Zechariah — Introduction & Outline

Zechariah joins Jeremiah and Ezekiel as one who was both prophet and priest. He was the son of the priest Berechiah and grandson of the priest Iddo (1:1,7). Mention elsewhere omits the name Berechiah possibly suggesting that his father died young (Ezra 5:1; 6:14; Neh. 12:4,16). These same references show that Zechariah was an exile in Babylon until he returned with his grandfather under Zerubbabel. He evidently began prophesying at an early age (2:4) in 520 B.C. alongside Haggai. Matthew 23:35 discloses he was murdered in the temple.

Though unbroken Jewish and Christian tradition affirms Zechariah as the author, some higher critics claim another was the author of chapters 9-14. These critics date this section either as preexilic or late in the Greek and Maccabean periods. However, the main arguments for this can be answered. They claim Matthew 27:9-10 assigns 11:12-13 to Jeremiah, but Matthew merely combines two prophecies (11:12-13; Jer. 32:6-9) and acknowledges the older prophet, Jeremiah. Also, 9:13 mentions Greece, but this could be prophetic and in addition, it was spoken after Greece had become a great power (490 B.C.). Furthermore, the critics want to assign a late date because of the apocalyptic content, but this genre of literature is recognizable in Ezekiel and Daniel. Finally, alleged stylistic differences can be attributed to different subject matter and a later period in Zechariah's life.

Chapters 1-8 are indisputably dated in the text as occurring at the same time as Haggai's prophecy, 520-518 B.C. Chapters 9-14, however, are undated but were evidently spoken later in Zechariah's life after Greece became prominent (9:13), or about 480 B.C.

The historical background of chapters 1-8 is the same as for Haggai's prophecy.

Zechariah followed him as a younger contemporary and preached his first message two months after Haggai began to preach. He also encouraged the completion of the temple until it was finished in 515 B.C. Chapters 9-14 reflect a later period of Zechariah's life, about 480 B.C. Darius (521-486 B.C.) had been succeeded by Ahasuerus (i.e. Xerxes, Esther's husband, 486-463 B.C.), but both had suffered setbacks by the Greeks. World domination was thus shifting towards Greece which would become the new threat to the Jews in Palestine.

The prophecy of chapters 1-8 was given to urge the completion of the temple in view of God's blessing to return upon the nation. In chapters 9-14 the temple is no longer in view.

This part of the prophecy encourages the nation with a revelation of the coming Messiah and His kingdom which for Israel means their salvation and restoration.

The introduction to this prophecy is a call to repentance based on God's former appeals to the nation's forefathers (1:1-6). This is followed by eight night visions about the temple and God's promises (1:7-6:8). Then a brief historical section (6:9-15) and four messages encourage Israel (7:1-8:23). The last prophecy consists of two oracles revealing God's future plans for Israel under the Messiah (9:1-14:21).

Zechariah's prophecy begins with the description of eight visions he saw by night (1:7-6:8). The first is a vision of four horses standing among the myrtle trees (1:7-17). The message which follows indicates the horses participated in evaluating the situation on the earth (1:10-11). God declares His anger with the nations and His intention of restoring Israel and the temple (1:12-17).

The second vision is of four horns and four craftsmen (1:18-21) which assures Israel that God will judge the nations which had persecuted them. A man with a measuring line is the subject of the third vision (2:1-13). His measuring of Jerusalem evidently indicates the restoration of the city and the nation. God promises to dwell among them personally as all the nations become His people. The fourth vision is of Joshua the high priest being cleansed and Satan being rebuked (3:1-10). This signifies the future cleansing of Israel accomplished through the ministry of the Messianic Branch.

The fifth vision contains some obscure symbols, a gold lampstand and two olive trees (4:1-14), but its basic message is clear. God is explaining how the completion of the temple will be accomplished through His power but by the agency of Zerubbabel. The next vision, a flying scroll, appears to signify the judgment that will come on all wickedness (5:1-4). The seventh vision pictures a woman in a basket taken to Babylon (5:5-11). This probably depicts the national sin of Israel being removed in the future. In the eighth and final vision, Zechariah sees four chariots which disperse to the whole earth (6:1-8). This appears to be a picture of the divine judgment which will come on all the nations of the world. These visions of Israel's present strength and blessed future should motivate them to finish the temple.

The crowning of Joshua the high priest (6:9-15) is a kind of historical interlude between messages. The symbolic crowning anticipates the coming of the priestly and royal Branch who will build the temple. This would also encourage the Jews to finish the temple.

