The prophecy of zechariah is noted for its rich use of visions, pictures, and symbols. The book of zechariah, because of its great variation in style, content, and language, is widely believed to be a composite work. The visions of zechariah chapters 18 and the prophecies of the lord chapters 914. Read zechariah commentary using matthew henry commentary on the whole bible complete. Before the temple completed, and then wrote chapters 914 approximately 480 b. Others have presented lists of stylistic and thematic similarities between the two sections. Book of zechariah simple english wikipedia, the free. Zechariah 9 judgment on israels enemies a bible gateway. The universal tradition of both jews and christians endorses the prophet zechariah as author. But unfortunately we came to the end of that book and now we need to move on to something else and as i prayed, a few different possibilities were in my mind. Zechariah emphasized that god has used his prophets to teach, warn, and correct his people.
In this way it is much like the book of revelation or daniel which also have significant visions. The ultimate hope for us all was predicted by zechariah this book has more predictions of christ than any of the other minor prophets. Book of zechariah overview insight for living ministries. Therefore be faithful and honest in all your dealings. It is a postexilic book, meaning it was written after post the return from captivity exile in babylon. Study the bible online using commentary on zechariah and more. In that respect, its possible to think of the book of zechariah as a kind of miniature book of isaiah which has most number of messianic passages. What are the meanings of the various visions in the book. Zechariah deals with israels complaint that they have experienced gods chastisement for their sin, but the surrounding nations have gone unpunished. Matthew pooles english annotations on the holy bible. So, lets turn our attention to the 4th chapter of that book zechariah chapter 4.
It would also explain his emphasis on temple and priestly matters in the book. The prophets zechariah and haggai wrote about the year 520 bc during the restoration of jerusalem and judah. In this book, zechariahs visions foster hope in the future promise of. The books of ezra and nehemiah are also key literary sources on the restoration. The introduction to the book attributes the work to zechariah son of berechiah son of iddo the prophet zech. Zechariah 8 bible commentary matthew henry concise. In general, these visions speak of gods plans for israel and especially for jerusalem and the temple. In the first group of visions zechariah 16, the messiah stands forth as the branch zechariah 3. Brown, the gospel according to john ixii in the anchor bible, 29.
This theme of repentance is developed more fully through the subsequent eight visions. With that little bit of background, lets now consider zechariah, chapter 3. He is not to be confused with the zechariah mentioned in matthew 23. The holy bible book 44 acts kjv dramatized audio duration. Here is an excerpt from the hcsb study note on zechariah 14. Zechariah gave us more of the story, and showed how god is interested in lives of his people, not only buildings. Joy and enlargement of the church promised, zechariah 8. Meaning yahweh remembers, zechariahs name was appropriate to the purpose of his prophecies. The people are encouraged to build the temple by a promise of gods blessing, zechariah 8. The book of zechariah, attributed to the hebrew prophet zechariah, is included in the twelve minor prophets in the hebrew bible. What are the meanings of the various visions in the book of. This is supported by zechariah s interest in the temple and the priesthood, and. The book of zechariah contains the clearest and the largest number of messianic about the messiah passages among the minor prophets.
Watch our overview video on the book of zechariah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The book also bears evidence that even prophecy could be corrupted. The notes explain words with a star by them the first time that we use the word. His name, common to more than 29 old testament men, means the lord remembers. The hebrew word zechariah or zachariah means god remembers.
And as i prayed, a few different possibilities were in my mind. In this book, zechariah s visions foster hope in the future promise of. Zechariah commentary matthew henry commentary on the. Zechariah is a commonly used name in the old testament and means the lord remembers, a meaning that contributes to the hope of the messiahs first and second coming prophesied in zechariahs book. We know that he was a contemporary of the prophet haggai. The book of zechariah is recognized as the most messianic, the most truly apocalyptic, and the most eschatological of all the writings of the ot isbe, 1956 referenced by dr. A comparison of both passages shows that zechariah does not write anything of buying a field while matthew wants to explain precisely the purchase of the potters field. This feast is mentioned ten times in the bible, and three of those appear in the book of zechariah. Zechariah s prophecies took place during the reign of darius the great, and were contemporary with haggai in a post exilic world after the fall of jerusalem in 5876 bc. It has been speculated that his grandfather iddo was the head of a priestly family who returned with zerubbabel, and that zechariah may himself have been a priest as well as a prophet. In that respect, its possible to think of the book of zechariah as a kind of miniature book of isaiah. The book itself tells us only that his grandfather was iddo, a priest who returned with zerubbabel from babylon. The dates mentioned in the book confirm that he was a contemporary of haggai zechariah 1. Book of zechariah, also spelled zacharias, the 11th of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in the jewish canon in one book, the twelve.
