Bible Commentary to Zechariah by John Schultz
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1 Commentary to Zechariah - Rev. John Schultz ZECHARIAH Ezra mentions Zechariah in the same breath with the prophet Haggai. It is, therefore, logical, after having studied Haggai, to continue with the study of his prophecy. We read in Ezra: “Now Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the prophet, a descendant of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them.” And: “So the elders of the Jews continued to build and prosper under the preaching of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah, a descendant of Iddo. They finished building the temple according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia.”1 Zechariah begins his prophetic career in the eighth month of the second year of the reign of King Darius. His message fits between the third and the fourth prophecy of Haggai. Zechariah’s prophecies go farther than the condensed versions of Haggai’s addresses. He is more prophetic in the sense that God shows him visions. The first part of his book consists of eight visions (chapters 1-6:8); the second part consists of admonitions, promises, and, what I would like to call, apocalyptic utterances (chapters 6:9-14:21). Haggai found probably a good audience among the older generation. Whether we may conclude from this that he was no longer young himself, I do not know. Haggai’s question: “Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?”2 does not necessarily imply that the prophet was part of that group. But it is logical to conclude from the words in ch. 2:4 of this book: “Run, tell that young man, ‘Jerusalem will be a city without walls because of the great number of men and livestock in it’ ” that Zechariah was still a young man when he received God’s revelations. He must have had great influence upon the younger generation of his time. The opening verses of his book would also point in this direction. We may divide the book as follows: A. Introduction 1:1-6 B. Eight visions 1:7-6:8 1. The vision of the horsemen 1:7-17 2. The vision of the four horns and the four craftsmen 1:18-21 3. The vision of the man with the measuring line 2:1-5 4. Intermezzo – Admonition to return to Jerusalem 2:6:13 5. The vision of Joshua standing before God 3:1-10 6. The vision of the gold lampstand and the olive trees 4:1-14 7. The vision flying scroll 5:1-4 8. The vision of the woman in the measuring basket 5:5-11 9. The vision of the chariots coming out from between two mountains of bronze 6:1-8 C. Apocalyptic utterances and other exhortations 6:9-14:21 1. The announcement of the coming of “The Branch” 6:9-15 2. Questions from the people regarding fasting in connection with the fall of Jerusalem 7:1- 14 3. Promises of redemption 8:1-23 4. God’s attitude toward other nations 9:1-8 5. The triumphal entry of the King 9:9,10 6. God’s victory by means of Israel 9:11-17 7. Return from captivity 10:1-12 8. The destruction of Lebanon and Bashan 11:1-3 9. The shepherds of Israel 11:4-17 10. Jerusalem besieged and delivered 12:1-9 11. Lament over the Messiah 12:10-14 12. False prophets 13:1-6 13. The striking of the Good Shepherd 13:7-9 14. God’s revelation and kingship 14:1-21 A. Introduction 1:1-6 1 Ezra 5:1; 6:14 2 Hag. 2:3 © 2004 E-sst LLC All Rights Reserved Published by Bible-Commentaries.com Used with permission 2 Commentary to Zechariah - Rev. John Schultz 1 In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo: 2 "The LORD was very angry with your forefathers. 3 Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: `Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, `and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty. 4 Do not be like your forefathers, to whom the earlier prophets proclaimed: This is what the LORD Almighty says: `Turn from your evil ways and your evil practices.’ But they would not listen or pay attention to me, declares the LORD. 5 Where are your forefathers now? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your forefathers? "Then they repented and said, `The LORD Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.’" It may sound strange to us that Zechariah preaches a message of conversion to people who had voluntarily returned from captivity and who had given free-will offerings for the rebuilding of the temple. The work on the temple had already been resumes in the sixth month of the second year of the reign of King Darius. Zechariah’s prophetic message came two months later! But God says to people who are up to their ears in the Lord’s work that they must be converted. There was a danger that these people had merely returned to the city of their ancestors rather than to the place of God’s revelation. It could be that, in rebuilding the temple, they were more concerned about national unity than about God’s dwelling place. If the Lord God no longer occupies the central place in the work of the Lord, it is time for us to be converted. In studying Haggai, we found that there was a spirit of dishonesty among people who participated in the building. We read: “When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty. I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not turn to me,’ declares the LORD.”3 There had not been a complete inner change, which is so necessary in those who find themselves standing before God. Zechariah opens his prophecy with a subject that may have been a favorite for the younger generation of Jews: The sins of the forefathers. In studying Haggai, we saw that the difference between the old temple and the new was not in the measurements but in the presence of the Shekinah of the God of Israel. Now the Lord promised to return to the Jews if they would return to Him. The alternative is illustrated with a clear example. The previous generation had experienced what God through Moses had told centuries before would befall them if they refused to obey.4 Throughout the ages, the issue had always been the confrontation with the Word of God. Centuries had passed but the Word of God had caught up with man. This same Word now came to this younger generation. It is the same Word that still comes to us today. We think of the impressive words by the apostle John in his First Epistle: “The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”5 B. Eight visions 1:7-6:8 1 The vision of the horsemen 1:7-17 7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, the month of Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the prophet Zechariah son of Berekiah, the son of Iddo. 8 During the night I had a vision-and there before me was a man riding a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in a ravine. Behind him were red, brown and white horses. 9 I asked, "What are these, my lord?" The angel who was talking with me answered, "I will show you what they are." 10 Then the man standing among the myrtle trees explained, "They are the ones the LORD has sent to go throughout the earth." 3 Hag. 2:16,17 4 See Deut. 28:15-68 5 I John 2:17 © 2004 E-sst LLC All Rights Reserved Published by Bible-Commentaries.com Used with permission 3 Commentary to Zechariah - Rev. John Schultz 11 And they reported to the angel of the LORD, who was standing among the myrtle trees, "We have gone throughout the earth and found the whole world at rest and in peace." 12 Then the angel of the LORD said, "LORD Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?" 13 So the LORD spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. 14 Then the angel who was speaking to me said, "Proclaim this word: This is what the LORD Almighty says: `I am very jealous for Jerusalem and Zion, 15 but I am very angry with the nations that feel secure. I was only a little angry, but they added to the calamity.’ 16 "Therefore, this is what the LORD says: `I will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and there my house will be rebuilt. And the measuring line will be stretched out over Jerusalem,’ declares the LORD Almighty.