Zechariah, the Book of

The Book of Zechariah divides into three main sections of distinct character. Chapters 1-8 contain eight night visions received in 520-518 BC, during the early restoration period under Darius I when the second temple was being rebuilt under Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest. The visions — the four horsemen, the horns and craftsmen, the measuring line, the cleansed high priest, the golden lampstand, the flying scroll, the woman in a basket, and the four chariots — use dense apocalyptic imagery to assure the struggling community of God's sovereign control over history and his commitment to Jerusalem's restoration.

Chapters 9-14 divide into two oracles (massot) of uncertain date that develop eschatological themes: the messianic king coming humble on a donkey (9:9, quoted in Matt. 21:5), the thirty pieces of silver (11:12-13, quoted in Matt. 27:9-10), mourning for the one 'whom they have pierced' (12:10, cited in John 19:37 and Rev. 1:7), and the striking of the shepherd and scattering of the sheep (13:7, cited by Jesus in Matt. 26:31). No OT book provides more material directly quoted in NT accounts of the passion than Zechariah. The book closes with a vision of all nations streaming to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles in the age of ultimate restoration (14:16-21).