ZECHARIAH
Prophet to Judah approximately 520BC
Rebuilding of the Temple under Ezra and Zerubbabel
Zechariah, like Haggai, was a prophet to those of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi, who, by permission of the Persian Emperor, returned to Jerusalem in order to rebuild the Temple.
Zechariah was a priest. He was a true patriot, pointing out that it is only righteousness that exalts a nation, and that fasting is no substitute for truth and justice.
Zechariah's death is attested to by Yahshua Christ. (Matt 23:33-35)
The book of Zechariah can be divided into three parts:
A series of visions – chapters 1-6
Two years later, plain words in answer to messengers – chapters 7-8
Prophecies of details of the First and Second Advents of Christ – chapters 9-14
Visions are of such symbols as a rider, 4 horns, 4 carpenters, a measuring line, a golden lampstand, a flying roll, an ephah, 4 chariots with horses. Like Christ's parables, they have hidden meaning.
For example, the vision of the 4 carpenters (literally 'workers') are those who 'diminish' – 'fray' or file down – the 'horns' (or Kings). In Bible numerology '4' appears to be concerned with things of this earth, and moreover things in connection with times of dissolution or judgment. Zechariah lived in such times. The power of Assyria which had conquered the northern Kingdom of Israel had been crushed by Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar, the power which later had conquered, in it's turn, the southern Kingdom of Judah. Darius the Mede was the reigning monarch when Zechariah's countrymen returned to Jerusalem. Was not Zechariah, therefore, in revealing this vision of the 4 carpenters, indicating to Darius that his power, too, would be 'frayed' (as it was by Alexander the Great) and was not this also a long term vision of the time when representative government would overthrow monarchies, not necessarily by war but by attrition?
Zechariah was given prophetic vision for the ages far in the future is evident from striking passages in the latter part of his book, chapters 9-14.
The First Advent of Christ:
His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. (Zech 9:9)
The price of Judas' betrayal, which became the purchase price of the potter's field. (Zech 11:12-13 Matt 21:1-10)
The parable of Beauty and Bands. (Zech 11:7-14)
'Bands' represents 'the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.' It is thought that 'the breaking of the Bands' signified 'the rejection of Christ by official Judah', and the acceptance of Him by the Galileans (of the northern province of Israel). All the disciples except Judas were Galileans of the tribe of Benjamin, as was Paul. Christ told the Jews 'The Kingdom of Yahweh shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruit thereof.' It was Israel – in it's appointed place in the 'isles' – who received the Kingdom. Ezekiel, using the parable of the 'two sticks' prophesied the ultimate reunion of true Judah and national Israel. Christ reconciled both houses of Israel and Judah under the new covenant. This parable also concerns the regathering of Israel's tribes under one head. America fulfilled this prophecy.
The 'seven times' punishment and divorce which started in 745 BC with the Assyrian invasion takes us 2520 years to 1776 AD, the birth of America, one 'white' nation of true Israel under God.
The Jews are NOT children of Israel. They are children of Cain and of Esau.
The Second Advent of Christ:
Zechariah also foretells Christ's return with all the saints. The enemies of Christ shall be destroyed. The Kingdom of God will cover the earth with Yahshua as King.
Ezra 4:1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto Yahweh God of Israel;
2 Then they came to Zerubbabel, and to the chief of the fathers, and said unto them, Let us build with you: for we seek your God, as you do; and we do sacrifice unto Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assur, which brought us up hither.
3 But Zerubbabel, and Jeshua, and the rest of the chief of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build an house unto our God; but we ourselves together will build unto Yahweh God of Israel, as king Cyrus the king of Persia hath commanded us.
4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
5 And hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius I king of Persia.
The Bible records several decrees to rebuild Jerusalem.
In 522 B.C., Darius I, a fairminded ruler, goes about setting things straight again in the Persian empire. With his support and Haggai's encouragement, temple construction is resumed. From 520-515 B.C. the work went forward, and the temple was built.
465 BC Xerxes' son, Artaxerxes, takes over the empire (465 - 424 BC). During his reign he allows his cupbearer Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to restore the walls to protect the city.
It wasn't until Artaxerxes came to the throne 464 B.C. that we actually see them rebuilding the city.
The decree of Artaxerxes to rebuild Jerusalem is the commandment of which the archangel Gabriel spoke. This decree was given in 457 B.C. This is the start of Daniel's 70 week prophecy.
It was during Artaxerxes reign that the adversaries appealed to legislation to stop Israel, for they were "building a rebellious and evil city".
"In the reign of Artaxerxes," they (the adversaries) wrote to Artaxerxes that Israel should not be allowed to rebuild, "the rebellious city, finishing its walls and repairing the foundations" because (the adversaries said) Israel would rise in rebellion.”
