Zechariah emphasized that god has used his prophets to teach, warn and correct his people. The book of zechariah might be called the revelation of the hebrew scriptures. Zechariah was a prophet of judah, the eleventh of the twelve minor prophets. Therefore, the book of zechariah is also about the prayer movement in jerusalem. A summary, synopsis or recap is a shortened version of the original. The reason for this supposition is probably that in the hebrew bible the chronicles are placed at the very end. For one, both were written after jerusalem was destroyed. And this is the individual whom zechariah is supposed to identify joshua as. The prophecies of first zechariah can be dated to the late sixth century b. Hubbard, a historic and landmark series, one which is synonymous with. Summary of the book of zechariah the story of the bible. Book of zechariah synonyms, book of zechariah pronunciation, book of zechariah translation, english dictionary definition of book of zechariah.
This is another duality within a whole, not a division. David guzik commentary on zechariah 1 gives an introduction to the book of zechariah, and describes the vision of the four horses among the myrtle trees. Zechariah overview martin luthers commentary on galatians. The contents of the book may be analyzed further as follows. The book of hosea consists of fourteen chapters, which was the record for a minor prophet until zechariah tied it a couple centuries later.
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. Grandson of the priest iddo, zechariah prophesied to the people of judah after they returned from their seventy years of exile in babylon. Now, what we see next is either a continuation of the angels explanation of what zechariah sees concerning the horses and chariots or its zechariah observing and writing about what hes seeing after the angels brief explanation that equated the chariots to the four spirit of heaven. In this book, zechariahs visions foster hope in the future promise of the messianic kingdom and challenge israel after the exile to remain faithful to. The book of zechariah teaches that salvation may be obtained by all. In that time it produced the final form of the deuteronomic history, the book of jeremiah, and the book of zechariah.
Israel, the northern country consisting of ten tribes, and judah, the remaining two tribes in the south. The book of zechariah quartz hill school of theology. Watch our overview video on the book of zechariah, which breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. The title is the same in hebrew as it is in the english and greek translations. Zechariah 14 commentary john gills exposition on the whole.
The book of zechariah has been called the apocalypse of the old testament. Boda and published by eerdmans is one of the well written modern commentaries on this book of the bible. Haggai focuses explicitly on the present temple work, while zechariah deals with the larger picture of israels history and future. Luthers second commentary on zechariah was written one year after his first but still had minimal explanation of zechariah 14. The book of zechariah is an extraordinary and clearly inspired book of the bible. The book of zechariah, attributed to the hebrew prophet zechariah, is included in the twelve minor prophets in the hebrew bible. Book of zechariah definition of book of zechariah by the. Like the book of revelation, zechariah is a book of prophecy. But zechariah is two, count em, two minor prophets in one. Zechariah has always held a fascination to me, more so than even daniel or isaiah, since i was saved so many years ago and leviticus has always yes, always been a source of my repeated return to read to try and understand more, even at the expense of neglecting to read the more straightforward works such as chronicles or exodus. The book of zechariah introduction to the book of zechariah in the bible.
The book of zechariah is narrative history, prophetic and apocalyptic in genre. Before the temple completed, and then wrote chapters 914 approximately 480 b. With this additional short summary of the book of zechariah you can discover the people, places and stories detailed in this holy scripture. The book also bears evidence that even prophecy could be corrupted. What are the meanings of the various visions in the book of. Book of zechariah, the 11th of 12 old testament books that bear the names of the. Zechariah 12 bible commentary matthew henry concise. Hubbard, a historic and landmark series, one which is synonymous with superior scholarship and excellence exegesis, this volume continues this legacy. It is a postexilic book, meaning it was written after post the return from captivity exile in babylon. In general, these visions speak of gods plans for israel and especially for jerusalem and the temple. The book of zechariah new international commentary on the. The vision of the candlestick and two olive trees, ver. In that respect, its possible to think of the book of zechariah as a kind of miniature book of isaiah. The bible book of zechariah predicts the work of christ for.
