The Book of Zechariah

Zechariah chapters 1 to 8 are generally believed to be authentic, i.e., actually written by Zechariah around 518 BCE. The later chapters, 9 to 14, are considered later additions, though perhaps not much later, possibly added by a disciple of Zechariah a generation or so later.

Background

In 539 BCE, the Persians conquered Babylon, and the following year a decree by Cyrus allowed Jews to return to Jerusalem. Between 520 and 515, under the rule of Darius the Great (son-in-law of Cyrus), the second temple was built - the Persians believed in keeping their vassals happy to prevent them rebelling. Darius was considered a messiah for his actions.

At this time, the High Priest was Joshua, and the Jews were ruled by Zerubbabel, who was the grandson of Jeconiah, the king who had ruled for just three months before capture by Babylon. Although Zerubbabel was of royal descent, he was not king, but rather he was governor of that province. Note that both Joshua and Zerubbabel were considered messiahs (or potential messiahs anyway), as Zechariah 4:14 makes clear ("Then he said, 'These are the two anointed ones[b] who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.'").

Zechariah chapters 1 to 8 were written during the re-building. Chapter 1 dates the events to 521 BCE.

The message is one of redemption. The Jews have been punished for failing to uphold God's commands, but now God has forgiven them, and allowed them to return. But the point is made repeatedly that they must continue to obey the law, otherwise they will suffer again.

There is also hope for the future - a future where Israel is great again, where Israel rules the other nations.

Introduction

Zechariah begins by telling the Jews to obey the commands of God, and not to ignore them, as previous generations did, with the threat of another exile if they fail to do so.

Zechariah 1:2 “The Lord was very angry with your fathers. 3 Therefore say to them, Thus declares the Lord of hosts: Return to me, says the Lord of hosts, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. 4 Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets cried out, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, Return from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.’ But they did not hear or pay attention to me, declares the Lord. 5 Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live for ever? 6 But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not overtake your fathers? So they repented and said, As the Lord of hosts purposed to deal with us for our ways and deeds, so has he dealt with us.”

It continues to explain why God was angry, but now has forgiven the Jews and allowed them to return, and how he will bring retribution to kingdoms that exploited Judah..

The next few chapters feature a serious of visions; I will only look at a few; the others have the same theme.

A Vision of Joshua

Zechariah 3:1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan[a] standing at his right hand to accuse him. 2 And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand[b] plucked from the fire?” 3 Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. 4 And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” 5 And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by.

The brand in the fire is Israel in exile, with the implication that the suffering has been beneficial to the people, making them stronger. The dirty garments, likewise, are the exile, but now that is over, Joshua, representing Israel, can wear fine clothes once more (looking forward to when Israel would rule all the kingdoms).

God then (again) commands Joshua to keep the laws, and tells him that the messiah, the branch will arrive soon:

Zechariah 3:6 And the angel of the Lord solemnly assured Joshua, 7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. 8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch.

The branch is Zerubbabel, a descendant of David, the one they hoped would be king, to lead them to triumph and glory.

A Vision of a Woman in a Basket

This is not at all clear:

5 Then the angel who talked with me came forward and said to me, “Lift your eyes and see what this is that is going out.” 6 And I said, “What is it?” He said, “This is the basket[c] that is going out.” And he said, “This is their iniquity[d] in all the land.” 7 And behold, the leaden cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting in the basket! 8 And he said, “This is Wickedness.” And he thrust her back into the basket, and thrust down the leaden weight on its opening.
9 Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, two women coming forward! The wind was in their wings. They had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between earth and heaven. 10 Then I said to the angel who talked with me, “Where are they taking the basket?” 11 He said to me, “To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it. And when this is prepared, they will set the basket down there on its base.”

Whoring and worshiping other gods are often connected in the Bible, so it seems possible a whore represents the Jews, following other gods. This was the ultimate in disobedience to God, his first command is to love only him (and the most annoying for the priesthood too, of course). The Land of Shinar appears to mean Babylon, so this could be about the sinful Jews being deported to Babylon. If you go whoring after foreign gods, this is what will happen to you!

The Crown and the Temple

This is about Zerubbabel, although he is not named:

9 And the word of the Lord came to me: 10 “Take from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah. 11 Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 And say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord. 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honour, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’ 14 And the crown shall be in the temple of the Lord as a reminder to Helem,[b] Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah.

It may have been politically expedient to obscure their hope that Zerubbabel would become king and rule all the nations; Darius the Great may not have been impressed!

Exilic Fasting

Chapters seven and eight discussed whether the fast in the fifth and seventh months during captivity are still required. Again, it says how the people were sinful, and so deserved their punishment, but now that has ended. Now they can look forward to the good times ahead, and so the monthly fasts are not required any more.

The Rest of Zechariah

The remaining chapters were written later. They have the same general message, that a king will come who will lead Israel to greatness, but they are less specific about who and when. They do go to some length to spell out exactly which nations will fall.

By the time this was written, Zerubbabel was probably dead, without becoming king, and it was clear he was not the hoped for messiah. Expectations had to be adjusted accordingly, and these later chapters are a development of the messianic beliefs.

There also seems a certain bitterness to the surrounding nations...