Artaxerxes writes back a command that is very unlike the commands of Persian kings, it seems to be uncertain, as if he's not sure he's doing the right thing:
"Now give command to make these men cease, that this city may not be built until the command is given by me." He is making a counter command to one he made earlier and is giving only a temporary order to stop the work. He is allowing himself a way out of this law.
This probably took place between 456-454 B.C. when the Persian Governor over the (western) section of the middle east, Megabyzos, rebelled against Artaxerxes, taking his subjects with him.
It's was a perfect setup for Samaria to win points with the Persian monarch and get even with Israel.
The Samaritans at this time were outside races of Canaanites and Edomites that settled the land while Israel was in captivity.
Did Artaxerxes believe the Samaritans? He seemed not sure, however the region was in rebellion and he didn't want to take chances. The kings reply was great victory for the Samaritans who went "immediately to the Judaeans (Israelites of Judah and Benjamin) in Jerusalem and compelled them by force to stop" (Ezra 4:23) While they were about it, they apparently knocked down the rebuilt sections of the wall, and burned several gates. (Neh.1:3)
In 447 B.C. a satrap (provincial governor of Persian empire) from Syria revolts.
Artaxerxes and Megabyzos made peace, and things settled down again. This is where Nehemiah comes into the picture. He hears the sad news that the attempts to rebuild Jerusalem were totally frustrated. He talks it over with Artaxerxes, who gives him permission to go and rebuild Jerusalem. Artaxerxes had left the option of reversing his "Cessation command" open and now that the rebellion was over he allowed the work to progress once again. In 444 BC work once again began. This time the walls were put up successfully.
Achaemenid king of Persia. Darius II, was king of the Persian Empire from 423 BC to 405 BC.
404 BC Artaxerxes II comes to power (404 - 359 B.C.).
Artaxerxes II comes to the throne in 404 after the reign of Darius II. He rules longer than any other Persian king. During this time, Egypt leads a successful revolt.
Zechariah in the Hebrew is Zekaryah, which means, Yahweh remembers.
Ezra 4:24 Then ceased the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.
Haggai 1:1-2
1 In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of Yahweh by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying,
2 Thus speaketh Yahweh of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that Yahweh's house should be built.
Zechariah 1:1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius , came the word of Yahweh unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
1:2 Yahweh hath been sore displeased with your fathers.
1:3 Therefore say you unto them, Thus saith Yahweh of hosts; (Re)Turn you unto Me, saith Yahweh of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith Yahweh of hosts.
Jeremiah 25:5 They said, Turn you again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that Yahweh hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever:
Jeremiah 35:15 I have sent also unto you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return you now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and you shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but you have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto Me.
1:4 Be you not as your (fore) fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried (charged), saying, Thus saith Yahweh of hosts; Turn you now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto Me, saith Yahweh.
1:5 Your (fore) fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever?
1:6 But My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your (fore) fathers? and they returned and said, Like as Yahweh of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath He dealt with us.
Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come you to the waters, and he that hath no money; come you, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Lamentations 1:18 Yahweh is righteous; for I have rebelled against His commandment: hear, I pray you, all people, and behold my sorrow: my virgins and my young men are gone into captivity.
1:7 Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of Yahweh unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,
1:8 I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.
Revelation 6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the land, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.
1:9 Then said I, O my Master, what are these? And the angel (messenger) that talked with me said unto me, I will shew you what these be.
1:10 And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom Yahweh hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth (land).
Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
1:11 And they (the horses) answered the angel (messenger) of Yahweh that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth (land), and, behold, all the earth (land) sitteth still, and is at rest.
The speckled horses must represent the mixed nations that were against Judah and Benjamin.
1:12 Then the angel (messenger) of Yahweh answered and said, O Yahweh of hosts, how long wilt You not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which You hast had indignation these threescore and ten years?
The Babylonian captivity. Captivity for 70 years, and now that the children of Israel returned to Jerusalem, they were restoring the city and temple, but these horses (usually horses represent armies) want to rain in on the parade.
1:13 And Yahweh answered the angel (messenger) that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.
Jeremiah 29:10 For thus saith Yahweh, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform My good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
1:14 So the angel (messenger) that communed with me said unto me, Cry you, saying, Thus saith Yahweh of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.
Joel 2:18 Then will Yahweh be jealous for His land, and pity His people.
Yahweh is jealous when we seek other gods.
1:15 And I am very sore displeased with the heathen (nations) that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction.
The Septuagint reads: 15 And I am very angry with the heathen that combine to attack her: forasmuch as I indeed was a little angry, but they combined to attack her for evil.
The other nations participated in dishing out Israel's punishment. When they were in captivity, the other nations were at ease. When good is refrained, the bad have fun.
1:16 Therefore thus saith Yahweh; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: My house shall be built in it, saith Yahweh of hosts, and a (measuring) line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.
Isaiah 12:1 And in that day you shalt say, O Yahweh, I will praise You: though You wast angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfortedst me.
