Zechariah

Question 1

Zechariah Historical and Political Setting

Answer 1

Date: His prophecies were delivered over a period of slightly more than two years—from October 520 BC (Zech 1:1) to December 518 (7:1).

Question 2

Zechariah structure

Answer 2

1:1-6 Introduction: Covenant Renewal
1:7-6:8 The visions of Zechariah
6:9-15 The coronation of the high priest
7-8 Moral and social issues facing the returned community
9 Yahweh’s march on Jerusalem
10 Judgment on false leadership and the return of the exiles
11 The rejection of the shepherd
12-14 End-time conflict and the emergence of the New Jerusalem

Question 3

Message of Zechariah

Answer 3

A. Covenant Renewal (Zech 1:1-6) (Key word: Return)
B. The Visions of Zechariah (Zech 1:7-6:8)
C. Coronation: Zech 6:9-15: the crowing of Joshua.
D. Social Issues (Zech 7:1-8:23)
E. Theological Commentary (Zech 9-14)

Question 4

The Visions of Zechariah (Zech 1:7-6:8)

Answer 4

1. Vision One (1:7-17): the temple shall be built.
2. Vision Two (1:18-21): world authority will not prevail against the Kingdom of God.
3. Vision Three (2:1-5): the restraints of world power.
   a. Return from Exile (Zech 2:6-7).
   b. Announcement of YHWH’s Kingship (Zech 2:10-13)
4. Vision Four (Zech 3): the purification of the high priesthood.
5. Vision Five (Zech 4): the blessing of God to come through the leadership of the
   community in the new age.
6. Vision Six (5:1-4): The flying scroll.
7. Vision Seven (5:5-11).
8. Vision Eight (6:1-8)

Question 5

Theological Commentary (Zech 9-14)

Answer 5

1. Zech 9: The march by YHWH from the northern borders of the Promised Land to Jerusalem and the temple.
2. Zech 10: critique of false leadership and imposition of YHWH’s leadership.
3. Zech 11: YHWH has offered good leadership to bring about covenant renewal and unity between north and south. This leadership has been spurned, and the results of this rejection must now be accepted by the community.
4. Zech 12-14: concentrate upon the end-time conflict, from which Jerusalem will emerge as the new-creation center.

Question 6

Theological Themes of Zechariah

Answer 6

A. The New Zion Community: Zech 7-8 (cp. Eph 4:25).
1. Faithful Community. This new covenant community will be characterized as one that speaks to truth, that is, as one who is covenantally faithful to one another.
2. International Community.
B. The Focus on the Shepherd-King.
1. Humble King: Zech 9:9-10 (cp. Matt 21:4-5; John 12:15)
2. Vicariously Suffering King: Zech 12:10-14 (cp. John 19:37)
3. Struck Shepherd-King: Zech 13:7 (cp. Matt 26:31; Mark 14:27)