ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 1:1 Oracles and Visions. Zechariah’s sequence of visions in Zechariah 1:7 is interrupted by an oracle of restoration (Zechariah 2:6) and an oracle identifying the high priest Joshua as the key agent of renewal (Zechariah 6:9). The visions demonstrate that God affects all... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 1:6 The people’s forefathers ignored the Lord’s PROPHETS and were judged. Though the prophets themselves died, the WORDS and STATUTES of the Lord that they spoke brought judgment. Now their words bore fruit in the new generation’s response. They REPENTED and confessed the... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH 1:7 Eight Night Visions and a Sign-act. The eight visions that follow were all received in a single night shortly before the new year, a date often associated in the ancient Near East with temple building. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.l... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 1:10 The horsemen WHOM THE LORD HAS SENT TO PATROL THE EARTH are God’s angelic forces sent to gather accurate information for him. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 1:12 For the nations to be at rest while God’s people are not is a reversal of the proper order. The ANGEL OF THE LORD, God’s personal representative, therefore asks the Lord to end the SEVENTY YEARS of judgment. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); f... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 1:13 GRACIOUS AND COMFORTING WORDS. The Lord’s response is positive, and Zechariah is ordered to spread the good news. The Lord’s covenantal jealousy toward JERUSALEM and ZION has caused him to act in their favor. He will now judge the nations he previously used to judge... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 1:17 Since his people returned to him (v. Zechariah 1:6), the Lord returns to dwell with them. The temple (“my house,” v. Zechariah 1:16) will be rebuilt and the covenantal blessing of PROSPERITY will flow out from it. As always in the Bible, “prosperity” is defined by Go... [ Continue Reading ]
ZECHARIAH—NOTE ON ZECHARIAH 1:18 The second vision describes FOUR HORNS. “Four” symbolizes all the world powers responsible for exiling JUDAH, ISRAEL, AND JERUSALEM. These nations had SCATTERED God’s people for their sins, just as the covenant curse of Leviticus 26:33 had warned. Those who fought ag... [ Continue Reading ]