Isaiah 54:8 In a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on you, saith Yahweh your Redeemer.
1:17 Cry yet, saying, Thus saith Yahweh of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and Yahweh shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.
Isaiah 51:3 For Yahweh shall comfort Zion: He will comfort all her waste places; and He will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Yahweh; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.
Isaiah 14:1 For Yahweh will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers (sojourning kinsmen) shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.
These are dual prophecies. First, after Babylonian captivity, the children of Judah and Benjamin returned to Jerusalem to restore the temple and bring in the Messiah.
Second, a prophecy of the tribes of Israel regathering here in America.
1:18 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns (military powers).
1:19 And I said unto the angel (messenger) that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns (powers) which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
Ezra 4:1,4,7
1 Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the children of the captivity builded the temple unto Yahweh God of Israel;
4 Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Judah, and troubled them in building,
7 And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes king of Persia; and the writing of the letter (to have the building of the temple stopped) was written in the Syrian tongue, and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.
Ezra 5:3 At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?
1:20 And Yahweh shewed me four carpenters.
1:21 Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns (powers) which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns (powers) of the Gentiles (nations), which lifted up their horn (power) over the land of Judah to scatter it.
The Septuagint: 21 “And I said, What are these coming to do? And he said, These are the horns that scattered Judah, and they broke Israel in pieces, and none of them lifted up his head: and these are come forth to sharpen them for their hands, even the four horns, the nations that lifted up the horn against the land of Yahweh to scatter it.”
The four carpenters must be Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and Tatnai.
Strong's has carpenters:
H2796 chârâsh khaw-rawsh' (carpenter)
From H2790; a fabricator of any material: - artificer, (+) carpenter, craftsman, engraver, maker, + mason, skilful, (+) smith, worker, workman, such as wrought.
H2790 chârash khaw-rash'
A primitive root; to scratch, that is, (by implication) to engrave, plough; hence (from the use of tools) to fabricate (of any material); figuratively to devise (in a bad sense); hence (from the idea of secrecy) to be silent, to let alone; hence (by implication) to be deaf (as an accompaniment of dumbness): - X altogether, cease, conceal, be deaf, devise, ear, graven, imagine, leave off speaking, hold peace, plow (-er, -man), be quiet, rest, practise secretly, keep silence, be silent, speak not a word, be still, hold tongue, worker.
Bishlam:
One of three foreign colonists who wrote a letter of complaint against the Judahites to Artaxerxes
An officer of Artaxerxes in Canaan in the time of Zerubbabel’s return from Babylon, who was adverse to the rebuilding of the Temple
The Septuagint renders Bishlam as en eirene, "in peace," as though it were a phrase rather than a proper name.
Mithredath
The treasurer who handed over their temple prosperity to the Judaeans was named "Mithredath" — a word that means "given by Mithra," or "devoted to Mithra." This suggests that the Persian sun-god was honoured among the servants of Cyrus, and yet that one who by name at least was especially associated with this divinity was constrained to honour the God of Israel.
Tabeel
A Persian governor of Samaria, who joined others in the attempt to prevent the rebuilding of Jerusalem
Tatnai
Governor on this side the river.—Satrap, or Pechah, of the entire province of Syria and Phœnicia, and therefore with a jurisdiction over Judaea, and over Zerubbabel its Pechah or sub-Satrap. What Shimshai was to the Samaritan Pechah, Rehum, Shethar-boznai seems to be to Tatnai—his secretary.
Zechariah 2:1 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
Ezekiel 40:3 And he brought me thither, and, behold, there was a man, whose appearance was like the appearance of bronze, with a line of flax in his hand, and a measuring reed; and he stood in the gate.
2:2 Then said I, Whither goest you? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
2:3 And, behold, the angel (messenger) that talked with me went forth, and another angel (messenger) went out to meet him,
2:4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men (adam) and cattle therein:
Jeremiah 31:27 Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man (Adamites), and with the seed of beast.
Ezekiel 36:10-11
10 And I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, even all of it: and the cities shall be inhabited, and the wastes shall be builded:
11 And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and you shall know that I am Yahweh.
2:5 For I, saith Yahweh, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
2:6 Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith Yahweh: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven (sky), saith Yahweh.
Septuagint reads: 6 Ho, ho, flee from the land of the north, saith Yahweh: for I will gather you from the four winds of the sky, saith Yahweh,
Isaiah 48:20 Go you forth of Babylon, flee you from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare you, tell this, utter it even to the end of the land; say you, Yahweh hath redeemed His servant Jacob.
Deuteronomy 28:64 And Yahweh shall scatter you among all people, from the one end of the land even unto the other; and there you shalt serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known, even wood and stone.
Ezekiel 17:21 And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and you shall know that I Yahweh have spoken it.
2:7 Deliver yourself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from the sky, saying, Come out of her, My people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues.
2:8 For thus saith Yahweh of hosts; After the glory hath He sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple (pupil) of His eye.
