Zechariah
| Zechariah | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | Zec |
| Class. | Old Testament |
| Category | Minor Prophets |
| Chapters | 14 Chapters |
| Record Related | |
| Writer | Zechariah |
| Date (Approx.) | BC 520–BC 518 |
The book of Zechariah is the thirty-eighth book of the Old Testament, written by the prophet Zechariah. Like the book of Haggai, it focuses on the theme of rebuilding the temple. However, Zachariah's message extends beyond the physical restoration of the temple, prophesying the coming of the Messiah, who is the reality of the temple. This book is classified among the Minor Prophets.
Zechariah the Writer
The name Zechariah(זְכַרְיָה) means “The LORD remembers,” and is a common name that more than thirty people named Zechariah appear in the Old Testament alone.[1] The prophet Zechariah, who wrote this book, was the son of Berekiah, and the grandson of Iddo. According to the records in Ezra and Nehemiah, he likely belonged to a priestly lineage.[2][3] When the Israelites returned to Jerusalem after being freed from the Babylonian captivity, he encouraged them to build the temple, and saw God’s will in various visions and delivered them.
Record Background
After the Babylonian captivity, the Jews returned to Jerusalem and began the work of rebuilding the temple, but they were discouraged by the hindrances of the Gentiles. This led to a halt in the work of rebuilding the temple for about fifteen years. During this time of discouragement, the prophet Haggai encouraged the people to construct the temple, and in the eighth month of the second year of Darius, king of Persia (around 520 B.C.), Zechariah commenced his prophetic ministry, two months after Haggai began his work.[4][5]
Features
① The prophet Zechariah exhorted the Israelites through visions related to parables and symbols, while the prophet Haggai encouraged the rebuilding of the temple with direct words.
② The prophecies about the Messiah are detailed.[6][7][8][9][10]
Composition of the Book of Zechariah
| Chapter | Content | Class. |
| Chs. 1–6 | Eight Visions | Temple Reconstruction |
| Chs. 7–8 | Questions and Answers on Fasting | |
| Chs. 9–14 | Prophecy About Christ | Post-Reconstruction Prophecy |
Through various visions, Zechariah witnessed the glory that the Temple of Jerusalem would receive after its reconstruction. He comforted the Israelites and encouraged them to devote themselves with fervor to rebuilding the temple. He emphasized that the temple would be completed despite numerous obstacles, not by human power but by the Spirit of God.[11] This work of rebuilding the Temple of Jerusalem serves as a foreshadowing of the spiritual temple that God will complete in the future.
Zechariah also recorded prophecies about Christ, who would appear in the future: Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem on a colt,[12][13] His being betrayed for thirty silver coins,[14][15] and the suffering He would endure.[16][17] Additionally, he prophesied that living water—the water of life—would flow out from Jerusalem in the last days.[18] He foretold that God would send rain (the Holy Spirit) to those who keep the Feast of Tabernacles and bring a plague on those who do not observe it.
Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, and to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD Almighty, they will have no rain. If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain. The LORD will bring on them the plague he inflicts on the nations that do not go up to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles.
See also
References
- ↑ Zechariah- Everyman's Bible Commentary, Carl Laney, Moody Publishers, August 5, 1984, pg. 7
- ↑ "Ezra 5:1".
- ↑ "Nehemiah 12:12–16".
- ↑ "Haggai 1:1".
- ↑ "Zechariah 1:1".
- ↑ "Zechariah 10:2".
- ↑ "Zechariah 11:3".
- ↑ "Zechariah 11:8".
- ↑ "Zechariah 11:15–17".
- ↑ "Zechariah 13:7".
- ↑ "Zechariah 4:6–9".
- ↑ "Zechariah 9:9".
- ↑ "Matthew 21:1–5".
- ↑ "Zechariah 11:12–13".
- ↑ "Matthew 26:14–16".
- ↑ "Zechariah 12:10".
- ↑ "Zechariah 13:7".
- ↑ "Zechariah 14:8".