Zechariah

ZECHARIAH

One or Two Zechariahs. Most modern commentators distinguish two sections in the book (chapters 1–8 and 9–14), which differ in content, style, and purpose. The first focuses on the temple, while the second does not mention it; the first emphasizes human effort, whereas the second concentrates solely on God’s action; the first highly values prophecy, but the second shows its decline; the first is a book of visions, while the second contains oracles; the first includes many biographical details, but the second is lacking in them; the first features many prophetic formulas, and the second primarily uses apocalyptic language. The first section likely contains Zechariah’s preaching, as he was a contemporary of Haggai, while the second might be the work of a different author from a later time.

Zechariah and His Time. He is mentioned alongside Haggai in Ezra 5:1 and 6:14 as the inspiration behind the temple’s reconstruction. He likely came from a priestly family and was called to serve in the temple from a very young age. His activities continued until December 518 B.C. He worked briefly with Haggai, sharing the main themes of their preaching: the rebuilding of the temple and eschatological restoration.
For more details on the period, see the introduction to Haggai. Regarding the historical context of the second part of the book, Zechariah II (9–14), it is very difficult to determine. The names mentioned, such as Assyria, Egypt, and others, do not refer to a current situation but instead evoke the past to highlight that God, as Lord of history, continues and will continue to act with other peoples.

Religious Message. Zechariah intentionally follows the example of ancient prophets (1:4), calling for conversion, emphasizing ethical demands, and criticizing worship without justice. He references Isaiah II (2:10-17) and, in literary techniques, more heavily on Ezekiel.
Like Haggai, Zechariah also sees the reconstruction of the temple as a promise of the coming messianic age. This future is portrayed in the second part of the book with a visionary style that suggests apocalyptic literature. Although difficult for us to understand, Zechariah II is the most quoted in the New Testament, where the authors saw the symbolic message fulfilled in the passion of Jesus Christ.