The Minor Prophets

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The Minor Prophets
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The Minor Prophets

• Obadiah 840-830 BC
• Joel 830-750 BC
• Jonah 780-740 BC
• Hosea 765-725 BC
• Amos 760 BC
• Micah 740-700 BC

• Nahum 640-620 BC
• Zephaniah 640-609 BC
• Habakkuk 608-605 BC
• Haggai 520 BC
• Zechariah 520-480 BC
• Malachi 420-400 BC

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Zechariah
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Author

• The Lord Remembers
• 11-son of Berechiah, son of Iddo
• Iddo was one of the priests that returned with
  Zerubbabel and Joshua
• 24 young man possibly born in Babylon

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Date

• Zec 11 ESV In the eighth month, in the second
  year of Darius, the word of the LORD came to the
  prophet Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, son of
  Iddo, saying,
• Zechariah began his prophecy in 520 BC and the
  first 8 chapters were given between 520 and 518
  BC
• Zechariah began two months after Haggai
• There is no dating evidence for chapters 9-14

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Historical Background

• see Haggai for political background
• The Jews had returned from Babylon and had begun
  to build the temple
• With the adverse circumstances and problems with
  neighbors, the people had stopped working on the
  temple
• 16 years later Darius Hystaspes takes the throne
  and takes an interest in the work
• Haggai and Zechariah prophesy to the people to
  inspire them to return to the work on the temple

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Character of the Book

• Apocalyptic-style of writing (ch 1-6)
• Use of symbols to convey meaning
• Normally associated with prophecy, but not
  necessary
• Apocalyptic literature was used to hide the
  meaning of the message from outside readers
• Messages usually had to do with foreign
  governments that had control of Israel

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Character of the Book

• Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, Revelation were all
  written when Israel was ruled by a larger nation.
• All dealt with current and future events that
  would not have been favorable to those nations
• Apocalyptic literature conveyed the ideas without
  sounding revolutionary or anti-government

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Character of the Book

• Because of a similar style of literature, these
  books share common symbols
• Of all the books in the Old Testament only Isaiah
  has more to say about the Messiah
• Messianic prophecies per verse, though, Zechariah
  has more

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Outline of the Book

• Ch. 1-6series of eight visions
• Ch. 7-8Question about fasting
• Ch. 9-14Burdens given and prophecy of the
  Messiah and Israels future

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Series of Eight Visions

• 11-6History of Israels disobedience
• Sets up the whole book
• God has been angry with Israel for their
  disobedience
• God had punished them to make them repent
• The people finally got the message

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Series of Eight Visions

• Ch. 17-17 Vision OneThe horse men in the myrtle
  grove
• Four horses with riders in Myrtle trees
  (indigenous of Northern Israel)
• The mention that everything is quiet
• These symbolize war, at the time there was no
  political problems to prevent the Jews from the
  mission (building the temple)
• God also mentions his anger for those nations now
  are rest for taking the punishment of Israel too
  far

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Series of Eight Visions

• Ch. 118-2 Vision TwoThe four horns and four
  craftsman
• Horns represent power-or nations
• Four could represent all areas (four points of a
  compass, four winds, etc) or it could be four
  actual countries
• The craftsman come to destroy the horns that had
  persecuted Israel

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Possible Interpretation of 2nd Vision

• 4 Horns
• Babylon
• Persia
• Greece
• Rome

• 4 Craftsman
• Persia
• Greece
• Rome
• ???

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Possible Interpretation of 2nd Vision

• 4 Horns
• Assyria
• Babylon
• Persia
• Greece

• 4 Craftsman
• Babylon
• Persia
• Greece
• Rome

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Possible Interpretation of 2nd Vision

• 4 horns represent all the countries that had
  taken part in Israels calumniates
• 4 craftsman represent Gods work to take care of
  all of them

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Series of Eight Visions

• Ch. 21-13 Vision Threethe man with the
  measuring line
• The measuring would be necessary for building
• He is told that Jerusalem will be so vast that
  walls could not hold the multitudes that live
  thereGod would be its defense
• Representation of the ChurchGods people in the
  future

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Series of Eight Visions

• The oracle that follows the vision
• He speaks of the destruction of the Gentile
  nations
• Those that plundered will be plundered
• God will dwell with them
• Many nations will join themselves to the
  Lordprophecy of all nations taking part

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Series of Eight Visions

• Ch. 31-10 Vision FourCleansing and restoration
  of Joshua-the high priest
• The picture of Joshua standing before the Angel
  of the Lord and Satan also
• Satan is rebuked and Joshua is given clean robes
  and a clean turban
• This is the reestablishment of the priests and
  worship as God would desire

