The historical background of the Book of Zechariah is closely tied to the post-exilic period of Israel’s history. After the Babylonian Empire conquered Judah and destroyed Jerusalem in 587 BC, many Israelites were taken into captivity in Babylon for a period of around seventy years. Following the fall of Babylon to the Persian Empire under King Cyrus the Great in 538 BC, Cyrus issued a decree allowing the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. This marked the beginning of the post-exilic period and the subsequent waves of Jewish returnees to Jerusalem.

The Book of Zechariah is set during this period of restoration and reconstruction. Zechariah, along with Haggai, another prophet, played a crucial role in encouraging the returning exiles to complete the rebuilding of the temple, which had been halted due to opposition and discouragement. The book provides insights into the challenges faced by the Jewish community as they sought to rebuild their city and reestablish their religious practices.

The Book of Zechariah, because of its great variation in style, content, and language, is widely believed to be a composite work. Made up of First Zechariah (chaps. 1–8) and Second Zechariah (chaps. 9–14), the book has been attributed to at least two different prophets. The prophecies of First Zechariah can be dated to the late sixth century B.C., contemporary with those of Haggai; the oracles of Second Zechariah are somewhat later.

The book is known for its rich and symbolic visions, prophecies, and messages of hope and encouragement to the Jewish people who had returned from exile in Babylon to rebuild the city of Jerusalem and the temple. The most striking feature of First Zechariah is a series of visions in which the prophet describes the centrality of Jerusalem, its Temple, and its leaders, who function both in the politics of the region and of the Persian empire and in God’s universal rule. These visions clearly relate to the Temple restoration begun in 520 B.C.

Here is a brief overview of the Book of Zechariah:

Chapters 1-6: Zechariah begins his prophecy with a call to repentance and a reminder of the importance of obeying God’s commandments. A brief introductory section (1:1–6) links the prophecies of chaps. 1–8 with those of Haggai. This section of Zechariah (1:7–6:15) consists of seven visionary images plus an associated vision dealing with the high priest Joshua. The vision contains symbolic imagery, such as a man riding a red horse, four horns, four craftsmen, a flying scroll, and a woman in a basket. These visions convey messages of God’s presence, protection, and judgment upon the nations that oppressed Israel.

Chapters 7-8: Zechariah addresses questions from the people concerning fasting and religious rituals. It consists of two parts: (1) an address (7:1–14) to a delegation sent from Bethel in anticipation of the end of the seventy years of exile; (2) a series of seven oracles (8:1–23) dealing with the restoration of Judah and Zion (8:1–17), followed by three oracles of hope concerning Judah and the nations (8:18–23). The prophet emphasizes that God desires genuine repentance and righteous living rather than mere religious observance. He also offers promises of future restoration and blessings for Jerusalem, with a vision of people from different nations coming to worship the Lord in the holy city.

Coming nearly a century later, the prophecies of Second Zechariah are extraordinarily diverse. A complex assortment of literary genres appears in these six chapters, which consist of two distinct parts (chaps. 9–11 and chaps. 12–14), each introduced by an unusual Hebrew word for “oracle.” Despite the diversity of materials, the structural links among the chapters along with verbal and thematic connections point to an overall integrity for Zec 9–14.

Second Zechariah draws heavily on the words and ideas of earlier biblical prophets. The prophet is acutely aware of the devastation that comes from disobedience to God’s word, as had been spoken by God’s prophetic emissaries. Yet, it was now clear in this century after the rebuilding of the Temple and the repatriation of many of the exiles, that Judah would not soon regain political autonomy and a Davidic king. So the various poems, narratives, oracles, and parables of Second Zechariah maintain the hope of previous prophets by depicting a glorious eschatological restoration. Zechariah foretells the coming of a humble and righteous king (often interpreted as a messianic figure), who will bring salvation, peace, and deliverance to Israel. At that time all nations will recognize Jerusalem’s centrality and acknowledge God’s universal sovereignty in a future day of reckoning for Israel’s enemies. The prophet envisions a time when the nation will mourn for the one they pierced. After the final battle, the purification and refining of God’s people, and the establishment of God’s kingdom on earth, the book concludes with a vision of a new Jerusalem, where God’s presence and holiness will be central.

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