The two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, were for a time contemporary—fellow-laborers among the restored of Judah (Ezra 5:11Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. (Ezra 5:1)). The former prophet, however, was called to the exercise of his ministry two months earlier than his colleague (compare Zech. 1:11In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, (Zechariah 1:1) with Hag. 1:11In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, (Haggai 1:1)). Of Haggai we know nothing, not even his father's name, as he is simply styled "Haggai the prophet;" but of Zechariah, we are informed of his father's and grandfather's name, and further learn from Neh. 12:44Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah, (Nehemiah 12:4) and Ezra 5:11Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. (Ezra 5:1) that he was of priestly descent, as were also Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Ezra. Zechariah began his prophetic ministry in the eighth month of the second year of Darius Hystaspes (Zech. 1:11In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, (Zechariah 1:1)), and continued prophesying for more than two years at least (Zech. 7:1010And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. (Zechariah 7:10)). The accuracy with which these dates are given, even to the day of the month as well as the year, is to be noted, as they conclusively signify God's recognition of the then Gentile Imperial Power and of the consequent degradation of His people.
Of the three prophets of the Restoration, Malachi unfolds the moral corruption of the people; Haggai warns, reproves, and encourages the remnant, promising Jehovah's presence and blessing, even although under Gentile dominion; but our prophet widens and enlarges his sphere of testimony, and shows the relation of and connection of Judah especially to the Gentile Powers in their judgment, and then as received to favor subordinately to the Jews. Jerusalem as a city, and Judah as a people, are in the fore-front of these prophecies, with the future relations of both to the Gentile Powers of the last days. The details of the closing hours of Jewish unbelief are numerous and interesting, and the miraculous signs and physical facts connected with the Lord's descent from heaven to Mount Olivet should possess intense interest to the student of prophecy (Zech. 14.).
In the first six chapters we have eight visions seen on the same night (Zech. 1:7, 87Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, 8I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white. (Zechariah 1:7‑8)). The first vision represents the three empires which succeeded the Babylonian; it having passed away at the time of these prophecies. The earth was at rest under the yoke of the first of the three-the Persian power (Zech. 1:8-118I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white. 9Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will show thee what these be. 10And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth. 11And they answered the angel of the Lord that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest. (Zechariah 1:8‑11)). The second vision represents the four empires and their final destruction after their scattering and destruction of Judah (Zech. 1:19-2119And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. 20And the Lord showed me four carpenters. 21Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it. (Zechariah 1:19‑21)). The third vision represents the measuring of Jerusalem, thus signifying the appropriation of the city and people for Jehovah: the people will return in large numbers from the center, from whence they were anciently universally scattered, namely, Chaldea or the north. Surely Jerusalem is ever before the eyes of Jehovah, for in it He will yet establish His throne and His temple (Zech. 26And the angel of the Lord protested unto Joshua, saying, 7Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by. 8Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH. (Zechariah 3:6‑8).). The fourth vision represents the nation in the person of Joshua, the high priest, guilty and defiled; but God in the exercise of His sovereign grace pronounces their justification, and accepts them to favor and clothes them with glory (Zech. 39The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. 10For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth. 11Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? (Zechariah 4:9‑11).). The fifth vision represents the combined glories of royalty and priesthood centering in Messiah, then returned to Judah (Zech. 45Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. 6And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. 7And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. (Zechariah 5:5‑7).). The sixth vision represents unsparing judgment upon the apostate and wicked part of the nation (Zech. 5:1-41Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll. 2And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. 3Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it. 4I will bring it forth, saith the Lord of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof. (Zechariah 5:1‑4)). The seventh vision represents Babylon as the seat and center of wickedness, civil and ecclesiastical (Zech. 5:1111And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base. (Zechariah 5:11)). The eighth vision represents the providential course of the four great empires; the judgment upon Babylon having in meantime satisfied and vindicated the God of righteousness (Zech. 6:88Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country. (Zechariah 6:8)); the full execution of Divine judgment upon the Gentile imperial powers will be effected at the coming of the ancient of days (Dan. 78I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. (Daniel 7:8)). Thus closes this series of visions (Zech. 68Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country. (Zechariah 6:8).).
