Bible Commentary to Zechariah by John Schultz

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Bible Commentary to Zechariah by John Schultz 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.
Recommended publications
  • Old Testament Order of Prophets
    Old Testament Order Of Prophets Dislikable Simone still warbling: numbing and hilar Sansone depopulating quite week but immerse her alwaysthrust deliberatively. dippiest and sugar-caneHiro weep landward when discovers if ingrained some Saunder Neanderthaloid unravelling very or oftener finalizing. and Is sillily? Martino And trapped inside, is the center of prophets and the terms of angels actually did not store any time in making them The prophets also commanded the neighboring nations to live in peace with Israel and Judah. The people are very easygoing and weak in the practice of their faith. They have said it places around easter time to threaten judgment oracles tend to take us we live in chronological positions in a great fish. The prophet describes a series of calamities which will precede it; these include the locust plague. Theologically it portrays a cell in intimate relationship with the natural caution that. The band Testament books of the prophets do not appear white the Bible in chronological order instead and are featured in issue of size Prophets such as Isaiah. Brief sight Of Roman History from Her Dawn if the First Punic War. He embodies the word of God. Twelve minor prophets of coming of elijah the volume on those big messages had formerly promised hope and enter and god leads those that, search the testament prophets? Habakkuk: Habakkuk covered a lot of ground in such a short book. You can get answers to your questions about the Faith by listening to our Podcasts like Catholic Answers Live or The Counsel of Trent. Forschungen zum Alten Testament.
    [Show full text]
  • Zechariah 9–14 and the Continuation of Zechariah During the Ptolemaic Period
    Journal of Hebrew Scriptures Volume 13, Article 9 DOI:10.5508/jhs.2013.v13.a9 Zechariah 9–14 and the Continuation of Zechariah during the Ptolemaic Period HERVÉ GONZALEZ Articles in JHS are being indexed in the ATLA Religion Database, RAMBI, and BiBIL. Their abstracts appear in Religious and Theological Abstracts. The journal is archived by Library and Archives Canada and is accessible for consultation and research at the Electronic Collection site maintained by Library and Archives Canada. ISSN 1203L1542 http://www.jhsonline.org and http://purl.org/jhs ZECHARIAH 9–14 AND THE CONTINUATION OF ZECHARIAH DURING THE PTOLEMAIC PERIOD HERVÉ GONZALEZ UNIVERSITY OF LAUSANNE INTRODUCTION This article seeks to identify the sociohistorical factors that led to the addition of chs. 9–14 to the book of Zechariah.1 It accepts the classical scholarly hypothesis that Zech 1–8 and Zech 9–14 are of different origins and Zech 9–14 is the latest section of the book.2 Despite a significant consensus on this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1 The article presents the preliminary results of a larger work currently underway at the University of Lausanne regarding war in Zech 9–14. I am grateful to my colleagues Julia Rhyder and Jan Rückl for their helpful comments on previous versions of this article. 2 Scholars usually assume that Zech 1–8 was complete when chs. 9–14 were added to the book of Zechariah, and I will assume the sameT see for instance E. Bosshard and R. G. Kratz, “Maleachi im Zwölfprophetenbuch,” BN 52 (1990), 27–46 (41–45)T O. H.
    [Show full text]
  • DO WE HAVE a FUTURE? Amos 9:5-15
    -----,-----Hl1Jire:---------------------~ec-..:-z~,,-.:=-=.,.::-':"~~·-,-------. SUBJECT O T c'1 f 1V-(.A?!(t1S) ~ :::::> E.F-~'----- Amos 9:5-15 CLASSIFICATION: TEXT--------------------- --EXPOSITORY "00 WE HA VE A FUTURE?" - -BIOGRAPHICAL TITLi::--------------------- - -TEXTUAL --TOPICAL SCRIPTURE READIN,---------------- ---DEVOTIONAL DELIVERIES: Date Hour Place Results and Comments: F.B.C. 09-18-96 WEDS. San Angelo, TX xxx+++ ); BIBLIOGRAPHY---------------------------------- £/3C. fA I DO WE HAVE A FUTURE? Amos 9:5-15 (Sixth in a series of six messages on the book and prophecy of Amos) A young man in a wheel chair, The Basis of Hope discouraged by his condition, asked his :5-7 physical therapist, "Do you think I have a future?" The therapist replied, "As a pole­ As Amos struck this positive note of vaulter, no! As a man, yes!" hope-, he firm) )( ooted this hope in God. Israel In light of the dire predictions of the could have hope, not because of who they prophet Amos, his contemporaries might have were but because of who God is. Hope was asked, "Do we have a future?" Amos replied, rooted in the sovereignty and the providence '' As a continuation of the way things are now, of God. no! As a remnant, sifted by the judgment of Amos highlighted od's sovereignty God and purified into a new people, yes!" by referring to Him as ' e ord Almighty," That was the word of (9: Sn. Then, he described hope with which Amos God's control over all concluded his prophecy Man's sinfulness cannot thwart creation. Reading this God's plan for man's description of God from the --o - -- redemption.
