Book of Zechariah
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hebrew Bible or Old Testament for details see Biblical canon |
Jewish, Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Orthodox
|
Roman Catholic and Orthodox include but Jews and Protestants exclude:
|
Orthodox (Synod of Jerusalem) include:
|
| Russian and Ethiopian Orthodox includes: |
| Ethiopian Orthodox Bible includes: |
| Syriac Peshitta Bible includes:
|
| Torah | Nevi'im | Ketuvim Books of Nevi'im |
| Earlier Prophets |
|---|
| Joshua |
| Judges |
| Samuel |
| Kings |
| Latter Prophets |
| Isaiah |
| Jeremiah |
| Ezekiel |
| Twelve minor prophets |
The Book of Zechariah is a book of the Bible Old Testament and Jewish Tanakh attributed to the prophet Zechariah.
Contents |
[edit] Historical Context
Zechariah’s ministry took place during the reign of Darius (Zechariah 1:1), and was contemporary with Haggai in a post exilic world after the fall of Jerusalem in 586/7 BC.<ref>For sake of simplicity all dates unless otherwise noted come from Carol L. Myers and Eric M. Myers, Haggai, Zechariah 1-8: The Anchor Bible (Garden City, Doubleday and Company Inc., 1987), 183</ref> Ezekiel and Jeremiah wrote prior to the fall of Jerusalem, while continuing to prophesy in the earlier exile period. Scholars believe Ezekiel, with his blending of ceremony and vision, heavily influenced the visionary works of Zechariah 1-8.<ref>Myers, xxx</ref> Zechariah is specific about dating his writing (520-518 BC).
After the exile many Jews were taken to Babylon, where the prophets told them to make their homes (cp. Jeremiah 29), suggesting they would spend a long period of time there. Eventually freedom did come to many Israelites, when Cyrus the Great overtook the Babylonians in 539 BC. In 538 BC, the famous Edict of Cyrus was released, and the first return took place under Shebazzar. After the death of Cyrus in 530 BC, Darius consolidated power and took office in 522 BC. His system divided the different colonies of the empire into easily manageable districts overseen by governors. Zerubbabel comes into the story appointed by Darius governor over the district of Yehud (Judah).
Under the reign of Darius Zechariah emerged, centering around the rebuilding of the temple. Unlike the Babylonians, the Persian Empire went to great lengths to keep “cordial relations” between vassal and lord. The rebuilding of the temple was encouraged by the leaders of the empire in hopes that it would strengthen the authorities in local contexts. This policy was a smart move on the part of the Persians, while the Jews viewed it as a blessing by Yahweh to the Jew.<ref>Myers xxxi and xxxii</ref>
[edit] Composition
The return in Zech 1:6 is the theological premise of what the prophet sees in his visions. Chapters 7–8 address the quality of life God wants His renewed people to enjoy, containing many encouraging promises to the people. According to some commentators, the second and third sections of the book consist of a series of predictions that are to be read as Messianic prophecies, either directly or indirectly. Much of the Apocalypse is colored by images taken from this book. It is thought that there was actually more than one contributor to the book that bears the name of Zechariah.
Chapters 1–8 are treated as being the work of the "original" Zechariah. His prophecies and writings were collected by his disciples and his prophetic mantle handed down to other disciples, who bear responsibility for chapters 9–14; so, rather than a single author, there was an inspired tradition of Zechariah after the “original” prophet, and the character of this original is to be found within the lines of chapters 1–8.
We do not know a great deal about Zechariah’s life except what is inferred from the book, although it is believed that his ancestor, Iddo, was the head of a priestly family who returned with Zerrubbabel; the inference being that Zechariah was a priest and a prophet. These details are apparent from his interest in the temple and the priesthood and also from his preaching in First and Second Chronicles. His concern for purity is apparent in the temple, priesthood and all areas of life as the prophecy gradually eliminates the governor in favour of the high priest, and the sanctuary becomes ever more clearly the centre of messianic fulfillment. The prominence of prophecy is quite apparent in Zechariah but it is also true that Zechariah (along with Haggai) allows prophecy to yield to the priesthood; this is particularly apparent in comparing Zechariah to Third Isaiah (chapters 55–56 of the Book of Isaiah), whose author was active sometime after the first return from exile.
[edit] The Prophet
The exact identity of Zechariah is only the first of a number of questions with regard to this prophecy. His name means "Jehovah has remembered." The purpose of this book is not strictly historical but theological and pastoral. As an example, even today historical details are often blended together to make a point or convey an overall impression and such is also true with regard to the transmission of religious traditions.
[edit] Themes
The main emphasis is that God is at work and plans to live again with His people in Jerusalem. He will save them from their enemies and cleanse them from sin. These same chapters helped the writers of the Gospels understand Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection, which they quoted as they wrote of Jesus’ final days. Revelation draws on Zechariah as well as it narrates the denouement of history.
[edit] Footnotes
1. For sake of simplicity all dates unless otherwise noted come from Carol L. Myers and Eric M. Myers, Haggai, Zechariah 1-8: The Anchor Bible (Garden City, Doubleday and Company Inc., 1987), 183
2. Myers, xxx, The Anchor Bible Commentary
3. ibid., xxxi and xxxii
[edit] Sources
- The Student Bible, NIV. (Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1992)
- D. Guthrie, (ed.) New Bible Commentary. (New York: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1970)
- Stephen G. Dempster, Dominion And Dynasty: A Theology Of The Hebrew Bible. (Illinois: Intervarsity Press, 2003)
- Carroll Stuhlmueller, Haggai and Zechariah: Rebuilding With Hope. (Edinburgh: The Handsel Press Ltd., 1988)
[edit] External links
- Online Bible at GospelHall.org (ESV, KJV, Darby, American Standard Version, Bible in Basic English)cs:Kniha Zacharjáš
de:Sacharja (Buch) pl:Księga Zachariasza fr:Livre de Zacharie id:Kitab Nabi Zakharia fi:Sakarjan kirja sv:Sakarja
