WHO WROTE:  Zechariah.

 

 

WHAT TIME PERIOD IS COVERED:  According to Zechariah 1:1, Zechariah prophesied “in the second year of Darius,” which would be about B.C. 520; which is the same time period as Haggai.

 

 

WHEN WRITTEN:  Sometime after B.C. 519.

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

 

The name Zechariah means, “Jehovah is renowned,” or “Jehovah is remembered,” or, “The Lord has Remembered.” The Prophet Zechariah was a Levite born in a priestly family in Babylon, i.e., “son of Iddo the prophet,” Zechariah 1:1, who returned to Jerusalem with almost 50,000 other Jewish exiles.  He was probably a relatively young man at the beginning of his prophetic ministry.  Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai the prophet, Ezra the priest, Zerubbabel the governor, and Joshua the high priest.

 

This Zechariah is not to be confused with the Zechariah of Second Chronicles 24:20, who lived about 310 years before.  This is the only prophet that is mentioned as being “stoned” and our Zechariah here is not referenced aa being “stoned,” according to verse 221.  And according to Luke’s account, this Zechariah “perished between the altar and the Temple,” Luke 11:51.  No “stoning” was to ever take place in the Temple.

 

Our Lord takes time to mention “Zacharias” in Matthew 23:35 (also 11:51); which is where we get the poor pronunciation of “Zechariah.” “Zachariah” was a king of Israel.  Whereas “Zechariah” is the prophet.

 

Some call the Book of Zechariah, “The Apocalypse of the Old Testament.” Among its many precious passages, we find the Messiah presented as the “Branch,” Who will remove iniquity.  Also, “the Shepherd; the Stone; the Coming King; the Triumphal Entry on a donkey; One betrayed for 30 pieces of silver; His Crucifixion, and His Second Coming.” And he tells us that we/they will “look upon Me Whom they pierced,” Zechariah 12:10.

 

This most challenging little Book is second only to Isaiah in its distinctiveness and importance as a Messianic prophet.  Zechariah contains more Messianic prophecies than all of the other “Minor” prophets put together.

 

In an interesting note, the city of Jerusalem is mentioned forty-two times in this Book.

 

According to Jewish tradition, Zechariah was a member of the Great Synagogue, a council originated by Nehemiahand composed of 120 members.  Ezra is said to have been the president of this council, which was later succeeded by the Sanhedrin.

 

In all, Zechariah is given eight (8) visions:  Zechariah 1:8-17 & 18-20; 2:1-2; 3:1-10; 4:1-14; 5:1-4 & 5-11; 6:1-8; in a single night!  The number “Eight” in the Scriptures is normally associated with Jesus, The Christ.  Just like “Seven” is associated with Divinity and “Six” is associated with mankind.

 

Here is my Zechariah 3:7 Note: “If thou wilt walk in My ways, and if thou wilt keep My charge, then thou shalt also judge My house” = Here is Zechariah’s definition of what it takes in order to be saved.

 

“In tender compassion, the Lord wrought in a marked manner to save His chosen people from utter spiritual ruin.  The prophets Haggai and Zechariah were raised up to meet the crisis.  In stirring testimonies these appointed messengers of God revealed to the people the cause of their troubles.  Their lack of temporal prosperity was the result of their neglect to consider God and by showing Him due respect and courtesy, through the building of His House, they would have invited His presence and blessing.” RH, December 5, 1907.

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