    [Show full text]
  • Notes on Zechariah 202 1 Edition Dr
    Notes on Zechariah 202 1 Edition Dr. Thomas L. Constable TITLE AND WRITER The title of this book comes from its traditional writer, as is true of all the prophetical books of the Old Testament. The name "Zechariah" (lit. "Yahweh Remembers") was a common one among the Israelites, which identified at least 27 different individuals in the Old Testament, perhaps 30.1 It was an appropriate name for the writer of this book, because it explains that Yahweh remembers His chosen people, and His promises, and will be faithful to them. This Zechariah was the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo (1:1, 7; cf. Ezra 5:1; 6:14; Neh. 12:4, 16). Zechariah, like Jeremiah and Ezekiel, was both a prophet and a priest. He was obviously familiar with priestly things (cf. ch. 3; 6:9-15; 9:8, 15; 14:16, 20, 21). Since he was a young man (Heb. na'ar) when he began prophesying (2:4), he was probably born in Babylonian captivity and returned to Palestine very early in life, in 536 B.C. with Zerubbabel and Joshua. Zechariah apparently survived Joshua, the high priest, since he became the head of his own division of priests in the days of Joiakim, the son of Joshua (Neh. 12:12, 16). Zechariah became a leading priest in the restoration community succeeding his grandfather (or ancestor), Iddo, who also returned from captivity in 536 B.C., as the leader of his priestly family (Neh. 12:4, 16). Zechariah's father, Berechiah (1:1, 7), evidently never became prominent.
    [Show full text]
  • 14. BIBLICAL EPIC: 2 Chronicles Notes
    14. BIBLICAL EPIC: 2 Chronicles Notes rown 2 Chron 1: Solomon made offerings. God said, "What shall I give you?" Solomon said, "Wisdom to rule this people." So Solomon ruled over Israel. • 1:1-6. Solomon Worships at Gibeon. Solomon’s journey to the Mosaic tabernacle and altar at Gibeon, like David’s mission to retrieve the Ark, is presented as a public enterprise that involves all Israel. Like David, Solomon maintains continuity with the Mosaic covenant as the foundation of his own reign. Solomon begins his reign as David instructed him (1 Chron 22:19), by worshiping God and seeking guidance. “High places” were commonly associated with hills or mountains in the OT world. Prior to the construction of the temple, high places were generic worship sites that were not necessarily connected with pagan worship. The negative connotation of high places begins after the completion of the temple, after which high places were associated with idolatry and syncretism. Solomon’s extensive sacrifice at Gibeon tangibly showed his reverence for God at the outset of his reign. • 1:7-13. Solomon’s Request for Wisdom. Solomon’s faithful seeking leads to a nighttime appearance of God (in a dream, according to 1 Kings 3:5), in which God invites Solomon to ask in prayer for whatever he desires. Solomon makes two requests: (1) that God would continue to bring the fullness of the Davidic covenant (and the Abrahamic covenant) to pass (looking forward to the completion of the temple, 2 Chron 6:17) and (2) that God would grant him wisdom and knowledge.
    [Show full text]
  • Notes on Amos 202 1 Edition Dr
    Notes on Amos 202 1 Edition Dr. Thomas L. Constable TITLE AND WRITER The title of the book comes from its writer. The prophet's name means "burden-bearer" or "load-carrier." Of all the 16 Old Testament writing prophets, only Amos recorded what his occupation was before God called him to become a prophet. Amos was a "sheepherder" (Heb. noqed; cf. 2 Kings 3:4) or "sheep breeder," and he described himself as a "herdsman" (Heb. boqer; 7:14). He was more than a shepherd (Heb. ro'ah), though some scholars deny this.1 He evidently owned or managed large herds of sheep, and or goats, and was probably in charge of shepherds. Amos also described himself as a "grower of sycamore figs" (7:14). Sycamore fig trees are not true fig trees, but a variety of the mulberry family, which produces fig-like fruit. Each fruit had to be scratched or pierced to let the juice flow out so the "fig" could ripen. These trees grew in the tropical Jordan Valley, and around the Dead Sea, to a height of 25 to 50 feet, and bore fruit three or four times a year. They did not grow as well in the higher elevations such as Tekoa, Amos' hometown, so the prophet appears to have farmed at a distance from his home, in addition to tending herds. "Tekoa" stood 10 miles south of Jerusalem in Judah. Thus, Amos seems to have been a prosperous and influential Judahite. However, an older view is that Amos was poor, based on Palestinian practices in the nineteenth century.
