Zechariah 1 summary

Zechariah 1 “the LORD remembers” Summary Handout

Zechariah means “the LORD remembers”

©Tod Kennedy, todkennedy.com; knowbelieveapply.com

How to interpret prophecy

  1. Prophecies that have already been fulfilled have been fulfilled literally or as plain language would expect (e.g. Jesus’ first coming, destruction of Jerusalem).
  2. The prophet should be allowed to mean what he says (Zion, Canaan, Israel).
  3. Seek, understand, and accept the author’s original and intended meaning.
  4. The principle of double reference (not double fulfillment) observes that a passage may speak of two people or two events that are separated by time.
  5. Interpret Scripture by Scripture. Compare Scripture.
  6. Pay attention to the context of the Scripture passage.

Zechariah 1 Theme. The LORD will return to Jerusalem, choose her, and prosper her

Zechariah 1 Summary

The history of Zechariah 1-8 can be found in the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Haggai, the fifth century BC. On October 27, 520 BC the LORD spoke through Zechariah to Israel and called them to return to him and not imitate their rebellious fathers (Zechariah 1.1-6). Zechariah’s first vision was three months later, on February 15, 519 BC, in which four riders, each on a horse, scout the earth and report that all is relatively peaceful, except that Jerusalem and the cities of Judah have been left plundered for seventy years (Zechariah 1.7-12). The LORD then explained the first vision: in the future he will return to Jerusalem, choose Jerusalem, build his house, and bring prosperity and comfort to his cities (Zechariah 1.13-17). That same night the LORD gave the second vision of four horns followed by four craftsmen. The horns represent nations that have attacked and scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. The four craftsmen represent nations that will defeat the horn nations (Zechariah1.18-21).

Zechariah 1 outline

  1. Zechariah 1.1-6. On October 27, 520 BC the LORD spoke through Zechariah to Israel and called them to return to him and not imitate their rebellious fathers.
  2. Zechariah 1.7-12. Zechariah’s first vision was three months later, on February 15, 519 BC in which four riders, each on a horse, scout the earth and report that all is relatively peaceful, except that Jerusalem and the cities of Judah have been left plundered for seventy years.
  3. Zechariah 1.13-17. The LORD explained the first vision: in the future he will return to Jerusalem, choose Jerusalem, build his house, and bring prosperity and comfort to his cities.
  4. Zechariah 1.18-21. That same night the LORD gave the second vision of four horns followed by four craftsmen. The horns represent nations that have attacked and scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. The four craftsmen represent nations that will defeat the horn nations.