Deuteronomy 32:9-10
9 For the Yahweh's portion is His people; Jacob is the lot of His inheritance.
10 He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness;He led him about, He instructed him, He kept him as the pupil of His eye.
The “churches” teach that everyone can get in on this inheritance. Scripture teaches that this is the book of the race of Adam, the history, heritage, promises and covenants are about the anglo-saxon race of Israel. And only by, to, for and about the children of Israel. Rejoice, this is us, not the Jews who are of Cain and Esau. Only the children of Jacob are chosen by Yahweh.
2:9 For, behold, I will shake Mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and you shall know that Yahweh of hosts hath sent me.
Isaiah 19:16 In that day shall Egypt be like unto women: and it shall be afraid and fear because of the shaking of the hand of Yahweh of hosts, which He shaketh over it.
Egypt often is a reference to captivity.
2:10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of you, saith Yahweh.
2:11 And many nations shall be joined to Yahweh in that day, and shall be My people: and I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shalt know that Yahweh of hosts hath sent me unto you.
Isaiah 2:2-3
2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of Yahweh's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
3 And many people shall go and say, Come you, and let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.
This is a prophecy of America.
It must be stated that Zion, and Jerusalem do not always refer to the place. It often represents the people. The children of Israel are Jerusalem, we are Zion.
Out of America (Zion) went forth Yahweh's laws, we the people (JerUSAlem) spread His Word.
Exodus 12:49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger (sojourning kinsmen) that sojourneth among you.
America was founded on Yahweh. Our kinsmen, those Europeans that came to settle America, are the descendants of the 12 tribes. This is the regathering place prophesied in the scriptures.
2:12 And Yahweh shall inherit Judah His portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
Those of the House of Judah did return to Jerusalem, but since the Edomite Jews gained control by the time of Christ, that land was cursed, and the children of Israel do not inhabit Palestine anymore. They went on to settle Europe and eventually America. This was the fulfillment of Yahshua Christ cursing the fig tree.
2:13 Be silent, O all flesh, before Yahweh: for He is raised up out of His holy habitation.
The name 'Joshua' is spelled the same way as Yahshua in the Hebrew.
Jesus is not Christ's name. The letter J is only about 500 years old.
At this time in Zechariah the high priest of Judah was Joshua. The son of Josedech.
The Septuagint and some others have Joshua as Yahshua, the Christ.
This may have dual meanings.
Zechariah 3:1 (Zechariah speaking) And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel (messenger) of Yahweh, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him (as an adversary). (Ezra 5:2; Rev 12:10)
3:2 And Yahweh said unto Satan, Yahweh rebuke you, O Satan; even Yahweh that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke you: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
3:3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel (messenger).
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all become as an unclean, and all our righteousnesses as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
3:4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him (Joshua) he said, Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with change of raiment (priestly robe).
Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: (parable of Prodigal Son)
Swift-This was Joshua, with S contending against him. This is symbolic. It is explaining that man is not going to be the victor by himself. That man with all his righteousness, is just filthy garments. But God said He was going to remove these filthy garments from Joshua and then clothe him with righteousness. This is God's covenant with everyone of Israel. "Arise and shine, your light has come, and the Glory of God has risen upon you."-
3:5 And I (Zechariah) said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel (messenger) of Yahweh stood by.
3:6 And the angel (messenger) of Yahweh protested unto (charged) Joshua, saying,
3:7 Thus saith Yahweh of hosts; If you wilt walk in My ways, and if you wilt keep My charge, then you shalt also judge My house, and shalt also keep My courts (courtyards of the temple), and I will give you places to walk among these that stand by.
The Septuagint has the last part as: “...then will I give you men to walk in the midst of these that stand here.”
3:8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you, and your fellows that sit before you: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth My servant the BRANCH (sprout).
Septuagint has the underlined as: “for they are diviners,”
This is of course a prophecy of Yahshua Christ.
Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch (sprout), and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the land. (33:15)
This is also a dual prophecy which includes Zerubbabel.
Branch comes from H6780 tsemach, meaning the sprout, shoot (of Davidic tree), growth, branch, and here in verse 8 and 6:12 is a figurative of Zerubbabel, because he would build the second temple under the order of Koresh (Cyrus) of Persia.
3:9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith Yahweh of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
Psalm 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore thus saith Yahweh GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
3:10 In that day, saith Yahweh of hosts, shall you call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.
This is the reconciliation of the Houses of Judah and Israel under Christ. He died for the race of Adam. No other race is part of this heritage and family inheritance. The purpose of Christ's death was to redeem the children of Israel from the penalty of death from their disobedience from the law which only Israel was given.
Zechariah 4:1 And the angel (messenger) that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,
4:2 And said unto me, What seest you? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick (menorah, lampstand) all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
The Holy Menorah in the Holy of Holies of Yahweh. It had no candles. It had bowls and seven lamps filled with oil.