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Series of Eight Visions

• He then promises them to be with them if they
  behave righteously
• He also promises the coming of The Branch
• Then the promise of the one stone which has
  seven eyesseven being perfect-(possibly meaning
  all eyes will be upon it or that Gods eyes were
  on it)and then God will take away sins

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Series of Eight Visions

• Ch. 41-14 Vision FiveThe golden candlestick and
  two olive trees
• The candles on the stand were fed oil by the
  treescreating a light that would not stop
• The lamp would be Israel and the two trees
  represent Zerubbabel and Joshua who worked to get
  the temple done

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Series of Eight Visions

• God is comforting Zerubbabel and Joshua letting
  them know that he is with their work.
• He also promises Zerubbabel that as he started
  the foundation he would also finish the temple

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Series of Eight Visions

• Ch. 51-4 Vision SixThe flying scroll
• Zechariah sees a scroll 15x30 feet.
• It condemns all who steals and who swore
  falsely-(third and eighth commandment)
• God is bringing judgment on the unrighteous
• God will remove the sinners from His people

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Series of Eight Visions

• Ch. 55-11 Vision Seventhe woman in the ephah
• The ephah was the largest dry measure (half a
  bushel or about 5 gallons)
• The woman in the ephah represents wickedness- he
  puts her in and covers it up
• Two women with stork wings take it away to
  Babylon

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Series of Eight Visions

• Ch. 61-8 Vision Eightthe four chariots
• These were led by horses red, black, white, and
  dappled
• These are agents of God to bring justice to the
  whole world
• They head to the north and south because that was
  the only two directions any army ever attacked
  Israel

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Series of Eight Visions

• Ch. 69-15 The crowning of the High Priest
• He is told to go make a crown and put it on
  Joshua
• It typifies the King-Priest that Jesus was to
  fulfill
• Note Joshua and Jesus are the same in Hebrew.

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Questions about Fasting

• 71-3 People come from Bethel to ask whether a
  fast was to be still observed
• 74-7 They are told that a fast is an indifferent
  thing the value lies in the attitude of the
  people performing it
• 78-14 They are reminded that they were
  unfaithful at one time and that is why they were
  in captivity

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Questions about Fasting

• 81-8 God promises His love for Zion and to dwell
  among His people
• 89-17 God promises a blessing if they are
  obedient
• 818-23 The answer to the fast questionTurn the
  fast into a feast-for the bad has now been made
  good
• V.23-In those days ten men from the nations of
  every tongue shall take hold of the robe of a
  Jew, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have
  heard that God is with you.'"

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Burdens given and the future of Israel

• Ch. 91-8 The burden on surrounding nations
• Ch. 99-10 The Righteous King will come in humble
  fashion and bring peace
• Ch. 911-17 Israel, united, will wage war on all
  its adversaries and be prosperous
• Ch. 101-2 Obedience is necessary for those
  blessings to be recieved

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Burdens given and the future of Israel

• Ch. 103-4 The evil rulers shall be removed and
  Israel will be firmly established
• Ch. 105-7 Israel will triumph with their new
  leadership
• Ch. 108-12 The scattered people will be gathered
  together and dwell in Israel

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Burdens given and the future of Israel

• Ch. 111-3 The land of Israel is threatened with
  judgment
• Ch. 114-14 The people of Israel are punished for
  rejecting the Good Shepherd
• Ch. 1115-17 The people given over to the foolish
  shepherd

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Burdens given and the future of Israel

• Ch. 121-9 Hostile nations gather against Israel,
  but are overthrown
• Ch. 1210-14 God will pour His Spirit out on
  Israel, which will produce national repentance

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Burdens given and the future of Israel

• Ch. 131-6 This turning back to God causes them
  to purify the nation, eliminating idolatry and
  false prophets
• Ch. 137-9 For killing the Good Shepherd, Israel
  is punishedbut a remnant remains

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Burdens given and the future of Israel

• Ch. 141-2 Jerusalem is pictured as being taken
  and plundered
• Ch. 143-7 God Himself comes to her help
• Ch. 148-11 The Lord will be King of all the
  Earthspiritual blessings are given
• Ch. 1412-15 description of the destruction of
  Israels enemies

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Burdens given and the future of Israel

• Ch. 1416-19 Seeing the destruction, the
  remaining Gentiles will be converted and worship
  God
• Ch. 1420-21 Then everything will be holy unto
  the Lord and the ungodly will be excluded from
  the house of the Lord

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