An Introduction To Zechariah

Introduction

Greetings...

It’s very fitting that Zechariah follows Haggai considering the prophesied at the same time.

However, where Haggai is rather straight forward, Zechariah isn’t.

The book of Zechariah, instead, is much like the books of Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation.

This means that as each person dives into a study of this great book they must guard against being dogmatic and study it with great humility and pray not to be get carried away into fanciful interpretations that have no biblical basis.

Historical Background Information

The author

The book of Zechariah clearly points to the prophet Zechariah as the writer.

Zechariah 1:1 ESV

1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying,

We do find learn some personal information about Zechariah who’s name means “Whom Jehovah Remembers.”

We know he is the son of Berechiah, who was the son of Iddo.

This tells us that Zechariah was not just a prophet but also a priest.

Nehemiah 12:2–4 ESV

2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,

Nehemiah 12:1–4 ESV

1 These are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,

Nehemiah 12:4 ESV

4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,

Neh 12:4

Nehemiah 12:1–16 ESV

1 These are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, 5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua. 8 And the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who with his brothers was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. 9 And Bakbukiah and Unni and their brothers stood opposite them in the service. 10 And Jeshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim the father of Eliashib, Eliashib the father of Joiada, 11 Joiada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jaddua. 12 And in the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers’ houses: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah; 13 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14 of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; 15 of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;

Nehemiah 12:16 ESV

16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;

This means he joins Jeremiah and Ezekiel as men who were both priests and prophets ().

Neh 12:

This means he joins Jeremiah and Ezekiel as men who were both priests and prophets.

The date

The first eight chapters are easily dated as Zechariah tells us the date.

Zechariah 1:1 ESV

1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, saying,

This puts the date of the book around 520 BC which is two months after Haggai started prophesying.

Now as far as the rest of the book there tends to be controversy over when it was written.

Because of the great shift in writing style and a major turn to symbolic language many try and make this written some other time.

This seems far fetched and is at best a guess.

The context

Remember that this is dealing with the remnant of Israel after they have returned from captivity.

Zerubbabel led the first wave of Israelites home.

Ezra led the second.

Nehemiah led the third.

The people started off well and laid the foundation of the temple () but the Samaritans opposed their work right and left () and the Hebrew people allowed this to keep them from finishing the temple for sixteen years.

As we mentioned two weeks ago, this is where Haggai comes in and preaches against this and spurs the people of God on to finish the temple.

Zechariah, like Haggai, encourages this as well.

Zechariah 8:9 ESV

9 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the Lord of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.

However, this isn’t Zechariah’s focus from God, his focus is on the ultimate temples completion i.e. the church.

Zechariah’s Outline

A Call To Repentance (1:1-6)

Eight Visions & Their Meanings (1:7-6:15)

The Questions Of Fasting (7:1-8:23)

Prophecies Concerning The Nations & Kingdoms Of God (9:1-14:21)

Conclusion

Invitation