OT - Survey 43 - Zechariah

All content is derived from A Survey of the Old Testament by Andrew E. Hill and John H. Walton, with additional insights from R.C. Sproul's Dust to Glory. Further sources referenced are listed in the reference section below.

Key Ideas

Repentance and covenant renewal

Hope rooted in God’s sovereignty

Social justice

Messiah

Zechariah: Visions of Renewal and the Coming Messiah

Zechariah and His Postexilic Mission

— Zechariah, the son of Berekiah and grandson of Iddo (Zechariah 1:1), was a priest and prophet who ministered in Jerusalem shortly after the return from Babylonian exile. He began prophesying in 520 BC, just two months after Haggai's ministry. — While Haggai focused on rebuilding the temple, Zechariah called for spiritual renewal and covenant obedience among the people. His name means "Yahweh has remembered," reflecting the central theme of his message to postexilic Jerusalem.

Authorship and Literary Unity

— The book's superscription and references in Ezra (Ezra 5:1; 6:14) and Nehemiah (Nehemiah 12:4, 16) confirm Zechariah's identity and priestly lineage. — Traditional scholars affirm Zechariah's authorship of the entire book, while critical scholars divide it into multiple sections (chapters 1–8, 9–11, and 12–14), citing variations in style and content. — Conservative scholars attribute chapters 9–14 to Zechariah later in life, possibly written between 500 and 470 BC. Others suggest later authors added these chapters during the Hellenistic or Maccabean periods. — Despite scholarly debate, thematic and structural unity in the book supports Zechariah's single authorship and editorial hand.

Historical Background and Setting

— Like Haggai, Zechariah prophesied during the reign of Darius I of Persia (521–486 BC). Despite the return from exile, the promises of covenant restoration (cf. Jeremiah 30–33; Ezekiel 36–39) had not yet materialized. — Jerusalem's walls were still broken, the temple remained in ruins, and economic hardship, drought, and political oppression weighed heavily on the returned exiles. — Zechariah ministered from 520 to 518 BC, encouraging the people alongside Haggai until the temple was completed and dedicated in 515 BC (Ezra 6:13–22).

Purpose and Message of Zechariah

— Zechariah's message blended rebuke, exhortation, and encouragement. He condemned the people's continuation of ancestral sins (Zechariah 1:3–5; 7:8–14) and called for genuine repentance and covenant loyalty. — Only spiritual renewal could bring true worship and usher in the blessings of the messianic age (Zechariah 6:9–15; 8:13). — Zechariah emphasized social justice as a prerequisite for national restoration: the people were to render justice, show kindness to widows, orphans, and foreigners (Zechariah 7:9–10; 14:16–21). — His encouragement included divine visions affirming God's continued presence, promises of leadership through Joshua and Zerubbabel (Zechariah 4:6), and reassurance that earlier prophetic messages remained valid (Zechariah 1:4; 7:7, 12).

Structure and Literary Organization

— The book of Zechariah divides into two major sections: — Chapters 1–8: Includes an introduction (1:1–6), eight night visions (1:7–6:15), and two sermons on fasting and justice (chapters 7–8). — Chapters 9–14: Composed of two eschatological oracles—"The word of the Lord concerning Hadrach" (chapters 9–11) and "The word of the Lord concerning Israel" (chapters 12–14). — Literary devices such as chiasmus, inversion, symbolic actions, rhetorical questions, and messenger formulas (e.g., "Thus says the LORD") highlight Zechariah's intentional structure and thematic coherence.

— The visions include images of God's presence, divine judgment on the nations, the purification of Israel, and the re-establishment of covenant righteousness in Jerusalem. The fasting sermons emphasize ethical obedience in the present as preparation for future blessing (Zechariah 8:9–13). — The eschatological oracles present God's triumph over Israel's enemies, the repentance and cleansing of the people, and the establishment of God's kingdom centered in a renewed Jerusalem.

Zechariah's Proto-Apocalyptic Style

— While Zechariah exhibits features of apocalyptic literature—such as symbolic visions, angelic interpreters, and divine triumph over evil—he lacks the deterministic tone, pseudonymity, and rewritten history typical of later apocalyptic texts like 1 Enoch or 2 Esdras. — His message remains rooted in covenant theology, emphasizing divine sovereignty, human responsibility, and the hope of restoration.

Major Themes: The Messiah and the Kingdom of God

— Zechariah contains some of the richest messianic prophecies in the Old Testament, second only to Isaiah. New Testament writers frequently cite these passages in reference to Jesus Christ (Luke 24:44). — Central themes include: — A humble king who comes in peace (Zechariah 9:9; cf. Matthew 21:5) — A shepherd rejected and pierced (Zechariah 11:4–17; 12:10; 13:7; cf. Matthew 26:31; John 19:37) — Redemption by covenant blood (Zechariah 9:11; cf. Mark 14:24) — Restoration of scattered sheep (Zechariah 10:2; cf. Matthew 9:36) — The future reign of the Messiah over a unified Israel and a transformed world order (Zechariah 14:9, 16–21; cf. Revelation 21–22)

— Zechariah portrays a compressed sequence of redemptive events in which apostasy leads to judgment, followed by repentance, regathering, and divine restoration—a pattern consistent with prophetic literature (cf. Ezekiel 36–39; Matthew 24).

Zechariah’s Messianic Prophecies Come in a low and humble station of life (Zechariah 9:9; 13:7; cf. Matthew 21:5; 26:31, 56) Restore Israel by the blood of his covenant (Zechariah 9:11; cf. Mark 14:24) Serve as shepherd to a people scattered and wandering like sheep (Zechariah 10:2; cf. Matthew 9:36; 26:15; 27:9–10) Be pierced and struck down (Zechariah 12:10; 13:7; cf. Matthew 24:30; 26:31, 56; John 19:37) Return in glory and deliver Israel from her enemies (Zechariah 14:1–6; cf. Matthew 25:31) Rule as king in peace and righteousness in Jerusalem (Zechariah 9:9–10; 14:9, 16; cf. Revelation 11:15; 19:6) Establish a new world order (Zechariah 14:6–19; cf. Revelation 21:25; 22:1, 5)

Summary

The Book of Zechariah offers a profound vision of postexilic hope centered on covenant restoration, ethical renewal, and messianic expectation. Through a combination of visions, oracles, and exhortations, Zechariah addresses the spiritual malaise of the returned exiles and reassures them of God's faithfulness. His messianic prophecies—frequently cited in the New Testament—depict a humble yet victorious king who brings peace, redemption, and a new world order. Zechariah’s theological depth and prophetic imagery make it a cornerstone for understanding God’s unfolding redemptive plan in both the Old and New Testaments.

References

Hill, A. E., & Walton, J. H. (2009), A survey of the Old Testament (3rd ed.). Zondervan Academic.

MacArthur, J. (Ed.). (2021). The MacArthur study Bible (2nd ed.). Thomas Nelson. (New American Standard Bible).