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1: Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai and Ezra. He was used by God to encourage the Jewish nation to rebuild the temple during the reign of the Persian King Darius (Ezra 6, Haggai 1:1). Persia conquered the Babylonians, and the Persian King Cyrus allowed Jewish captives return to their home land.
2-6: Zechariah began his prophecy with a call to national repentance. Their ancestors were unrepentant and faced the judgment of exile in Babylon. Yet as always, there was a remnant who repented when convicted by the prophets.
7-12: The angelic riders on red, sorrel, and white horses may be the horsemen mentioned in revelation (Revelation 6:1-7, 9:15-16). Things are at rest because God hasn’t given them the sign to carry out plagues and judgment yet.
13-17: The 70 year Babylonian exile was about to come to an end. God graciously used the Persians to conquer Babylon, and eventually allowed the Jewish Captives to return to their home land. God showed mercy on Israel and let them overflow with comfort and prosperity.
18-21: The four horns are the four horns in Daniel 2. Babylonia, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome all oppressed Israel. The four craftsman (woodworkers/blacksmiths) opposed the four nations that oppressed Israel. These may be specific kings who successively defeated the kingdom (horn) that ruled before them and crafted a new kingdom (Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, Alexander the Great, etc.).
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1-5: Zechariah saw a vision of an angel measuring Jerusalem for the many inhabitants of the coming Kingdom, after God makes all things new and rules in the midst of his people (Zechariah 14). In the book of Revelation, it’s referred to as new a Jerusalem. God will protect it like a wall of fire, and nothing evil can come in (Revelation 21:1-3, 22:14-15).
6-8: God judged His people and scattered them, but now was the time for them to flee to their home land once again.
9-13: Those who harmed Israel harmed God’s chosen people and would eventually be judged. God will rule from Jerusalem after Christ returns to set up his kingdom. Not only will New Jerusalem house Israel, but people from every nation that put their trust in Christ.
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1-10: Zechariah’s vision of Joshua the High Priest takes place in a heavenly courtroom were Joshua is accused by Satan and judged by the Angel of the Lord (second member of the Trinity). As Israel’s high priest, Joshua represented God’s chosen people during the reign of Zerubbabel, when the temple was rebuilt after the Babylonian captivity. In the courtroom scene, Joshua/Israel is guilty of sin (filthy garments) and Satan accuses him for the sins he and the nation have committed (Zechariah 3:4). However, the judge rebuked Satan and described how He would save Joshua from judgment by referring to Joshua as a "stick pulled out of the fire" (verse 2). The Angel of the Lord took away Joshua’s sins and clothed him in righteousness. This is represented by removing the dirty clothes and clothing him with a clean turban and pure garments (Zechariah 3:4-5). Since Jesus died on the cross as the perfect sacrifice, it validated the sacrifices of the temple and purified everyone who trusted in God by placing their sins on a sacrificial animal (Hebrews 9:15). Because of this, Joshua and God’s chosen people could escape judgment and Satan’s accusation. The day of the crucifixion was the day when God removed the iniquity of the land. If we put our trust in Christ, God will purify us and we’ll escape Satan’s accusations and God’s judgment.
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1-6: After Zechariah saw the vision of the golden lampstand, an angel explained the purpose of the vision in Zechariah 4:6. The vision was a way of illustrating to Zerubbabel that his rebuilding of the temple was not done by his own might or power, but through the power of the Holy Spirit.
7-10: Zechariah’s prophecy that Zerubbabel would finish the temple would be confirmation that Zechariah was sent by God. Bringing forward the top stone is a picture of laying the last stone of the temple. The result is rejoicing. It was important at this moment for Zerubbabel to remember that it wasn’t through his own might that the temple was built, so he could give glory to God.