Revelation 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden lampstands;
Revelation 4:5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
4:3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
Revelation 11:4 These are the two olive trees, and the two lampstands standing before the God of the land.
4:4 So I answered and spake to the angel (messenger) that talked with me, saying, What are these, my master?
4:5 Then the angel (messenger) that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest you not what these be? And I said, No, my master.
4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of Yahweh unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, saith Yahweh of hosts.
Hosea 1:7 But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by Yahweh their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.
4:7 Who art you, O great mountain (Babylon)? before Zerubbabel you shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
Jeremiah 51:25 Behold, I am against you, O destroying mountain (Babylon), saith Yahweh, which destroyest all the land: and I will stretch out Mine hand upon you, and roll you down from the rocks, and will make you a burnt mountain.
Prophecy of the end of the Babylonian Empire.
4:8 Moreover the word of Yahweh came unto me, saying,
4:9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and you shalt know that Yahweh of hosts hath sent me unto you.
4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet (stone of tin) in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of Yahweh, which run to and fro through the whole earth (land). (Rev 5;6)
Haggai 2:3 Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do you see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing?
The stone of tin is a weight used as a plum weight for leveling and plum in construction.
4:11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the lampstand and upon the left side thereof?
4:12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
4:13 And he answered me and said, Knowest you not what these be? And I said, No, my master.
4:14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by Yahweh of the whole earth (land).
Who was anointed?
When Abraham set Isaac on the altar, he dedicated his son to Yahweh. Isaac is now Yahweh's. Isaac had Jacob and Esau. Esau despised his birthright and he took Canaanite wives, birthing the evil race of Edomite Jews with the descendants of Cain. They are the enemies of the children of Israel (Jacob).
It was the seed of Jacob that is the anointed people. The 12 tribes and their descendants. This would be the Anglo-Saxon people of the white nations of the world today. Not the Edomite and Canaanite Jews that have deceived the whole world into thinking that they are Israel.
So who are the anointed witnesses?
These would be the Houses of Judah and Israel.
Some believe this chapter is talking about the birth of the TALMUD, the Jews Bible.
Zechariah 5:1 Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.
The Septuagint has 'a sickle', the Geneva has 'book'.
5:2 And he said unto me, What seest you? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits (30'), and the breadth thereof ten cubits (15').
H5774 oof (flying)
A primitive root; to cover (with wings or obscurity-act of darkening); hence (as denominative from H5775 -a bird or as a covering) to fly; also (by implication of dimness) to faint (from the darkness of swooning): - brandish, be (wax) faint, flee away, fly (away - ), X set, shine forth, weary.
Fainting
ppr. Falling into a swoon; failing; losing strength or courage; becoming feeble or timid.
n. A temporary loss of strength, color and respiration;
From a horizontal view, such as a flying carpet, it can be thought of as those who successfully hide their sins from us (below this scroll), cannot hide them from Yahweh (above).
From another view, such as described in the above definitions, it can be shown that the written Word of Yahweh, the Torah, has been covered by a perversion of the laws of Moses. This has been explained by Christ Himself.
It must first be understood that the scribes, Sadducees and Pharisees at the time of Christ are Canaanite and Edomite Jews. There were only a few true Israelite Pharisees left, such as Gamaliel and Nicodemus, as well as Joseph of Arimithea who was a member of the Sanhedrin.
The Edomites have replaced the Levitical priesthood with their own priesthood and rule over the people with their perverted doctrine which they based off of the Torah. For about 150 years, the children of Israel have been swooned into doctrine of the Pharisees. After a few generations of brainwashing, the newer generations grow up in the new doctrine. This was the birth of Judaism. Judaism is not Christianity. It is the perversion of Christianity.
And now a brief demonstration of Christ and others rebuking the Pharisee Jews and their Judaism (traditions, doctrine, commandments of men, elders).
Matthew 15:2 (Pharisee Jews ask Christ) Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But He answered and said unto them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
There is no commandment that we must wash our hands before we eat.
Notice how Christ differentiates between the “commandments of God” and 'their traditions'.
Matthew 15:9 But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
This is Prince Yahshua speaking. Do you believe your “church” or do you believe Christ?
Just like today, in vain do the “churches” worship Him, by worshiping the perverted doctrine that Christ is a Jew, and all the scripture that has been twisted to put our people in a state of fainting (being swooned).
Mark 7:3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
Mark 7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, Why walk not your disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things you do.
9 And He said unto them, Full well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your own tradition.
So is Mr. Preacher right, or do you believe Christ? The red letters are His words. If the Jews were God's people, they would be following God's tradition, and not their own.
John 8:44 (Christ speaking to the Edomite Jew Pharisees) Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Mark 11:18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy Him: for they feared Him, because all the people was astonished at His doctrine.
His doctrine, the true Israelites of Judaea were waking up and realizing that they have been lied to.
