Book of Zechariah
A CALL TO RETURN AND VISIONS OF RESTORATION
In the eighth month of the second year of King Darius's reign, a message from the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah, son of Berechiah and grandson of Iddo. The Lord declared his great anger with their ancestors and urged the current generation to return to him, promising that he would then return to them. He warned them not to be like their forefathers who ignored the earlier prophets' calls to abandon their evil ways. While their ancestors and the prophets are now gone, the consequences of their actions, as foretold by the prophets, surely befell them, leading them to acknowledge the Lord's just judgment.
Later, on the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, in the same year, Zechariah received a series of visions during the night. The first vision was of a man on a red horse among myrtle trees in a valley, with other red, sorrel, and white horses behind him. An angel explained that these were sent by the Lord to patrol the earth, and they reported that the world was at peace. The angel of the Lord then questioned how long the Lord would withhold mercy from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, which had faced his wrath for seventy years. In response, the Lord offered kind and comforting words, proclaiming his deep love for Jerusalem and Zion and his great anger at the complacent nations that had exceeded their role in punishing his people. He promised to return to Jerusalem with mercy, to oversee the rebuilding of his house, and to bring renewed prosperity to the towns of Judah, once again choosing Jerusalem as his own.
Following this, Zechariah saw four horns, which the angel identified as the powers that had scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. Then, the Lord showed him four craftsmen, who were coming to terrify and dismantle the power of these nations that had oppressed the land of Judah.
REBUILDING JERUSALEM AND PURIFYING THE PRIESTHOOD
Zechariah then had a vision of a man with a measuring line, intending to measure Jerusalem. An angel instructed another to tell this man that Jerusalem would be a city without walls, for the Lord himself would be a wall of fire around it and his glory would dwell within. A call was issued for the exiles in Babylon to flee and return, for those who harmed Zion were touching the apple of the Lord's eye. The Lord promised to raise his hand against the nations that had plundered them, and they would become spoil for their own slaves. He called for Zion to sing with joy, for he was coming to live in their midst, and many nations would join themselves to the Lord on that day.
In another vision, Zechariah saw Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, with Satan at his right hand to accuse him. The Lord rebuked Satan, declaring that he had chosen Jerusalem and describing Joshua as a brand plucked from the fire. As Joshua stood in filthy clothes, the angel commanded that his dirty garments be removed, symbolizing the taking away of his iniquity, and that he be dressed in rich robes and a clean turban. The angel then charged Joshua to walk in the Lord's ways and keep his requirements, promising him a place among those who stood in the Lord's presence. Joshua and his companions were declared to be a sign of the coming of the Lord's servant, the Branch. The Lord also spoke of a single stone with seven eyes that he would set before Joshua, upon which he would engrave an inscription, promising to remove the sin of the land in a single day.
THE GOLDEN LAMPSTAND AND THE TWO OLIVE TREES
An angel woke Zechariah to show him another vision: a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lamps on it, with seven channels to the lamps. Beside the lampstand were two olive trees. When Zechariah asked for the meaning, the angel revealed that this was the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: "Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit." The Lord promised that Zerubbabel, who had laid the foundation of the temple, would also complete it, and that the great mountain of obstacles before him would become a level plain. The seven lamps were identified as the eyes of the Lord, which range throughout the earth. The two olive trees were explained to be the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.
VISIONS OF JUDGMENT AND WICKEDNESS REMOVED
Zechariah then saw a flying scroll, twenty cubits long and ten cubits wide. The angel explained that this was the curse going out over the whole land, to purge it of thieves and those who swear falsely. The scroll would enter their houses and consume them.
Next, a vision of an ephah (a measuring basket) appeared. As its lead cover was lifted, a woman was revealed sitting inside, and the angel identified her as Wickedness. He then thrust her back into the basket and sealed it with the lead weight. Two women with wings like a stork's appeared, lifted the basket, and carried it away to the land of Babylon to build a house for it.
THE FOUR CHARIOTS AND THE CORONATION OF JOSHUA
In a final vision, Zechariah saw four chariots coming out from between two bronze mountains. The first chariot had red horses, the second black, the third white, and the fourth dappled—all of them strong. The angel identified these as the four spirits of heaven, going out from the presence of the Lord of the whole world. The black horses went to the north country, followed by the white, and the dappled ones went to the south. The strong horses patrolled the earth.
