2005 Bible Reading

This page is not a commentary, nor an outline. It is something to bear in mind in this kind of reading. These materials I learnt from two books by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart (How to Read the Bible for All Its worth; How to Read the Bible Book By Book). You could consult these books if you are interested.

Pastor Raymond

Zechariah

Zechariah, the 11^th book in the Book of Twelve, is a rather difficult book to understand because it frequent uses symbolic language to talk about things of the end times. This book is the one book in the Old Testament that speaks loudly about the coming of the future Messiah and because of this fact, this book is often mined in the records of the New Testament concerning the teaching and ministry of Jesus.

The prophet Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai (see the date in 1:1 with respect to those in Haggai). We could find the circumstances of his ministry from 1:1 and 7:1, as well as from Haggai 1:1 and Ezra 5:1 and 6:14.

Although this book is quite difficult to read and interpret, its message was always revolving around the rebuilding of the temple. Maintaining the prophetic tradition, Zechariah also mentioned that although God would punish His sinful people, He too would judge the nations who mistreated the people of God. Meanwhile, God would firstly purify His remnant before returning to dwell amongst them. This book has a particularly detailed description of the death of the Messiah sent from God.

There are two major divisions in the book. The first eight chapters consist of eight visions (1-6) and two question and answer discourses (7-8). The second division contains two oracles concerning the return of Yahweh (9-14). Both divisions end with the image of all nations streaming to worship Yahweh the LORD of Hosts (8:20-23; 14:16-19), realizing the promise made to Abraham (Gen 12:3).

The 8 visions are arranged in a chiastic format：

Vision 1 (1:7-17) four groups of colored horses to bring the message of temple rebuilding

Vision 2 (1:18-21) External resistance to rebuilding the temple

Vision 3 (2:1-13) External resistance to rebuilding the temple

Vision 4 (3:1-10) Joshua and Zerubbabel leading the rebuilding

Vision 5 (4:1-14) Joshua and Zerubbabel leading the rebuilding

Vision 6 (5:1-4) Internal resistance to rebuilding the temple

Vision 7 (5:5-11) Internal resistance to rebuilding the temple

Vision 8 (6:1-5) four groups of colored horses to bring the message of temple rebuilding

The two oracles in the second major division (9-14) prophesized of Yahweh’s intervention and the future of all nations. One common point was the rejection and murder of the Messiah sent from God. The “Branch” (see also Isaiah 11:1; 53:2and Jeremiah 23:5) previously referred to in 3:8 received more detailed descriptions in this division. 9:9-17 says that the King will return to Zion but when it reaches 11:7-13, the shepherd of God is sold for “thirty pieces of silver.” The final destiny of God’s king and shepherd is unambiguously predicted in the oracle: “They will look on me, the one they have pierced” (12:10) and “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered” (13:7). But ultimately Yahweh would be “king over the whole earth” (14:9) and the death of the Messiah served to cleanse the people from sin. This particular point, that is purification precedes Yahweh’s return to dwell amongst the people, is repeatedly raised throughout the book. Not only temple rebuilding required purification, so do the priesthood and all God’s people. This is the significance of “Holy to the LORD” (14:20).

This book refers to the messages of earlier prophets more frequently (1:4, 6; 7:7, 12), reminding the readers by allusions. For example, 1:4 alludes to Jeremiah 35:15; 2:13 echoes Habakkuk 2:20. In addition, Zechariah 11-13 appear to employ the material from Isaiah 52:13-53:12 to speak of the suffering of the Messiah. Probably because of this connection, New Testament writers regularly used this section Isaiah and chapters 11-13 of this book to describe the crucifixion of Jesus.