    [Show full text]
  • Exploring Zechariah, Volume 2
    EXPLORING ZECHARIAH, VOLUME 2 VOLUME ZECHARIAH, EXPLORING is second volume of Mark J. Boda’s two-volume set on Zechariah showcases a series of studies tracing the impact of earlier Hebrew Bible traditions on various passages and sections of the book of Zechariah, including 1:7–6:15; 1:1–6 and 7:1–8:23; and 9:1–14:21. e collection of these slightly revised previously published essays leads readers along the argument that Boda has been developing over the past decade. EXPLORING MARK J. BODA is Professor of Old Testament at McMaster Divinity College. He is the author of ten books, including e Book of Zechariah ZECHARIAH, (Eerdmans) and Haggai and Zechariah Research: A Bibliographic Survey (Deo), and editor of seventeen volumes. VOLUME 2 The Development and Role of Biblical Traditions in Zechariah Ancient Near East Monographs Monografías sobre el Antiguo Cercano Oriente Society of Biblical Literature Boda Centro de Estudios de Historia del Antiguo Oriente (UCA) Electronic open access edition (ISBN 978-0-88414-201-0) available at http://www.sbl-site.org/publications/Books_ANEmonographs.aspx Cover photo: Zev Radovan/BibleLandPictures.com Mark J. Boda Ancient Near East Monographs Monografías sobre el Antiguo Cercano Oriente Society of Biblical Literature Centro de Estudios de Historia del Antiguo Oriente (UCA) EXPLORING ZECHARIAH, VOLUME 2 ANCIENT NEAR EAST MONOGRAPHS Editors Alan Lenzi Juan Manuel Tebes Editorial Board Reinhard Achenbach C. L. Crouch Esther J. Hamori Chistopher B. Hays René Krüger Graciela Gestoso Singer Bruce Wells Number 17 EXPLORING ZECHARIAH, VOLUME 2 The Development and Role of Biblical Traditions in Zechariah by Mark J.
    [Show full text]
  • A Theological Reading of the Gideon-Abimelech Narrative
    YAHWEH vERsus BAALISM A THEOLOGICAL READING OF THE GIDEON-ABIMELECH NARRATIVE WOLFGANG BLUEDORN A thesis submitted to Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education in accordance with the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts & Humanities April 1999 ABSTRACT This study attemptsto describethe contribution of the Abimelech narrative for the theologyof Judges.It is claimedthat the Gideonnarrative and the Abimelechnarrative need to be viewed as one narrative that focuseson the demonstrationof YHWH'S superiority over Baalism, and that the deliverance from the Midianites in the Gideon narrative, Abimelech's kingship, and the theme of retribution in the Abimelech narrative serve as the tangible matter by which the abstracttheological theme becomesnarratable. The introduction to the Gideon narrative, which focuses on Israel's idolatry in a previously unparalleled way in Judges,anticipates a theological narrative to demonstrate that YHWH is god. YHwH's prophet defines the general theological background and theme for the narrative by accusing Israel of having abandonedYHwH despite his deeds in their history and having worshipped foreign gods instead. YHWH calls Gideon to demolish the idolatrous objects of Baalism in response, so that Baalism becomes an example of any idolatrous cult. Joash as the representativeof Baalism specifies the defined theme by proposing that whichever god demonstrateshis divine power shall be recognised as god. The following episodesof the battle against the Midianites contrast Gideon's inadequateresources with his selfish attempt to be honoured for the victory, assignthe victory to YHWH,who remains in control and who thus demonstrateshis divine power, and show that Baal is not presentin the narrative.
    [Show full text]
  • What Is Biblical Prophecy?