After these visions, the Lord instructed Zechariah to take silver and gold from the exiles who had returned from Babylon and to make a crown. He was to place this crown on the head of Joshua the high priest and declare that a man named the Branch would come, build the temple of the Lord, be clothed with majesty, and rule as a priest on his throne, with harmony between the two roles. The crown was to be kept in the temple as a memorial.
TRUE FASTING AND THE PROMISE OF BLESSING
In the fourth year of King Darius, a delegation came to the house of God to inquire whether they should continue the traditional mourning and fasting in the fifth month. The word of the Lord came to Zechariah, questioning whether their seventy years of fasting had truly been for God. The Lord reminded them of the words of the former prophets, who called for true justice, mercy, and compassion, and warned against oppressing the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor. Because their ancestors had refused to listen, turning a stubborn shoulder, the Lord had scattered them among the nations.
The Lord then declared his great jealousy for Zion and his plan to return and dwell in Jerusalem, which would be called the City of Truth. The city's streets would once again be filled with old men and women, and with boys and girls playing. The Lord promised to save his people from the east and the west and bring them back to live in Jerusalem as his faithful people. He encouraged the people to be strong in rebuilding the temple, promising a future of peace and prosperity, where the vine would yield its fruit, the ground its produce, and the heavens their dew. Just as they had been a curse among the nations, Judah and Israel would become a blessing. The people were instructed to speak the truth to one another, to render true and peaceful judgment in their courts, to not devise evil in their hearts, and to not love a false oath. The Lord also declared that the fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months would become joyful and cheerful feasts for the house of Judah.
JUDGMENT ON THE NATIONS AND THE COMING KING
An oracle from the Lord declared judgment against the lands of Hadrach and Damascus, and the coastal cities of Tyre, Sidon, and Philistia. The Lord would protect his house from armies, and no oppressor would overrun his people again. A great call to rejoice was issued to Daughter Zion, for her king was coming to her, righteous and victorious, yet humble and riding on a donkey. He would proclaim peace to the nations, his rule would extend from sea to sea, and he would cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the warhorse from Jerusalem.
Because of the blood of the covenant, the Lord would free the prisoners from the waterless pit. He called the prisoners of hope to return to their stronghold, promising to restore twice as much to them. He would use Judah as his bow and Ephraim as his arrow, stirring up the sons of Zion against the sons of Greece. The Lord would appear over them, his arrow flashing like lightning, and he would shield them, giving them victory. On that day, the Lord their God would save them as the flock of his people, and they would be like jewels in a crown, shining in his land, which would be filled with goodness, beauty, grain, and new wine.
ISRAEL'S RESTORATION AND THE REJECTION OF FALSE SHEPHERDS
The people were told to ask the Lord for rain in the springtime, for he is the one who sends thunderstorms and gives showers of rain to all. In contrast, idols and diviners speak lies and offer false comfort, leaving the people to wander like sheep without a shepherd. The Lord's anger was kindled against the shepherds (leaders), and he would punish them. He would care for his flock, the house of Judah, and from them would come the cornerstone, the tent peg, and the battle bow. Together, they would be mighty warriors who trample their enemies in the mire of the streets.
The Lord promised to strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph, bringing them back because he had compassion on them. They would be as though he had not rejected them. The people of Ephraim would be like mighty men, and their children would see it and be glad. The Lord would signal for them and gather them in, for he had redeemed them, and they would be as numerous as they once were. Though scattered among the nations, they would remember him in far-off lands, and they and their children would live and return. He would bring them back from Egypt and gather them from Assyria, and there would not be enough room for them in Gilead and Lebanon. They would pass through the sea of distress, and the pride of Assyria would be brought down and the scepter of Egypt would depart. They would be strengthened in the Lord and walk in his name.
THE PARABLE OF THE SHEPHERDS
A prophetic lament was raised over the downfall of the mighty cedars of Lebanon and the oaks of Bashan, symbolizing the ruin of the land's leaders. The Lord instructed Zechariah to shepherd the flock destined for slaughter, whose buyers kill them without remorse and whose own shepherds do not pity them. The Lord declared he would no longer pity the inhabitants of the land but would hand them over to their neighbors and their king.