Luke 4:32 And they were astonished at His doctrine: for His word was with power (authority).
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world (society), and not after Christ.
Paul understood the deceit, he was raised a Pharisee, and converted on the road to Damascus.
Colossians 2:20 Wherefore if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world (society), why, as though living in the society, are you subject to ordinances
The controlling ordinances of the Jewish priesthood.
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 things which are all to perish with their misuse;) why, as though living in the society, are you subject to ordinances after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, which are a statement indeed, holding wisdom in submissive worship and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
They are empty rituals. These commandments are not God's, they are the ruling priesthood's.
They are regulations. Just like today, we can't do anything without a regulation. Thanks Jews!
Titus 1:14 Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
2Timothy 4:3-4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure (maintain) sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap (collect) to themselves teachers (other doctrines), having itching ears;
2Timothy 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Now getting back to Zechariah:
5:3 Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth (land): for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.
The Septuagint has: 3 And he said to me, This is the curse that goes forth over the face of the whole land: for every thief shall be punished with death on this side, and every false swearer shall be punished on that side.
The Geneva has: 3 Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the whole land: for every one that stealeth, shall be cut off aswell on this side, as on that: and every one that sweareth, shall be cut off aswell on this side, as on that.
5:4 I will bring it forth (the curse), saith Yahweh of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by My name: and it (the curse) shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it (his houshold) with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.
This verse 4 is a serious verse.
Leviticus 19:12 And you shall not swear by My name falsely, neither shalt you profane the name of your God: I am Yahweh.
Today's “churches” only know Him as a title. They may think they know who they are calling upon, but a title is not specific. God can be any god. The Greeks had hundreds, so did the Vikings. Lord is just a medieval title for master. It also is the title for Satan, known as Baal. So when you call Yahweh “Lord”, you are calling on the name of Baal. Some don't think this matters. But Yahweh demands we use His name over 100 times in the Bible. Yahweh is His name. I AM. The original Hebrew shows it as YHWH because there are no vowels in Hebrew. There is POWER in His name.
5:5 Then the angel (messenger) that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now your eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth.
5:6 And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah (the receptacle for measuring or holding that amount) that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth (land).
The Septuagint and the Jerusalem Bible have: 'iniquity'. The Hebrew has 'eye'. Figurative of mental and spiritual faculties.
5:7 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead (the cover of the ephah): and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah (measure).
5:8 And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah (measure); and he cast the weight of lead (measuring weight) upon the mouth thereof.
The Septuagint has 'iniquity' again, as it does in verse 6. Iniquity is the correct word.
5:9 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah (measure) between the earth (land) and the heaven (sky).
According to Calmet, the woman in verse 7 enclosed in the ephah denoted the iniquity of Babylon; the mass of lead which fell down upon her was the vengeance of Yahweh; and the two women who lifted her up into the air were the Medes and Persians, who destroyed the empire of Babylon.
Maybe it represents Canaanites and Edomites, Sadducees and Pharisees.
5:10 Then said I to the angel (messenger) that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah (measure)?
The Septuagint has 'carry away' in place of the KJV 'bear'.
5:11 And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar (Babylon): and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.
This sounds very much like the Babylonian Talmud. Babylon represents the ancient kingdom which fell, as well as the eighth beast of Revelation, which is the empire of Satan and his children, the descendants of Cain and Esau.
Zechariah 6:1 And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass (bronze).
This may be references to the Medes and Persians as the two mountains (kingdoms).
The four chariots may be a reference to the four divisions of Alexander the Greats kingdom at it's end.
6:2 In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; (Rev 6:4-5)
6:3 And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled (spotted) and bay (strong) horses. (Rev 6:2)
6:4 Then I answered and said unto the angel (messenger) that talked with me, What are these, my master?
6:5 And the angel (messenger) answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens (skies), which go forth from standing before Yahweh of all the earth (land).
Psalm 104:4 Who maketh His messengers spirits; His ministers a flaming fire:
Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
2Kings 22:19 Because your heart was tender, and you hast humbled yourself before Yahweh, when you heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent your clothes, and wept before Me; I also have heard you, saith Yahweh.
6:6 The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled (spotted) go forth toward the south country.
Jeremiah 1:14 Then Yahweh said unto me, Out of the north an evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the land.
6:7 And the bay (strong) went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth (land): and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth (land). So they walked to and fro through the earth (land).
6:8 Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.
Ecclessiastes 10:4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
Verses 9-15 are a prophecies of Yahshua Christ. Both Advents. It is also a reference to Zerubbabel, the sprout.
6:9 And the word of Yahweh came unto me, saying,
6:10 Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come you the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah;
6:11 Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;
Exodus 29:6 And you shalt put the mitre (diadem) upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre.
6:12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh Yahweh of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH (sprout); and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of Yahweh: First Advent
Luke 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
6:13 Even He shall build the temple of Yahweh; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. Second Advent
The Septuagint has: 13 And he shall receive power, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and there shall be a priest on his right hand, and a peaceable counsel shall be between them both.
The Geneva: 13 Even he shall build the Temple of Yahweh, and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne, and he shall be a Priest upon his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
Isaiah 22:24 And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons.
Psalm 110:4 Yahweh hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle (Ambassador) and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
6:14 And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of Yahweh.
The Septuagint: 14 And the crown shall be to them that wait patiently, and to the useful men of the captivity, and to them that have known it, and for the favour of the son of Sophonias, and for a psalm in the house of Yahweh.
6:15 And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of Yahweh, and you shall know that Yahweh of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of Yahweh your God.
Insincere fasting
Zechariah 7:1 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of Yahweh came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu;
7:2 When they had sent unto the house of God (Bethel) Sherezer and Regemmelech, and their men, to pray before Yahweh,
7:3 And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of Yahweh of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?
Deuteronomy 17:9 And you shalt come unto the priests the Levites, and unto the judge that shall be in those days, and enquire; and they shall shew you the sentence of judgment:
Malachi 2:7 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of Yahweh of hosts.
7:4 Then came the word of Yahweh of hosts unto me, saying,
7:5 Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did you at all fast unto Me, even to Me?
Isaiah 58:1-6
1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and shew My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
2 Yet they seek Me daily, and delight to know My ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of Me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching (drawing near) to God.
3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and you seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and you takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
4 Behold, you fast for strife (contention) and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: you shall not fast as you do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to Yahweh?
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?
7:6 And when you did eat, and when you did drink, did not you eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?
7:7 Should you not hear the words which Yahweh hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?
Jeremiah 17:26 And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of Yahweh.
7:8 And the word of Yahweh came unto Zechariah, saying,
7:9 Thus speaketh Yahweh of hosts, saying, Execute true judgment, and shew mercy and compassions every man to his brother:
Jeremiah 7:23 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people: and walk you in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
7:10 And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger (sojourning kinsmen), nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart.
Exodus 22:21 You shalt neither vex a stranger (sojourning kinsmen), nor oppress him: for you were strangers (sojourning kinsmen) in the land of Egypt.
7:11 But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear.
The Septuagint has: 11 But they refused to attend, and madly turned their back, and made their ears heavy, so that they should not hear.
Nehemiah 9:29 And testifiedst against them, that you mightest bring them again unto your law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto your commandments, but sinned against your judgments, (which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.
7:12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law (torah), and the words which Yahweh of hosts hath sent in His spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from Yahweh of hosts.
Ezekiel 11:19 And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh:
7:13 Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith Yahweh of hosts:
7:14 But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not. Thus the land was desolate after them, that no man passed through nor returned: for they laid the pleasant land desolate.
The Septuagint: 14 And I will cast them out among all the nations, whom they know not; and the land behind them shall be made utterly destitute of any going through or returning: yea they have made the choice land a desolation.
Deuteronomy 28:64 And Yahweh shall scatter you among all people, from the one end of the land even unto the other; and there you shalt serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known, even wood and stone.
After the Assyrian and Babylonian captivities, the House of Israel had gone off and migrated and settled into Europe, eventually on to America. Most of Judah as well, only a remnant returned to Jerusalem. After the Jews murdered Christ, and the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, God's people never went back to Palestine. It is now home to the enemies of Christ, the Jews, who are not Israel, but the children of Cain and Esau.
Rebuilding of the population of Jerusalem
Zechariah 8:1 Again the word of Yahweh of hosts came to me, saying,
8:2 Thus saith Yahweh of hosts; I was jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I was jealous for her with great fury.
8:3 Thus saith Yahweh; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of Yahweh of hosts the holy mountain.
Isaiah 1:21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.
Zion, Jerusalem are references to the people. When we obey Yahweh, He returns to us, He dwells within us, we are His holy kingdom (mountain). Isaiah calls the city a harlot, that's impossible, but the people can be harlots. When we stray from Yahweh, we cheat on Him.
8:4 Thus saith Yahweh of hosts; There shall yet old men and old women dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, and every man with his staff in his hand for very age.
1Samuel 2:31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off your arm (might, power), and the arm of your father's house, that there shall not be an old man in your house.
8:5 And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
8:6 Thus saith Yahweh of hosts; If it be marvellous (beyond one's power) in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous (beyond one's power) in Mine eyes? saith Yahweh of hosts.
The Septuagint reads: 6 Thus saith Yahweh Almighty; If it shall be impossible in the sight of the remnant of this people in those days, shall it also be impossible in My sight? saith Yahweh Almighty.
Do you think I have limits like you do?
