Zechariah 5 & 6
Notes
Transcript
Zechariah Chapter 5 Summary
Zechariah Chapter 5 Summary
1-4 / Zechariah sees a giant scroll “flying” above him with curses on those who steal and those who c perjury. The angel tells him that the scroll will destroy the house of any such guilty party.
Four Chariots and Horses
Four Chariots and Horses
I looked up again, and there before me were four chariots coming out from between two mountains—mountains of bronze. The first chariot had red horses, the second black, the third white, and the fourth dappled—all of them powerful.
The Babylonians depicted the eastern horizon as a pair of mountains between which rose the sun, personified as the god Shamash. This may be the frame of reference for the description of horses coming from between two bronze mountains.
I asked the angel who was speaking to me, “What are these, my lord?”
The angel answered me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world. The one with the black horses is going toward the north country, the one with the white horses toward the west, and the one with the dappled horses toward the south.”
When the powerful horses went out, they were straining to go throughout the earth. And he said, “Go throughout the earth!” So they went throughout the earth.
Then he called to me, “Look, those going toward the north country have given my Spirit rest in the land of the north.”
As in previous passages, the word for “north” is Zaphon, and here is is literally “the land of Zaphon.” Zaphon was the Canaanite equivalent to Mount Olympus: the home of the gods of the nations. Here the Mighty Ones have secured rest for God’s Spirit even in the territory claimed by the rival gods. As with other passages, these verses link military victory with spiritual victory.
A Crown for the High Priest
A Crown for the High Priest
The word of the Lord came to me: “Take silver and gold from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon. Go the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah.
Note the use of the term “exiles.” Even though these people are living in Judah, their position as exiles has not ended. In point of fact, this passage describes the conditions under which the exile will be truly ended: when the high priest is also the king.
Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of the high priest, Joshua son of Jozadak. Tell him this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Here is the man whose name is the Branch, and he will branch out from his place and build the temple of the Lord. It is he who will build the temple of the Lord, and he will be clothed with majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he will be a priest on his throne. And there will be harmony between the two.’
The crown will be given to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the Lord. Those who are far away will come and help to build the temple of the Lord, and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. This will happen if you diligently obey the Lord your God.”