Zechariah 1 summary explanation

  1. Zechariah 1.1-6. On October 27, 520 BC the LORD spoke through Zechariah to Israel and called them to return to him and not imitate their rebellious fathers. See Deuteronomy 28-31 for the LORD’S promise of blessing and cursing.
    1. The time is October-November (Hebrew month Marcheshvan), The second month of the civil year, in the fall of 520 BC. When Darius took the throne of Persia there were revolts in the empire. “In the first two years he had 19 battles and defeated nine kings bringing peace in the empire.” (NKJ study Bible)
    2. Zechariah 1.2-3. The LORD calls the people to return (שׁוּב shub qal impv mp) to him and not be like their fathers. Rebellion results in judgment. Return to the LORD results in the LORD returning to them with fatherly blessings.
    3. Zechariah 1.4-5. The LORD was angry with the fathers of Israel (people of Israel) because of their disobedience, idolatry, and apathy. The previous prophets also warned the people, but the people rejected the prophets (e.g. time of Manasseh 697-642 BC, 2 Kings 21.1-18; Jeremiah 44.6). What happened to them? They all died. At the present time they had failed to build the temple and properly rebuild and occupy Jerusalem.
    4. Zechariah 1.6. The discipline God promised through the prophets came true (e.g. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28.2,15,45). God’s words outlived the prophets. At this point the people turned back (שׁוּב shub) to the LORD.
  2. Zechariah 1.7-12. Zechariah’s first vision was three months later on February 15, 519 BC in which four riders, each on a horse, scout the earth and report that all is relatively peaceful, except that Jerusalem and the cities of Judah have been left plundered for seventy years.
    1. Zechariah 1.7. The date is February 15, 519 BC.
    2. Zechariah 1.8. Four horses standing in a ravine, each with a rider. The first red horse and its rider are prominent. The man was probably a theophany. A red, sorrel, and white horse were behind him. The color of the horses is unclear to us. The angel of the LORD is with them.
    3. Zechariah 1.9-10. The horses likely represent some form of military scout troops. All is relatively peaceful except Jerusalem and Judah. They are sent by the LORD. We have an angel (an interpreting angel from the LORD, also addressed as my lord (Zechariah 1.9,10,11,12,13,14) who is different from the rider on the horse (Zechariah 1.8,11), and from the LORD of Hosts (Zechariah 1.12).
    4. Zechariah 1.11. The antions surrounding Judah are peaceful, while Judah is dominated by foreign powers.
    5. Zechariah 1.12. Jerusalem and the cities of Judah have been without Yahweh’s compassion for 70 years. This is the predicted time of exile into Babylon (2 Chronicles 36.21 (70 years for the missed sabbath years); Jeremiah 25.11,12 (Serve the king of Babylon for 70 years and then God will punish the king of Babylon; 29.10 (after 70 years the LORD will bring the people back into the land); Daniel 9.2 (Daniel read Jeremiah and learned that the 70 years were ending).
  3. Zechariah 1.13-17. The LORD explained the first vision: in the future he will return to Jerusalem, choose Jerusalem, build his house, and bring prosperity and comfort to his cities.
    1. Zechariah 1.13-15. The LORD expresses his love for Israel. Though Israel has been in exiled, the LORD has not forsaken her. He is “exceeding jealous for Jerusalem and Zion.” He is angry with the nations around Judah bedcause of their treatment of her.
    2. Zechariah 1.16-17. The LORD has compassion on Israel. He promised to bless her. Zechariah listed five blessings that that he will do: 1. He will return with compassion; 2. The house (temple) will be rebuilt (see Haggai 1.12-15; 2.1-9 for about the temple); 3. Jerusalem will be rebuilt; 4. The cities of Judah will greatly prosper; 5. The LORD will comfort Zion and again chose Jerusalem. When will these happen? In the context of Zechariah and the other prophets, this seems to refer only partially to the events of the next 100 years (516 BC completion of the temple, Ezra 6.15; 444 BC the walls of the city rebuilt, Nehemiah 4.1; 6.15), with the complete fulfillment after the second advent. See Ezekiel 9.3; 10.4,18-19;11.23; Acts 1.9-11; and Zechariah 14.4 where the glory of Yahweh LORD left the temple and Jerusalem from east of the city, not to return until Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives at his second advent to earth. See Ezekiel 43.1-7 where the glory of the LORD returns to the temple, never to leave; and the house of Israel will from that time on never again defile the LORD’S name. This does not seem to be fulfilled in the return from exile or after. This return of the glory of the LORD is still in the future See Haggai 2.1-9 where in the future the glory of the LORD will fill the temple. See Haggai Bible Walk notes for dates and parallel history.
  4. Zechariah 1.18-21. That same night the LORD gave the second vision of four horns followed by four craftsmen. The horns represent nations that have attacked and scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem. The four craftsmen represent nations that will defeat the four horn nations.
    1. Zechariah 1.18-19. The four horns were the nations who attacked Israel and scattered her. Horns are a figure for power, authority, military (Psalm 18.2; 75.10; 89.17; Jeremiah 48.25; Lamentations 2.3; Daniel 7.24; 8.20–21; Revelation 17.12).
      1. Horns (קֶ֫רֶן qeren) here may represent all opposition to Israel, or may refer to Assyria and Babylon which were the main powers that ravaged Israel. The number four may be a merism for all directions. Some say they were specific nations. For example, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome (Merrill F. Under, Zechariah, 39-41 and Charles H Dyer, The Old Testament Explorer, 823); or Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, Medo-Persia (F. Duane Lindsey, The Knowledge Bible Commentary, 1552).
      2. Whatever the exact meaning, they attacked Judah and Jerusalem, and then were themselves defeated by the next nation.
    2. Zechariah 1.20-21. The four craftsmen were nations that destroyed the horn nations. Craftsmen (חָרָשׁ charash, craftsman of any kind—stoneworker, metalworker, blacksmith) could be Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and whoever destroyed Rome. The point for us is that those who destroyed Israel will themselves be destroyed.

So what? Lessons chapter 1

  1. The call for those indifferent to the LORD or rebellious against him to return to the LORD: by confession of sins and changing attitudes and lifestyles. For us now we can apply this by genuinely and consistently living the Christian way of life.
  2. God keeps his word. This is illustrated by the seventy years of exile into Babylon and then the return to the land of Israel just as God promised.
  3. Jerusalem, Judah, and Israel are in God’s plan for the present and the future. Yahweh God will avenge the destruction of Israel. (Jeremiah 25.11-13; 29.10-11; Daniel 9).