the prophet Zechariah who preached to the people of Judah from 520 to 518 b.c. Like the prophet Haggai, Zechariah encouraged the people to trust in God and rebuild the temple (see also the Introduction to Haggai, HAG 1.0). Unlike Haggai's simple and direct message, however, Zechariah's message comes through eight visions, as well as prophetic speeches. The visions describe who will end up ruling Judah. What seems to come out of these visions is a partnership between the civil leader, Governor Zerubbabel, and the religious leader, High Priest Joshua.

It is difficult to pinpoint the historical setting of the second part of the book (9–14), which appears to be divided into two units. The first unit (9–11) speaks of the Lord's judgment against Israel's enemies and against Israel's own worthless “shepherds” (leaders) who had been unfaithful. It also describes how the Lord will bring home captives scattered to other lands and tells of a king who will bring peace to the nations. A reference to the Greeks (9.13) may mean those who ruled Judah after Alexander the Great conquered the Persians in 333 b.c. The second unit (12–14) focuses on an unknown future time. Jerusalem and Judah will be attacked by all nations, and many of Jerusalem's people will die. But the Lord will come to the rescue and create a new holy Jerusalem where the Lord will rule as King.

How is Zechariah constructed?

Based on the two-fold development described above, Zechariah can be divided into the following sections: