The first 6 verses are a call to repentance.
Zechariah 1:1 In 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,
Darius I Hystaspis 522-486 B.C.E. seems to be the one referred to in Zechariah, Haggai, and Ezra.
The old testament prophets date their prophecies according to the reign of a King. Zechariah dated his prophecy according to this gentile king an indication that the times of the gentiles had started.
Zechariah 1:2 The LORD has been sore displeased with your fathers.
This means, “to break out in long controlled indignation”.
Zechariah 1:3 Therefore say to them, thus says the LORD of hosts; Turn to me, says the LORD of hosts, and I will turn to you, says the LORD of hosts.
“The Lord of Hosts” (Adonai-Tzva’ot) identifies God’s might as commander of the hosts of Israel, heaven, etc.
This is a call to repentance. To fully enjoy God’s blessing, we must repent.
Zechariah 1:4 Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, thus says the LORD of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, says the LORD.
Their ancestors were disobedient, obstinate, and unrepentant. Do not be like them!
Zechariah 1:5 Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live forever?
Your fathers are dead and because of their sin, the city of Jerusalem and the temple is in ruins.
Zechariah 1:6 But my words and my statutes (laws), which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the LORD of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us.
Returned – They repented
The exile was proof that God punishes those who sin and reject His warnings.
Zechariah 1:7 On the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sh’vat, in the second year of Darius, came the word from Adonai to Zechariah, the son of Berechiah (Berekhyah), the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
This is the second time the Lord spoke to Zechariah. This is about 3 months after the call to repentance.
Zechariah received 8 visions, not dreams. A vision occurs when the person is awake. They are recorded in Zech 1:7 thru 6:15.
All of the visions follow the same pattern:
- Introduction
- A description of the vision seen
- Zechariah questions the angel for meaning
- Explanation by the angel.
Vision 1 – Zechariah 1:8-17 – Man Among the Myrtle Trees.
Zechariah 1:8 I saw by night, and behold a man riding on 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.
“a man” is defined in v11 as the angel of the Lord. He has authority over the others horses and riders.
The Jewish Sages in the Aggadah (Sanhedrin 93a), say that the man with the red horse “refers only to the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is said ‘The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is His Name'” (Ex. 15:3).
Red is a symbol of war (bloodshed) and Judgment.
White a symbol of victory.
“speckled” is also translated as “sorrel” brownish in color. A combination of the others.
Compare with Rev 6:1-8 – They are “messengers of vengeance”, they likely represent angels, who are frequently employed as God’s instruments of judgment.
“Myrtle” – The Hebrew word is “Hadhas” which is where we get the girl’s name “Hadassah” or “Esther” in English. It is associated with the “Feast of Tabernacles” and with Messianic blessing.
“in the bottom” – in a valley; probably symbolizing Israel at a low point.
Zechariah 1:9 Then said I, O my Lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said to me, I will show you what these are.
The “angel” in this verse seems to be a different angel than the “Angel of the Lord”
Zechariah 1:10 And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, these are they whom Adonai has sent to walk to and fro through the earth.
“Walk to and fro” – this is a description of the angels patrolling the earth. They appear to be studying the enemy and responding to God’s will in engaging the enemy triumphantly.
Satan and his demons, fallen angels, also patrol the earth. (See Job 1:6-7)
Zechariah 1:11 And they answered the angel of Lord (YHVH) that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, we have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth is still, and is at peace.
“The angel of the Lord” is Jesus. This is a pre-Bethlehem appearance of Jesus. He is the divine commander and chief of the angelic army.
The angels report to Him. Things are peaceful and at rest at the moment. However, Israel is not at peace.
Zechariah 1:12 Then the angel of the LORD (YHVH) answered and said, O LORD (YHVH) of hosts, how long will you not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which you have been in indignation these threescore and ten years? (Seventy years)
Here we see the “Angel of the Lord” (YHVH) talking with the Lord (YHVH)!!!!!
How can this be?!?!?!?
The Angel of the Lord, Jesus, the Son intercedes with the Father, the Lord of hosts, for Jerusalem and Judah. He asks how long will He, the Father, be angry at them. It has been 70 years. Wanting Him to remove His chastening hand.
Zechariah 1:13 And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.
“The Lord” here is the Father.
The Father replied with kind and comforting words.
Zechariah 1:14 So the angel that communed with me said to me, cry thou, saying, thus says the LORD of hosts;(Adonai-Tzva’ot) I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
Jealous – zealous
Zechariah 1:15 And I am very angry with the heathen (nations) that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they made worse the affliction.
God used the heathen to bring punishment on Israel. However, they overstepped their bounds.
Isaiah also prophesied a similar thing.
Isaiah 47:6,11 I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into your hand: you did not show them any mercy; upon the ancient you have very heavily laid your yoke…Therefore evil will come on you; you will not know from where it rises: and mischief shall fall on you; you will not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come on you suddenly, which you will not know.
Zechariah 1:16 Therefore so says Adonai; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: My house shall be built in it, says the LORD of hosts, and a (measuring) line shall be stretched out on Jerusalem.
The temple will be rebuilt and the city will be rebuilt.
Zechariah 1:17 Cry yet, saying, so says the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity will yet be spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and will yet choose Jerusalem.
Genesis 12:1-2 Now the LORD had said to Abram, Get out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you: And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you will be a blessing:
Note: There are times that verses are numbered differently in the Tanakh than they are in some of the more modern translations of the Bible. We have an example of that in the following passage. The text is all there in both cases; the chapter and verse divisions are just slightly different. In the Tanakh Zechariah chapter 1 ends after verse 17. The following verses in the Tanakh are the first 4 verses of Zechariah chapter 2.
This next vision is going to be impossible for you to understand if you have not studied the prophecies in the book of Daniel. This vision is parallel to the vision that Nebuchadnezzar was given in Daniel chapter 2 and the vision that Daniel was given in Daniel chapter 7.
It is also important for the reader to be familiar with the major world empires.
Since the time of Daniel, there have only been 4 world empires.
- Babylonian (606 BCE-539 BCE)
- Media -Persian (539 BCE-331 BCE)
- Greek (331 BCE-323 BCE)
- Roman (322 BCE- 476 CE)
These are the accepted dates by all historians. (BCE is the same as BC) and (CE is the same as AD).
Vision 2 – Zechariah 1:18-21 – Four Horns and Four Craftsmen
Zechariah 1:18 Then lifted I up my eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.
A horn represents a gentile ruler. (See Daniel 7:24, Rev 17:12)
These 4 horns represent the same 4 kingdoms in Daniel 2 and Daniel 7.
- Babylon
- Media-Persia
- Greece
- Rome.
Zechariah 1:19 And I said to the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, these are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
Each of those 4 kingdoms has had a hand in persecuting Israel.
Zechariah 1:20 And the LORD showed me four carpenters.
Carpenters – skilled workmen or artisans.
They are:
- Media-Persia that defeated Babylon
- Greece that defeated Media-Persia
- Rome that defeated Greece
- Jesus who will defeat the revived Roman Empire. Jesus was a carpenter too.
Zechariah 1:21 Then said I, what do these come to do? And he spoke, 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.
“Horns of the Gentiles” – This is very interesting. Some believe that the Antichrist will be Jewish. I think they assume that the Jewish people will regard him as their messiah. I am not sure that is true. I think they will embrace him as a great leader when he brings peace to their country in an otherwise hopeless situation. I think they will come to their senses when he enters the temple at the mid-point of the tribulation and declares that he is god.
Because “horns” represent gentile leaders and not Jewish leaders, I think this may be evidence that the Antichrist will be a gentile.
“cast out” in Hebrew means “to cast them away” from their place, “to break” the kingdoms of the people that bore arms against Israel, and “to exile” them!
Bible Answer Girl 