Zechariah had primary and secondary purposes in delivering his prophecy. This chapter, like much of this book, is full of typology. The first part of the book, chapters one through eight, contain eight symbolic visions of zechariah. Zechariah 18, concerned mainly with the rebuilding of the temple, and zechariah 914, dealing with future events, notably the coming of messiah and the glory of his reign. It stands as gods remarkable witness to the folly of despising small beginnings. It emphasizes that god is at work on a future cosmic upheaval involving much conflict and stern divine judgement, following the nations final attack against jerusalem. Well cover only the first 7 verses of this chapter today, but lets go ahead and read the whole chapter for. Well cover only the first 7 verses of this chapter today, but lets go ahead and read the whole chapter for context. Were going to be studying the fifth vision given to zechariah. Again, or and, heb as the word of reproof in the former. Zechariah commentary matthew henry commentary on the whole. Zechariah remembered of jehovah was the second postexile prophet and a contemporary of haggai.
The word of the lord is against the land of hadrak and will come to rest on damascus for the eyes of all people and all the tribes of israel are on the lord and on hamath too, which borders on it, and on tyre and sidon, though they are very skillful. Teaching young children the message of hope in the book of. The prophets name is mentioned elsewhere in the book 7. The prophet identifies himself as zechariah yahweh remembers, the son of berechiah yahweh blesses, the son of iddo the appointed time. Zechariah s prophetic ministry took place in the postexilic period, the time of the jewish restoration from babylonian captivity.
Both haggai and zechariah encouraged the returned exiles from babylon to rebuild the jerusalem temple, particularly their leaders joshua the high priest and prince zerubbabel, the governor of judah and the. Zechariah emphasized that god has used his prophets to teach, warn and correct his people. Jan 02, 2020 zechariah begins his book with a strong call for israel to repent 1. Book of zechariah, the 11th of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the minor prophets, collected in the jewish canon in one book, the twelve. Chapters 18 and 914 of zechariah are considered by most scholars today to be two separate prophetic books. And i will pour upon the house of david, and upon the inhabitants of jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications. The book of zechariah consists of fourteen chapters.
After the start of the book in verse 1, zechariah began his book with a short. The fountain for the remission of sins, the conviction of the false prophets. The entire book has for its background, chapters 18, the persian era. To request a free hard copy of this booklet, please write to. Therefore, the book of zechariah is also about the prayer movement in jerusalem. It is generally assumed that the prophet zechariah is identical with the man of the same name mentioned in nehemiah 12. So, for the last year and a few weeks, weve grown accustomed to turning our attention to the book of job. Zechariah begins his book with a strong call for israel to repent 1. And so, of course, the book that im referring to and which well be studying for a little while is the old testament book of zechariah. Zechariah, book of definition and meaning bible dictionary. Sep 15, 2014 the ultimate hope for us all was predicted by zechariah this book has more predictions of christ than any of the other minor prophets.
The primary purpose was to encourage the people to continue to rebuild the temple. The book of zechariah is a book of the bible found in the old testament and the jewish tanakh thought to be written by the prophet zechariah. Zechariah with book summary versebyverse bible commentary. He is mentioned as well, along with haggai, in ezra 5. Zechariah pictures christ in both his first coming zechariah 9. We can look at how the lord related to zechariah and zerubbabel, and see how he will relate to the leaders of jerusalem and those deeply involved in building houses of prayer at the end of the age. We have very little personal information about zechariah. Zechariah begins his book zechariah 1 with a reminder that the captivity had been a result of disobedience. Only chapters 18 contain the prophecies of zechariah. The book of zechariah the prophet has a strong focus on the ideal future world, which promises a day of glory for zion. The bible book of zechariah predicts the work of christ for.
Zechariah verse by verse teaching in the book of zechariah. Aug 01, 2016 watch our overview video on the book of zechariah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. Finally, it seemed that the lord had placed a specific book in my mind as the next subject of our study. Summary of the book of zechariah the story of the bible. The book of zechariah is narrative history, prophetic and apocalyptic in genre. The second part chs 914 differs from the first in both style and subject matter. This book is second only to isaiah in the breadth of the prophets writings about messiah. The book of zechariah introduction to the book of zechariah in the bible. The book of zechariah lacks unity in its contents, style, and vocabulary 4 chisholm writes, arguments of this type are often subjective. This summary of the book of zechariah provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of zechariah. The book of zechariah was likely written in two primary segments, between 520 and 470 b. Apr 30, 2016 then we read down in verse 16, of iddo, zechariah. In the first four verses, we find joshua, the highpriest dressed in filthy clothes. The book of zechariah is an extraordinary and clearly inspired book of the bible.
But unfortunately we came to the end of that book and now we need to move on to something else. Not much is known about zechariah s life other than what may be inferred from the book. Jun 02, 2012 the book of zechariah kjv read by alexander scourby duration. The book of zechariah kjv read by alexander scourby duration.
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