Zechariah is listed as the eleventh of twelve Minor Prophet writings in the King James Old Testament. It is tied with Hosea for the most chapters of any of these prophets. Zechariah also contains the most total verses, as well as total word count, of any of this group of twelve.
[Biblical Symbolism of Number 12]
Date Written, Location
Zechariah 1:1 reveals that God first spoke to the prophet in the eighth Hebrew month (Heshvan) of 520 B.C. This was the second year of Darius I the Great's rule over the Medo-Persian Empire. The Hebrew month in question ran from October 25 to November 23.
Zechariah 7:1, the last exact date of the book, states that God also spoke to the prophet in Darius' fourth year in the fourth day of the ninth Hebrew month (Chisleu / Kislev). This corresponds to November 6 in 518 B.C., which means Zechariah's book was written between 520 and 518 B.C. within the old Kingdom of Judah.
[Map of Persian Empire at its Peak!]
The Author
Zechariah's name means "Jah (Jehovah) has remembered" (Strong's Concordance #H2148). What little is known of the prophet is that he was one of the captive priests who accompanied Zerubbabel back to Judah and Jerusalem (Nehemiah 12:16).
Ezra and Nehemiah list Zechariah, erroneously, as the son of Iddo (Ezra 5:1, 6:14, Nehemiah 12:16). The prophet himself records that Berechiah was his father and Iddo was his grandfather (Zechariah 1:1).
[Miracles of Old Testament Prophets]
[Graves of Old Testament People]
The Bible is unfortunately silent regarding how Zechariah died and where he was buried. That said, a medieval Jewish tradition states the prophet, along with Haggai and Malachi, are buried under the western slope of the Mount of Olives. This site is referred to as the Tomb of the Prophets. Modern archaeology, however, has dated the three earliest burial chambers to the first century B.C.
Zechariah 1 to 7 Outline
Chpt. 1: God reveals that his anger with the Jews was justified due to their sins. All the penalties they were warned would occur did take place! The Lord then promises to return to his people if they return to him.
Zechariah then receives the first of several visions. He first sees a vision of a red horse with three others near it that is explained to him (verses 7 to 17). The next vision is one where he is shown four horns which represent those who have scattered Israel and Judah (verses 18 to 19). The chapter closes with the prophet shown four craftsmen who symbolize those who scattered Judah (verses 20 to 21).
Chpt. 2: Zechariah is given another vision where he is shown a man with a measuring line tasked with measuring Jerusalem. It symbolizes the Lord's promise, during the Millennial reign of Jesus, to personally protect, restore and expand his people. God also promises to dwell among his people in Jerusalem.
Chpt. 3: Zechariah is shown yet another vision, this time of the High Priest standing with Satan the devil, the Angel of the Lord and attending angels. Before the devil has a chance to accuse the priest of sin the Lord rebukes him!
And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire (Zechariah 3:2)?
The High Priest is forgiven and then given clean robes and a clean mitre which represents his ability to perfectly fulfill his duties.
God then promises to bring forth his Servant the Branch, which is one of the many Biblical designations and titles for Jesus Christ (see also Isaiah 11:1 - 5, Jeremiah 23:5).
Chpt. 4: Zechariah is shown a golden candlestick as well as two olive trees (verses 2 to 3). The trees symbolize God's anointed ones who stand before him (verses 11 to 14).
The Lord also declares that Zerubbabel, the Jewish political leader who led the Jews out of Persian captivity (Ezra 2:1 - 2), would complete the rebuilding of Jerusalem's temple (verses 9 to 10).
[What Did Herod's Temple Look Like?]
Chpt. 5: Zechariah, still in a vision, sees a huge flying scroll measuring 29.1 feet (8.89 meters) long by 14.1 feet (4.3 meters) wide! The scroll contains curses toward anyone who breaks God's laws such as the commandment against stealing or taking the Lord's name in vain (verses 1 to 4).
The prophet is then shown a woman who is sitting inside a measuring basket. He is then informed by an angel that what he sees symbolizes the iniquity of the people throughout the land (verses 5 to 11).
Chpt. 6: Zechariah is next shown a series of chariots drawn by red, black, white and "grisled and bay" colored horses. The horses represent the four heavenly spirits who walk back and forth throughout the whole earth (verses 1 to 8).
[What Does Black Symbolize in the Bible?]
[How Will Gold Fulfill Prophecy?]
The prophet is then tasked to gather silver and gold from some of those exiled and make crowns to set on the High Priest's head (verses 9 to 11).
A prophecy is then given that Jesus, the Branch, will rebuild Jerusalem's temple in the millennium. The Lord will rule the earth in glory and be both a king and priest to all those on the earth (verses 12 to 15).
[Did Jesus Stay Sinless Via Fasting?]
Chpt. 7: On November 6 in 518 B.C. the word of the Lord came again to Zechariah. God wanted to answer several Jews who asked some priests if they should continue fasting each year during the fifth Hebrew month of Ab (verses 1 to 3).
The Jews, while in captivity in Babylon, began fasting during the Hebrew month of Ab especially on Ab 9. It was on this date in 586 B.C. that the Babylonians, under Nebuchadnezzar, destroyed Jerusalem and burnt down its magnificent temple.
The Lord's answer to the Jews was to rebuke them for fasting during their captivity for their own selfish reasons.
When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me? And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves (Zechariah 7:5 - 6)?
God then states that he had told his people to render true judgment, to show mercy and compassion to their fellow man, and to not oppress those who are less fortunate. The people, when they refused to listen to his words, were then punished with captivity (verses 9 to 14).