Graphics of Zechariah
Zechariah's Time
| Babylon overthrown by Cyrus | Cyrus's decree allowing the exiles to return | Temple construction begins | Temple work halted | Haggai, Zechariah become prophets; temple work resumed | Temple completed | | 539 | 538 | 536 | 530 | 520 | 516 |
Vital statistics
| Propose: | To give hope to God's people be revealing God's future deliverance through the Messiah | | Author: | Zechariah | | Original audience: | The Jews in Jerusalem who had returned from their captivity in Babylon | | Date written: | Chapters 1-8 were written approximately 520-518 B.C. Chapters 9-14 were written around 480 B.C. | | Setting: | The exiles had returned from Babylon to rebuild the Temple, but the work had been thwarted and stalled. Haggai and Zechariah confronted the people with their task and encouraged them to complete it. | | Key verses: | "Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, you king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey-riding on a donkey's colt... Your king will bring peace to the nations. He realm will stretch from sea to sea and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth" (9:9, 10) | | Key people: | Zerubbabel, Jeshua | | Key place: | Jerusalem | | Special features: | This book is the most apocalyptic and messianic of all the minor prophets. |
The Rulers and Prophets of Zechariah's Time | 650 | 640 | 630 | 620 | 610 | 600 | 590 | 580 | 570 | 560 | 550 | 540 | 530 | 520 | 510 | 500 | 490 | 480 | 470 | Medo-Persian Kings | | | | | | | | Medo-Persian Empire | | | | | | | | | Cyrus | Darius I Hystaspes 521 486 | Ahasuerus (Xerxes) 486 | | | | | | | | | Smerdis | | | | | | | | | Cambyses | | | | 483 Vashti deposed | | | | | | | | | Darius the Mede 539-525 | | 478 Esther Queen | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ZECHARIAH 520 489 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Haggai 520 505 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Zechariah and His Contemporary Prophets (Southern Kingdom) | | Daniel and 70-years Jewish Captivity 3 Stages of Captivity | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 605 Daniel and friends | | 538 Zerubbabel | | | 597 Ezekiel and 10,000 captives | | 538 Decree of Cyrus | | | | | | 586 Destruction of Jerusalem | | 536 Temple started | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 534 Temple work stopped | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 520 Temple work resumed | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 516 Temple finished | | | | | 650 | 640 | 630 | 620 | 610 | 600 | 590 | 580 | 570 | 560 | 550 | 540 | 530 | 520 | 510 | 500 | 490 | 480 | 470
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Personality Profile: Zechariah
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1:1 Name means: “Jehovah remembers.”
Not to be confused with: At least 27 other men of the same name in the Bible, including the son and successor of Jeroboam II (2 Kin. 14:29; 15:8), and the father of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5).
Home: Probably born in Babylon; relocated to Jerusalem, possibly in the return of 538 a.d.
Family: Was the grandson of Iddo and the son of Berechiah.
Occupation: Probably a Levite (if Neh. 12:16 refers to him), and a prophet in postexilic Jerusalem.
Best known today for: His eight prophetic, apocalyptic visions, and his two judgment-salvation oracles, in which he rebuked the people of Jerusalem and exhorted them to complete the rebuilding of the temple. |
Word in life study Bible . 1997, c1996 (electronic ed.) (Zac 2.4). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Prophecies of the Messiah in Zechariah
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Prophecy |
New Testament Fulfillment |
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The ruler on the throne (Zech. 2:10–13) |
Rev. 5:13; 6:9; 21:24; 22:1–5 |
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A holy priesthood (Zech. 3:8) |
John 2:19–21;
Eph. 2:20–21;
1 Pet. 2:5 |
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A heavenly high priest (Zech. 6:12–13) |
Heb. 4:4; 8:1–2 |
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The ruler on a donkey (Zech. 9:9–10) |
Matt. 21:4–5 |
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The price of 30 pieces of silver (Zech. 11:12–13) |
Matt. 26:14–15 |
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The silver used to buy a potter’s field (Zech. 11:13) |
Matt. 27:9 |
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Piercing of the Messiah’s body (Zech. 12:10) |
John 19:34, 37 |
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Wounding of the Shepherd Savior and scattering of the sheep (Zech. 13:1, 6–7) |
Matt. 26:31;
John 16:32 |
Word in life study Bible . 1997, c1996 (electronic ed.) (Zac 11.16). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Scattering & Return
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PRINCIPLE |
PRE-EXILE |
POST-EXILE |
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Deuteronomy 28:1–2 |
Isaiah 11:11–12 |
Isaiah 66:20–22 |
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13–15 |
14:1–3 |
Ezekiel 39:25–29 |
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36–37 |
Jeremiah 16:14–16 |
Zephaniah 3:14–20 |
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45–46 |
23:3–8 |
Zechariah 8:4–8 |
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Ezekiel 11:17–21 |
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Joel 3:17–21 |
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Amos 9:11–15 |
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Micah 4:4–7 |
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Richards, L., & Richards, L. O. (1987). The teacher's commentary. Includes index. (502). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
Zechariah’s Visions
| Vision | Significance | | Man and horses among the myrtle trees (1:18) | The Lord will again be merciful to Jerusalem (1:14, 16, 17). | | Four horns, four craftsman (1:18–20) | Those who scattered Judah are cast our (1:21). | | Man with measuring line (2:1) | God will be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem (2:3–5). | | Cleansing of Joshua (3:4) | The Servant, the Branch, comes to save (3:8, 9). | | Golden lampstand and olive trees (4:2, 3) | The Lord empowers Israel by His Spirit (4:6). | | Flying scroll (5:1) | Dishonesty is cursed (5:3). | | Woman in the basket (5:6, 7) | Wickedness will be removed (5:9). | | Four chariots (6:1) | The spirits of heaven execute judgement on the whole earth (6:5, 7). |
New Geneva study Bible. 1997, c1995 (electronic ed.) (Zac 1.2). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Zechariah
Served as a prophet to Judah about 520 B.C., after the return from exile.
Climate of the times |
The exiles had returned from captivity to rebuild their Temple. But work on the Temple had stalled, and the people were ignoring their service to God.
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Main message |
Zechariah, like Haggai, encouraged the people to finish rebuilding the Temple. His visions gave the people hope. He told the people of a future king who would one day establish an eternal Kingdom.
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Importance of message |
Even in times of discouragement and despair, God is working out his plan. God protects and guides us. |
Contemporary prophet |
Haggai (approximately 520 B.C.)
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The Blueprint
1) MESSAGES WHILE REBUILDING THE TEMPLE (1:1-8:23)
- Zechariah's night visions
- Zechariah's words of encouragement
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Zechariah encouraged the people to put away the sin in their lives and to continue rebuilding the temple. His visions described the judgment of Israel's enemies, the blessings to Jerusalem, and the need for God's people to remain pure - avoiding hypocrisy, superficiality, and sin Zechariah's visions provided hope to the people. We also need to carefully follow the instruction to remain pure until Christ returns.
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2) MESSAGES AFTER COMPLETING THE TEMPLE (9:1-14:21)
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Besides encouragement and hope, Zechariah's messages were also a warning that God's messianic Kingdom would not begin as soon as the Temple was complete. Israel's enemies would be judged and the King would come, but God's people would themselves face many difficult circumstances before experiencing the blessing of the messianic Kingdom. We too, may face much sorrow, disappointment, and distress before coming into Christ's eternal Kingdom.
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