So Zechariah shepherded the flock, taking two staffs, one named Favor and the other Union. He got rid of three shepherds in one month but grew weary of the flock, and they also detested him. He declared he would no longer be their shepherd and broke his staff Favor, annulling the covenant he had made with all the peoples. The afflicted of the flock who were watching knew this was the word of the Lord. When he asked for his wages, they paid him thirty pieces of silver. The Lord commanded him to throw this "handsome price" to the potter in the house of the Lord. Then he broke his second staff, Union, symbolizing the broken brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
Finally, the Lord instructed him to take on the role of a foolish shepherd, for a worthless shepherd who does not care for the flock would be raised up. A woe was pronounced on this worthless shepherd, with a promise that the sword would strike his arm and his right eye.
JERUSALEM'S DELIVERANCE AND MOURNING
The Lord, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the human spirit within, declared an oracle concerning Israel. He would make Jerusalem a cup of reeling for all the surrounding peoples and a heavy stone for all nations; all who tried to lift it would be severely injured. On that day, the Lord would strike every horse with panic and its rider with madness, but he would watch over the house of Judah. The clans of Judah would recognize that the inhabitants of Jerusalem were their strength through the Lord. He would make the clans of Judah like a firepot in a woodpile, and they would consume all the surrounding peoples, while Jerusalem would remain secure.
The Lord would save the tents of Judah first, so that the glory of the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem would not be greater than that of Judah. On that day, the Lord would defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them would be like David, and the house of David would be like God, like the angel of the Lord going before them. He would set out to destroy all the nations that came against Jerusalem.
Then, the Lord would pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They would look on him whom they had pierced, and they would mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly as one grieves for a firstborn son. The mourning in Jerusalem would be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land would mourn, every family by itself: the family of the house of David, the family of the house of Nathan, the family of the house of Levi, and the family of Shimei, each with their wives separately.
THE DAY OF THE LORD AND THE REIGN OF GOD
On that day, a fountain will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity. The Lord will cut off the names of the idols from the land, and they will be remembered no more. He will also remove the prophets and the spirit of impurity from the land. If anyone continues to prophesy, their own parents will tell them they must die for speaking lies in the Lord's name, and they will pierce him through. Those prophets will be ashamed of their visions and will no longer wear a prophet's hairy garment to deceive. They will deny being prophets, claiming to be farmers. When asked about the wounds on their backs, they will say they were received in the house of their friends.
The Lord of hosts called for the sword to awaken against his shepherd, the man who is close to him. The shepherd would be struck, and the sheep would be scattered. The Lord would turn his hand against the little ones. Throughout the land, two-thirds would be struck down and perish, yet one-third would be left. This third he would bring into the fire, refining them like silver and testing them like gold. They will call on his name, and he will answer them. He will say, "They are my people," and they will say, "The Lord is our God."
A day of the Lord is coming when the spoil taken from Jerusalem will be divided in its midst. The Lord will gather all the nations to Jerusalem for battle; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women ravaged. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest will not be taken from the city. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle. On that day, his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley. The people will flee through this mountain valley.
On that day, there will be no light, cold, or frost; it will be a unique day known to the Lord, with no distinction between day and night, and continuous light in the evening. Living waters will flow out from Jerusalem, half to the eastern sea and half to the western sea, in both summer and winter. The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. The whole land will be turned into a plain, but Jerusalem will be raised up and inhabited securely.
A plague will strike all the nations that fought against Jerusalem: their flesh will rot while they are still standing, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. A great panic from the Lord will fall on them, and they will fight against each other. Judah will also fight at Jerusalem, and the wealth of the surrounding nations will be gathered. A similar plague will strike the animals in their camps.
Then, the survivors from all the nations that attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. If any nation does not go up, they will have no rain. If the people of Egypt do not go, they will be afflicted with the plague the Lord inflicts on the nations that do not celebrate the festival. On that day, "HOLY TO THE LORD" will be engraved on the bells of the horses. The cooking pots in the Lord's house will be like the sacred bowls before the altar. Every pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the Lord of hosts, and all who sacrifice will use them. And on that day, there will no longer be a Canaanite (or merchant) in the house of the Lord of hosts.
Concise Summary
The Book of Zechariah is a prophetic work that calls the post-exilic community in Jerusalem to return to God, offering a series of visions that promise the rebuilding of the temple, the purification of the nation, and the coming of a humble Messianic king who will establish God's universal reign of peace and justice after a final, great battle.