We have detailed a brief summary of the book of zechariah for bible study or sunday school lessons. This theme of repentance is developed more fully through the subsequent eight visions. The main purpose of a summary is as a simplification highlighting the major points from the original and much longer version of the subject. What are the meanings of the various visions in the book. Even the great martin luther who penned two commentaries on zechariah published his first one in 1526 and stopped at the end of zechariah without explanation. Haggai is very literal, directly addressing the economic decline and the tangible solution building the temple. Zechariah pictures christ in both his first coming zechariah 9. In this way it is much like the book of revelation or daniel which also have significant visions. Barker, zechariah, the expositors bible commentary, vii. During the time of the minor prophets, the nation of israel had divided into two separate countries, each with its own government. Zechariah, book of definition and meaning bible dictionary. Book of zechariah overview insight for living ministries. Zechariah is the longest book of the minor prophets. The last chapter depicts peoples from all over the world coming to.
He is mentioned as well, along with haggai, in ezra 5. A free bible version and commentary on the old testament book of zechariah in easyenglish. 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. In the first eight chapters of his or their book, zechariah is a more imaginative version of haggai.
The prophecy of zechariah is noted for its rich use of visions, pictures, and symbols. Abel then would be a man out of the first and zechariah a man out of the last book of the old testament. Zechariah begins his book with a strong call for israel to repent 1. Zechariah s prophetic ministry took place in the postexilic period, the time of the jewish restoration from babylonian captivity. The prophet zechariah wrote chapters 18 approximately 520518 b. Zechariahs hebrew name, zekaryah, means yahweh remem. Only chapters 18 contain the prophecies of zechariah. The second part chs 914 differs from the first in both style and subject matter. In this book, zechariahs visions foster hope in the future promise of. So, zechariah is supposed to look at joshua the high priest and declare that he is the branch. Zechariah 14 commentary john gills exposition on the. Yet their prophecies are just about as different as any two could be. His name, common to more than 29 old testament men. This summary of the book of zechariah will help with many different forms of bible study.
The book of zechariah is the most recent volume of the new international commentary on the old testament, edited by robert l. Relatively recent rabbinical commentators seem to have taken these verses in zechariah as referring to both the hasmonean maccabees of judah though actually from the tribe of levi in second temple times as well as to the messiah son of joseph and future leader of the ten tribes. 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. The universal tradition of both jews and christians endorses the prophet zechariah as author. Zechariah definition of zechariah by merriamwebster. This zechariah has of old been connected with 2 chronicles 24. Author the name zechariah is a very common name in the old testament, especially among the priests and levites of the postexilic period. Book of zechariah synonyms, book of zechariah pronunciation, book of zechariah translation, english dictionary definition of book of. They are literally ages apart even though they were given to the same people at the same time. The introduction to the book attributes the work to zechariah son of berechiah son of iddo the prophet zech. Parallels in prophecy between the maccabees and ephraim in the future.
The book of zechariah was likely written in two primary segments, between 520 and 470 b. The explanation of the number four, as symbolizing contemporaneous attacks from the four quarters of the heavens, fails in matter of fact, that, in these later times, the jews suffered always from one power at a time. Zechariah was contemporary with haggai, but his book is in direct contrast to haggais. As the son of a priest, iddo, zechariahs interested in the restoration of the high priests and the holy temple in jerusalem. First there will be a time of great affliction to the people of god, zechariah 14. Relatively recent rabbinical commentators seem to have taken these verses in zechariah as referring to both the hasmonean maccabees of judah though actually from the tribe of levi in second temple times as well as to the messiah son of joseph and future leader of the ten. Zechariah 8 bible commentary matthew henry concise. The prophets name is mentioned elsewhere in the book 7. Zechariah definition is a hebrew prophet of the sixth century b.
By providing a literary unity, as mentioned in the previous point, zechariah s duality precludes the possibility of wanting to separate the first part of the book from his last, even though the first part of his ministry seems to have been more well received than the latter part. The book of zechariah consists of fourteen chapters. The book of zechariah contains the clearest and the largest number of messianic about the messiah passages among the minor prophets. 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 dates mentioned in the book confirm that he was a contemporary of haggai zechariah 1. The name zechariah probably means yahweh remembers. His name, common to more than 29 old testament men, means the lord remembers. 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. The difference is that in zechariah israel is in the foreground and the gentile nations in the background, while in the book. Zechariah remembered of jehovah was the second postexile prophet and a contemporary of haggai.
By providing a literary unity, as mentioned in the previous point, zechariahs duality precludes the possibility of wanting to separate the first part of the book from his last, even though the first part of his ministry seems to have been more well received than the latter part. The book of zechariah made up of first zechariah chaps. And i will pour upon the house of david, and upon the inhabitants of jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications. Zechariah emphasized that god has used his prophets to teach, warn, and correct his people.
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