10-14: The vision is of a golden lampstand being perpetually fueled by oil from two olive trees. Golden pipes from the trees drain oil into the bowl, which fuels the lamp. It’s a picture of a lamp with perpetual flames that never run out of oil. The flames represent God’s eyes, which see all and "give support to those whose heart is blameless towards Him" (2 Chronicles 16:9). 2 Chronicles 16:7-9 speaks of fallen kings and nations that relied on their own might rather than the Lord. God’s eyes never go dim (flames lacking oil), and He works through His obedient followers. The two trees and branches are the two anointed ones referred to in Revelation 11:4. It’s not clear to me who these two are, or how they specifically relate to this vision. They may be angels who manifest themselves in human form as done in other parts of scripture.
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1-4: The vision of the scroll represents the Law of God’s word. It’s the moral standard that we will all be judged by. It’s indirectly described as a curse that goes out among the land because it holds us accountable for our actions, making us guilty of judgment (1 Corinthians 15:56).
5-11: The vision of the woman in the basket represents the wickedness of the land. The lead weight is God restraining it’s full potential for evil. Two demonic beings with wings take the basket to the land of Shinar, where the Tower of Babel was built. Then they build a temple to glorify and worship wickedness. Babylon in the Bible often represents the evil, worldly system of idolatry and sin.
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1-8: The four chariots of horses continue the vision in Zechariah 1:7-12 by finally carrying out judgement on the whole earth (as represented by the cardinal directions).
9-15: When the exiles returned from Babylon, Joshua was appointed high priest. He was given a crown made from silver and gold. Zechariah prophesied that Joshua would build the temple along with Zerubbabel. The crown was to stay in God’s temple as a memorial that God brought Israel out of Exile and used Joshua to rebuild his temple.
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1-7: People from Bethel asked the priests and prophets if they should continue their tradition of fasting on the fifth month since they were no longer in captivity. God responded to them through Zechariah with a rebuke, pointing out that they only wanted to fast for their own selfish motives, rather than for God.
8-10: God commanded that we make accurate judgments when thinking of others, rather than simplistic condemnations based on outer appearance. This is echoed in the New Testament by Jesus ( John 7:24). In both old and New Testament, God’s people we forbidden from oppressing widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor (James 1:27, James 2:1-9).
11-14: Israel disobeyed God’s commandments and even hardened their hearts to avoid hearing what the prophets had to say. As a result, God scattered His people among the nations, making the promised land temporarily desolate.
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1-2: God’s jealousy and wrath for Zion is His passion for His people. He had a righteous jealousy when His people worshipped other gods, wrath toward their idolatry, and wrath toward those who oppressed Israel.
3-8: This passage speaks of a future restoration of God’s people—when Christ returns and sets up His kingdom. There will be peace among neighbors and in the streets as indicated by the vulnerable members of society safely occupying the streets (old people and children). God will save His people from all over the world (east/west). They won’t face God’s wrath on the final judgment since they have been redeemed by Christ. Believers will be purified of our sins and live in peace with their righteous God.
9-13: Zechariah’s prophecy was an encouragement for Israel to be strong and follow through with the temple after the foundation had been laid. God judged Israel for their past rebellion, but a remnant of true Israelites would experience the blessings and future kingdom mentioned in verses 3-8 (Romans 11:1-5). The vine giving fruit through the Jewish nation was Jesus, who provides peace with God.
14-17: God brought disaster on Israel’s ancestors for the evil they committed. He encouraged the Israelites of Zechariah’s day to obey His principles mentioned in verses 16-18.
18-23: God declared a time of celebration rather than fasting since the nation was about to be blessed with the favor of the Lord. Verse 23 sums up God’s goal of keeping Israel separate from all the nations; for the evangelistic purpose of drawing unbelievers from all nations to himself.
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1-8: God pronounced judgments on cities that oppressed Israel. Tyre and Sidon (cities in Lebanon) would have their treasures stripped from them and be devoured by fire. This would cause Ashkelon, Gaza, and Ekron to fear. The King in Gaza would perish, and God wouldn’t allow Israel’s oppressors to destroy them.
8-13: Israel (Zion) had cause to rejoice because their Messiah would come and bring salvation and peace. They expected a political ruler, but Jesus came and lived a righteous life, rode in humbly on a donkey, spoke peace to the world, and brought salvation through His death and resurrection. He completely fulfilled verses 9-12. Verse 11 shows how Jesus would bring salvation; He would set prisoners of sin free through the blood of the covenant. It was in God’s system of blood sacrifice that Jesus appeased the wrath of God.