    What is Biblical Prophecy? What Biblical Prophecy is NOT, and What It Really IS: Contrary to what many fundamentalist preachers or late-night radio hosts would have you believe, biblical prophecy is not primarily about “predicting the future” or finding clues in the Bible that correspond to people or events in our own day and age! The prophets of Ancient Israel did not look into some kind of crystal ball and see events happening thousands of years after their own lifetimes. The books they wrote do not contain hidden coded messages for people living in the 20th or 21st centuries! Rather, biblical prophets were mainly speaking to and writing for the people of their own time. They were challenging people of their own world, especially their political rulers, to remain faithful to God’s commandments and/or to repent and turn back to God if they had strayed. They were conveying messages from God, who had called or commissioned them, rather than speaking on their own initiative or authority. However, because the biblical prophets were transmitting messages on behalf of God (as Jews and Christians believe), much of what they wrote for their own time is clearly also relevant for people living in the modern world. The overall message of faith and repentance is timeless and applicable in all ages and cultures. To understand what biblical prophecy really is, let’s look more closely at the origins, definitions, and uses of some key biblical words. In the Hebrew Bible, the word for “prophet” is usually nabi’ (lit. “spokesperson”; used over 300 times!), while the related feminine noun nebi’ah (“prophetess”) occurs only rarely.
    [Show full text]
  • The Minor Prophets Michael B
    Cedarville University DigitalCommons@Cedarville Faculty Books 6-26-2018 A Commentary on the Book of the Twelve: The Minor Prophets Michael B. Shepherd Cedarville University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/faculty_books Part of the Biblical Studies Commons Recommended Citation Shepherd, Michael B., "A Commentary on the Book of the Twelve: The inorM Prophets" (2018). Faculty Books. 201. http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/faculty_books/201 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@Cedarville, a service of the Centennial Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Books by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Cedarville. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A Commentary on the Book of the Twelve: The inorM Prophets Keywords Old Testament, prophets, preaching Disciplines Biblical Studies | Religion Publisher Kregel Publications Publisher's Note Taken from A Commentary on the Book of the Twelve: The Minor Prophets © Copyright 2018 by Michael B. Shepherd. Published by Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. ISBN 9780825444593 This book is available at DigitalCommons@Cedarville: http://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/faculty_books/201 A COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF THE TWELVE KREGEL EXEGETICAL LIBRARY A COMMENTARY ON THE BOOK OF THE TWELVE The Minor Prophets MICHAEL B. SHEPHERD Kregel Academic A Commentary on the Book of the Twelve: The Minor Prophets © 2018 by Michael B. Shepherd Published by Kregel Publications, a division of Kregel Inc., 2450 Oak Industrial Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505-6020. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a re- trieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, me- chanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without written permission of the publisher, except for brief quotations in printed reviews.
    [Show full text]
  • The Minor Prophets
    The Minor Prophets by Dan Melhus A Study of the Minor Prophets Table of Contents Table of Contents INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................ 1 WHO ARE THE PROPHETS?................................................................................................................... 5 HOW CAN WE UNDERSTAND THE MESSAGE OF THE PROPHETS?.......................................... 7 OBADIAH..................................................................................................................................................... 9 BACKGROUND................................................................................................................................. 9 DATE............................................................................................................................................... 9 AUTHOR .......................................................................................................................................... 10 THEME ............................................................................................................................................ 12 OUTLINE ......................................................................................................................................... 13 QUESTIONS...................................................................................................................................... 15 LESSONS.........................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Use of Zechariah in Revelation
    Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament • 2. Reihe Herausgeber/Editor Jörg Frey Mitherausgeber / Associate Editors Friedrich Avemarie • Judith Gundry-Volf Martin Hengel • Otfried Hofius • Hans-Josef Klauck 199 Marko Jauhiainen The Use of Zechariah in Revelation Mohr Siebeck MARKO JAUHIAINEN, born 1967; 1993 M.Sc. Tampere University; 2000 M.C.S Regent College; 2004 Ph.D. Cambridge University; currently Systems Analyst at Tampere Polytechnic. ISBN 3-16-148663-3 ISSN 0340-9570 (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 2. Reihe) Die Deutsche Bibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliographie; detailed bibliographic data is available in the Internet at http://dnb.ddb.de. © 2005 Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, Germany. This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form (beyond that permitted by copyright law) without the publisher's written permission. This applies particularly to reproductions, translations, microfilms and storage and processing in electronic systems. The book was printed by Druckpartner Rübelmann GmbH in Hemsbach on non-aging paper and bound by Buchbinderei Schaumann in Darmstadt. Printed in Germany. Preface This book is a revised version of my doctoral thesis, '"Behold, I Am Coming': The Use of Zechariah in Revelation", submitted to the University of Cambridge for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in July 2003. The revision consists primarily of addressing and clarifying some of the issues raised by my doctoral examiners, Drs. James Carlton-Paget and Steve Moyise. Their constructive comments were valuable, even at points where I have chosen to follow a different path. I am sincerely thankful to Prof. Jorg Frey, editor of WUNT 2, who deemed the manuscript worthy of being published in the series.
    [Show full text]