The triumphant entry of Christ as Israel's Prince and King, into the royal city of Jerusalem (Zech. 9:99Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Zechariah 9:9), with Matt. 21:55Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. (Matthew 21:5)), and Zion strengthened against the power of Greece (Zech. 9:1313When I have bent Judah for me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up thy sons, O Zion, against thy sons, O Greece, and made thee as the sword of a mighty man. (Zechariah 9:13))—who will play no unimportant part in the coming Jewish future—are important events in the closing days of Judean history, and introductory to the establishment of Christ's millennial kingdom. Egypt, out of which Israel was redeemed, and Assyria, into which Israel was sent in chastisement (Zech. 10:1010I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them. (Zechariah 10:10)), will yield Jehovah's people at the epoch of their happy deliverance. The brotherhood between Judah and Israel is in meantime broken, and the Messiah of Israel is valued by the nation at thirty pieces of silver (?), while in retributive justice, the antichrist or "idol shepherd," will feed upon the fat and wealth of the land, but judgment will surely overtake him (Zech. 1110And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people. (Zechariah 11:10).). Jerusalem will be a burdensome stone and cause of wrath to the peoples besieging it—for Jerusalem, after the return of her people, will be besieged twice by the surrounding nations. Certain judgment will fall on the congregated nations gathering in rage against Judah, while the civil leaders of the returned people, the nation as a whole, as also the greatness and strength of Jerusalem with its inhabitants, will feel the awful stroke. The judgment and then deliverance and blessing of the remnant of Israel (Zech. 13:8, 98And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. 9And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zechariah 13:8‑9)) will be followed by the general mourning of the nation in presence of their once pierced Messiah—the king (David), the prophet (Nathan), the priest (Levi), and the people (Shimei or Simeon), with "their wives apart"—that is, individually—will thus all share in the general mourning and confession of national and individual sin (Zech. 129And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12:9).). Idolatry rooted out of the land; Jehovah owning the "Good Shepherd" on the cross as His fellow; the apostate part of the nation cut off, and a third or remnant number purified by judgment and owned as Jehovah's people (Zech. 139And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God. (Zechariah 13:9).). The second and final siege of Jerusalem by the nations north and east of Jerusalem; the descent from heaven of the Lord, accompanied by all His heavenly saints and the miraculous signs and physical changes in and about Jerusalem; the feast of tabernacles kept yearly by the spared nations in Jerusalem, with holiness stamped upon the civil and ecclesiastical polity set up in the City of the Great King, and the utter extermination of the Canaanite closes this interesting book of combined Jewish and Gentile prophecy, which, in its fullest bearing, can only apply at the end of this age (Zech. 149And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one. (Zechariah 14:9).).
The quotation in Matt. 27:9, 109Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; 10And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me. (Matthew 27:9‑10), and ascribed to Jeremiah, is really from Zech. 11:1313And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord. (Zechariah 11:13). The difficulty has been explained on the ground that Jeremiah headed the list of prophetic writings as directed by the Jewish doctors, and consequently that any quotation from any Old Testament prophet could thus be ascribed to Jeremiah. The peculiar reference to that prophet in Matt. 16:1414And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. (Matthew 16:14), does, in the opinion of many, imply some such arrangement referred to.
GENERAL DIVISIONS.
1-The future blessing of Judah and Jerusalem, with judgment upon the Gentile oppressors of Jehovah's people, closing with the introduction of Messiah's millennial reign as King and Priest upon His Throne—presented in a series of visions. Zech. 1.-6.
2.-The moral condition of the people; the relation of the Gentiles to Israel in the future days, with their full and final destruction—a remnant spared and the latter-day glory—Jerusalem being the center. Zech. 7.-14.
BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE BOOK.
Zech. 1. -Jehovah's jealousy for Zion; His return in mercy to Jerusalem and the destruction of the Gentile Empires who had scattered Judah.
Zech. 2-The future establishment of Jerusalem, her glory, prosperity, and joy as chief among the nations; Jehovah in her midst.
Zech. 3-The full justification of the Jewish people pronounced by Jehovah Himself; the guilty and defiled nation represented by Joshua, the High Priest.
Zech. 4-The glories of royalty and priesthood would yet be established in Zion, setting her as chief in blessing on the earth.
Zech. 5-The apostate nation of Israel under the governmental curse of Jehovah; and Babylon regarded as the seat of wickedness on earth.
Zech. 6-Providential government exercised through the four Empires; Christ the branch building the temple and bearing the glory in the future.
Zech. 7-Jehovah's controversy with the priests and people; the returned remnants called to the exercise of practical righteousness.
Zech. 8-Jehovah and the people's future return to Zion and the latter-day glory and blessing of Jerusalem; Jehovah in her midst.
Zech. 9-Historical fulfillment from Alexander's overthrow of Persia till Christ; the early part of the chapter typical of the future.
Zech. 10-Israel gathered from the north and south, Assyria and Egypt, and strengthened by Jehovah Himself.
Zech. 11-The Messiah, all Israel, the Gentile oppressors, the Antichrist (Zech. 11:15-1715And the Lord said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd. 16For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces. 17Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened. (Zechariah 11:15‑17)), all in special relation to the last days.
Zech. 12-Judgment of the hostile eastern powers; Israel, delivered, mourns in presence of her once crucified Savior.
Zech. 13-Practical cleansing of the people; mass of the nation cut off, and a third or remnant numbered delivered.
Zech. 14-The last gathering of the Gentiles against Jerusalem, and numerous details of the closing days.
NOTE.
The triumphal march of the Lord into Jerusalem (Zech. 9:99Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Zechariah 9:9)); the price at which He was valued (the price of an ox or a slave in the marts of the east), and the use to which the money was applied (Zech. 11:22, 1313And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord. (Zechariah 11:13)), with the piercing of His blessed side (Zech. 12:1010And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (Zechariah 12:10))—are Messianic predictions fulfilled to the letter.