Next are four messages (7:1-8:23) which come in answer to the people's question about continuing their fasts in remembrance of Jerusalem's destruction. The first is a rebuke of their hypocrisy in past fasting (7:4-7). The next message explains how their stubborn disobedience was responsible for their exile in Babylon (7:8-14). In the third message God promises to restore the nation and do good to them in the future (8:1-17). This is used to motivate them to build the temple without fearing their enemies (8:9-13). The fourth and final message promises that fasting will be turned into rejoicing as all the peoples of the earth come to worship in Jerusalem (8:18-23). The hopeful outcome promised for the remnant in the coming kingdom is a powerful incentive to complete the Lord's temple.

The two oracles which comprise chapters 9-14 were evidently written much later and focus not on the temple, but on the coming of the Messiah and His kingdom. The first of these

oracles describes the rejection of the Messiah (9:1-11:17). God begins by assuring the protection of Israel in His judgment of surrounding nations (9:1-8). The background of this prophecy is probably the conflict with Greece and the Maccabean revolt. He then describes the coming of the King (9:9-10:12). The ministry of the King at His coming is to deliver Israel from enemies

(9:11-17) and care for His people (10:1-12). A pastoral figure using shepherds is employed to depict the rejection of the Messianic King by the nation and the rise of a false leader (11:1-17). Wicked leaders are thus pictured as responsible for the nation's rejection of their true leader, the Messiah.

The book culminates with a vivid description of the reign of the Messiah (12:1- 14:21). This begins with the deliverance of Israel and the destruction of their enemies in an end- time war (12:1-9). After their physical deliverance, the Messianic King will also deliver the remnant spiritually by the effusion of His Spirit, national repentance, cleansing, and the purging of false prophets (12:10-13:9). The coming of the Messianic King in the day of the Lord (14:1- 21) takes place as all the nations have gathered against Jerusalem (14:1-3). The Messiah comes to earth, delivers Israel (14:4-5), and establishes the long-awaited kingdom (14:6-21). In this final kingdom, there will be a renovation of physical phenomena. Jerusalem will be prominent and secure, and all nations will worship the King there. Holiness, so long lacking in the nation, will pervade Judah and Jerusalem (14:20-21).

Though Zechariah's prophecy is used to urge the completion of the postexilic temple, the motivation largely remains in the future coming of the Messiah. His description of the triumphant and glorious future of the nation in the kingdom should also motivate them with new hope to devote themselves to God's program.

1. The Introductory Call to Repentance 1:1-6

   1. The historical preface 1:1
   2. The call to repentance 1:2-3
   3. The message to the forefathers 1:4-6
2. The Eight Night Visions 1:7-6:8

   1. The horses among the myrtle trees 1:7-17

      1. The historical preface 1:7
      2. The inquiry about the vision 1:8-9
      3. The explanation about the horses 1:10-11
      4. The inquiry about Jerusalem and Judah 1:12-13
      5. The proclamation of future mercy on Jerusalem 1:14-17
   2. The four horns and four craftsmen 1:18-21

      1. The inquiry and explanation of the horns 1:18-19
      2. The inquiry and explanation of the craftsmen 1:20-21
   3. The man with the measuring line 2:1-13

      1. The response of the man with the line 2:1-2
      2. The message of the second angel 2:3-13

         1. God will bless Jerusalem personally. 2:3-5
         2. God calls Zion out of Babylon. 2:6-9
         3. God promises to dwell among them. 2:10-13
   4. The cleansing of Joshua the High Priest 3:1-10

      1. The Lord's rebuke of Satan 3:1-2
      2. The clothing of Joshua with new garments 3:3-5
      3. The angel of the Lord's charge 3:6-10

         1. The promise of position 3:6-7
         2. The promise of the Branch and His blessings 3:8-10
   5. The gold lampstand and the two olive trees 4:1-14

      1. A description of the vision 4:1-3
      2. The inquiry into the vision 4:4-5
      3. The explanation of how the temple will be finished 4:6-10

         1. It will be accomplished by God's power. 4:6-7
         2. It will be completed by Zerubbabel. 4:8-10
      4. The inquiry and explanation of the two olive trees 4:11-14
   6. The flying scroll 5:1-4

      1. A description of the vision 5:1-2
      2. The explanation of the vision 5:3-4
   7. The woman in the basket 5:5-11

      1. The inquiry into the vision 5:5-6a
      2. The explanation that it is Israel's wickedness 5:6b-8
      3. The removal of the basket to Babylon 5:9-11
   8. The four chariots 6:1-8