14-17: This passage seems to indicate that God would give them a future military victory and prosperity.
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1-2: Unlike the false gods of deceptive teachers, God promised His people He would answer their requests for rain and provision.
3-7: God is deeply angered by teachers (shepherds) that lead people into worshiping idols. He promised to punish them on judgement day. In contrast, God would bless His own people and make them mighty in battle against their oppressors. God is the foundation of everything that happens and sets rulers on their thrones. Therefore, God determines the outcomes of wars.
8-12: Though God’s remnant was scattered throughout evil nations, He promised to bring them back to the land and judge their oppressors (Egypt and Assyria).
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1-6: This is a poem about God’s judgment being poured out like a massive fire burning the trees of Lebanon and Bashan. God commanded Zechariah to shepherd the portion of God’s flock that rejected him (those in national Israel that weren’t part of the remnant). These people were doomed to slaughter because God promised to judge them because of their sins.
7-11: Zechariah tried shepherding the people and had two symbolic staffs: Favor, which probably represented God’s favor on his people, and Union, which represented the union of Israel. But Zechariah’s impatience and their disdain for him caused the prophet to break the Favor staff, breaking his covenant with them as their prophet.
12-14: Zechariah asked for his wages as Israel’s prophet, and they gave him 30 pieces of silver. This was the price of a slave (Exodus 21:30). God told Zechariah to throw the money to the potter, and that Israel priced their God at 30 shekels of silver. God prophetically spoke as if the high priests giving Judas 30 pieces of silver for Jesus’ life had already happened (Matthew 26:15). Zechariah broke the second staff, and union was broken between Judah and Israel.
15-17: The foolish shepherd that God will raise up is likely the Antichrist mentioned in Daniel 9:26-27.
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1-9: This oracle seems to indicate a time when nations will try to destroy Israel and fail. It may take place at the end of this age or during the millennial kingdom.
10-14: When God spoke of those who "pierced him"’, He’s referring to the Jewish nation, since they would drove nails through Jesus’ hands and feet. There will come a time when a remnant of Jews will mourn for the unjust killing of their Messiah and put their trust in Himt. This may be at the end of this age or during the millennial kingdom.
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1-6: The fountain of opened for the House of David (Israel) is Jesus, who died on the cross to cleanse them of their sins. There is a remnant of Jews that repented after the resurrection and a remnant that will repent in the future. False prophets will either hide and pretend to be laborers, or be ashamed of their false prophecies and repent. It also describes a period when false prophecy is looked down on so much that parents seek to put to death even their own children for false prophecy. This punishment is not condoned in the New Testament, but was permitted under the Mosaic Law and old covenant theocracy.
7-9: We know from Matthew 26:31 that Jesus is the struck shepherd in this passage. Being the second person of the Trinity, He’s also "the man who stands next to" the Father. When Jesus was struck (crucified), His sheep (the apostles) scattered out of fear. Even Peter denied Him and hid. The passage is a compression of Jesus’ first and second coming. Verses 8-9 refer to a remnant of Jewish believers at the end of the age.
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1-15: This describes a dark day during the end times when Jerusalem is ruthlessly attacked. However, Jesus will return as the Messiah King on the Mount of Olives. There will be a great earthquake, and He will destroy with a plague those who wage war against Jerusalem.
16-21: Surviving enemies will repent and worship the King, Jesus. It seems to say that they will keep the Feast of Booths, and make sacrifices in the new temple. However, the greatest difficulty with the Millennial view is that it seems to reinstitute the sacrificial system, which appears to go against the teachings of Hebrews (Hebrews 10:8-14). There is no longer a purpose for ceremonial cleansing, sacrifices, or the old covenant because they were merely a shadow of Christ’s finished work on the cross. And when Jesus is physically ruling the Earth, it seems even less likely that God would have us revert back to the Old Covenant sacrificial system, even as a symbolic act.