      1. A description of the vision 6:1-3
      2. The inquiry into the vision 6:4
      3. The explanation of the vision 6:5-6
      4. The dispersal of the chariots to the whole earth 6:7-8
3. The Crowning of Joshua 6:9-15

   1. The symbolic crowning of Joshua 6:9-11
   2. The prophecy that the Branch will build the temple 6:12-13
   3. Directions to give the crown to the Babylonian delegation 6:14
   4. The prophecy of universal help in building the temple 6:15
4. The Four Messages 7:1-8:23

   1. The setting and question that prompted the messages 7:1-3
   2. The content of the messages 7:4-8:23

      1. A rebuke of hypocritical fasting 7:4-7
      2. An explanation for Israel's dispersion 7:8-14

         1. God had told them to do righteous works. 7:8-10
         2. Israel stubbornly disobeyed. 7:11-12
         3. God punished their sin by dispersing them. 7:13-14
      3. A promise of restoration and word of encouragement 8:1-17

         1. God declares His jealousy for Jerusalem. 8:1-2
         2. The promise of Israel's future restoration 8:3-8

            1. God promises to return and dwell in Jerusalem. 8:3
            2. God promises future peace in Jerusalem. 8:4-5
            3. The remnant will marvel. 8:6
            4. God will gather the people back to Jerusalem. 8:7-8
         3. The word of encouragement to build the temple 8:9-17

            1. God encourages them to begin building. 8:9
            2. God tells them not to fear their enemies. 8:10-13
            3. God promises to do good to them. 8:14-15
            4. God instructs them in righteousness. 8:16-17
      4. The promise of rejoicing for Israel 8:18-23

         1. God will turn fasting to joyful feasting. 8:18-19
         2. All peoples will come worship in Jerusalem. 8:20-23
5. The Two Oracles 9:1-14:21

   1. The rejection of the Messiah 9:1-11:17

      1. The judgment on surrounding nations 9:1-8

         1. The judgment of cities to the north and west 9:1-2
         2. The judgment of Tyre 9:3-4
         3. The judgment of Philistine cities 9:5-7
         4. The protection of Jerusalem 9:8
      2. The coming of the King 9:9-10:12

         1. The King's appearance 9:9-10
         2. The King's deliverance of Israel 9:11-17

            1. He will deliver them from dispersion. 9:11-12
            2. He will deliver them from Greece. 9:13
            3. He will deliver them from their enemies. 9:14-15
            4. Israel will be beautiful after deliverance. 9:16-17
         3. The King's care for Judah 10:1-12

            1. He will punish the false shepherds. 10:1-3
            2. He will strengthen Judah. 10:4-7
            3. He will regather Israel. 10:8-10
            4. He will deliver them from their enemies. 10:11-12
      3. The rejection of the good shepherd 11:1-17

         1. The lament over the destruction of Israel 11:1-3
         2. The command to portray a good shepherd. 11:4-6
         3. The mutual rejection of shepherd and flock 11:7-14

            1. The shepherd rejects the flock. 11:7-9
            2. The shepherd revokes His covenant. 11:10-11
            3. The flock rejects the shepherd. 11:12-13
            4. The shepherd breaks the nation's unity. 11:14
         4. The command to portray a foolish shepherd. 11:15-17
   2. The reign of the Messiah 12:1-14:21

      1. The deliverance of Israel 12:1-13:9

         1. The physical deliverance of Israel 12:1-9

            1. Jerusalem will be besieged by enemy nations. 12:1-2
            2. God will make Jerusalem prevail. 12:3-6
            3. God will save Judah first. 12:7-8
            4. God will destroy all the enemy nations. 12:9
         2. The spiritual deliverance of Israel 12:10-13:9

            1. God will pour out His Spirit on Israel. 12:10a
            2. Israel will mourn for the pierced one. 12b:10b-14
            3. Israel will be cleansed from sin. 13:1
            4. Israel will be purged of false prophets. 13:2-6
            5. God will preserve a remnant. 13:7-9
      2. The coming reign of the Messiah 14:1-21

         1. The final siege of Jerusalem 14:1-3
         2. The return of the Messiah to deliver 14:4-5
         3. The establishment of the messianic kingdom 14:6-21

            1. There will be new physical features. 14:6-8
            2. Jerusalem will be prominent and secure. 14:9-11
            3. Enemy nations will be destroyed. 14:12-15
            4. The nations will worship the King. 14:16-19
            5. Holiness will pervade Judah and Jerusalem. 14:20-21