8:7 Thus saith Yahweh of hosts; Behold, I will save My people from the east country, and from the west country;
8:8 And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
Jeremiah 31:1,33
1 At the same time, saith Yahweh, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people. (Not the world, all 12 tribes)
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; (Not the world, but the 12 tribes) After those days (Christ's), saith Yahweh, I will put My law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Jeremiah 4:2 And you shalt swear, Yahweh liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in Him, and in Him shall they glory.
8:9 Thus saith Yahweh of hosts; Let your hands be strong, you that hear in these days these words by the mouth of the prophets, which were in the day that the foundation of the house of Yahweh of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.
Haggai 2:4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith Yahweh; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land, saith Yahweh, and work: for I am with you, saith Yahweh of hosts:
8:10 For before these days there was no hire for man (adam), nor any hire for beast (non-Adamites); neither was there any peace to him that went out or came in because of the affliction: for I set all men (adam) every one against his neighbour (kinsmen).
Haggai 1:6,9
6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but you have not enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.
9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when you brought it home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith Yahweh of hosts. Because of Mine house that is waste, and you run every man unto his own house.
8:11 But now I will not be unto the residue (remnant) of this people as in the former days, saith Yahweh of hosts.
8:12 For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens (skies) shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.
The Septuagint: 12 But I will shew peace: the vine shall yield her fruit, and the land shall yield her produce, and the sky shall give its dew: and I will give as an inheritance all these things to the remnant of My people. (not the world, His people, genetic offspring of Adam)
Psalm 67:6 Then shall the land yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.
Yahweh is giving them another chance.
8:13 And it shall come to pass, that as you were a curse among the heathen (nations), O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing: fear not, but let your hands be strong.
The curse was the punishment of breaking the law.
8:14 For thus saith Yahweh of hosts; As I thought to punish you, when your fathers provoked Me to wrath, saith Yahweh of hosts, and I repented (regret) not:
2Chronicles 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised His words, and misused His prophets, until the wrath of Yahweh arose against His people, till there was no remedy.
Jeremiah 31:28 And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith Yahweh.
8:15 So again have I thought in these days to do well unto Jerusalem and to the house of Judah: fear you not.
They served their punishment for 70 years. Now they have a new start.
8:16 These are the things that you shall do; Speak you every man the truth to his neighbour (kinsmen); execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
8:17 And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour (kin); and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith Yahweh.
Proverbs 3:29 Devise not evil against your neighbour (kin), seeing he dwelleth securely by you.
8:18 And the word of Yahweh of hosts came unto me, saying,
8:19 Thus saith Yahweh of hosts; The fast of the fourth month (2Ki 25:3; Jer 52:6), and the fast of the fifth (2Ki 25:8-9; Jer 52:12-13), and the fast of the seventh (Lev 16, 23:27; 2Ki 25:25; Jer 41:1-3), and the fast of the tenth (2Ki 25:1; Jer 52:4), shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful (appointed) feasts; therefore love the truth and peace. (see end of chapter 8 for notes on these fasts)
8:20 Thus saith Yahweh of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities:
8:21 And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before Yahweh, and to seek Yahweh of hosts: I will go also.
Isaiah 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come you, and let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.
Micah 4:1-2
1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of Yahweh shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.
We are in the last days, we are in the last age, the age of Laodicea of Revelation. America, when it began, was the mountain of Yahweh, we are the most powerful nation and all nations looked to us. The law (God's) went forth from us and we, who are His people, true Israel spread His Word. The Jews have never done this. They have only usurped our government and perverted our nation. They have covered our Bible, laws, traditions, and eyes with the flying roll of chapter 5.
8:22 Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek Yahweh of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before Yahweh.
8:23 Thus saith Yahweh of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Judaean, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
The Septuagint: 23 Thus saith Yahweh Almighty; In those days My word shall be fulfilled if ten men of all the languages of the nations should take hold--even take hold of the hem of a Judaean, saying, We will go with you; for we have heard that God is with you.
Isaiah 60:3 And the nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
The nations are of course the nations of Genesis 10 Adamites who are kinsmen of the children of Israel.
It is interesting that verse 23 states “ten men of all the languages of the nations”. This may be a reference to the northern 10 tribes of Israel who did not return to Jerusalem, where a remnant of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin did return. These Judaeans got the first hand experience of walking with Christ. Hence the reference to “even take hold of the hem of a Judaean, saying, We will go with you; for we have heard that God is with you.” This happened when the apostles, mainly Paul, brought the gospel (heritage) to the scattered 10 nations of Israel.
The “churches” teach that the “Gentiles” are the non-Israelites of the world. That we are “Gentiles”, and the Jews are Israel. This is a chapter 5 Jewish doctrine. A lie. “Gentile” means only: a nation.
We are the Anglo-Saxon (I saac's Son s) nations of the tribes of Israel. The Jews are the nations of Cain and Esau.
Note: The word skirt in verse 23 comes from kanaph, meaning edge, corner.
Deuteronomy 22:12 (Num 15:37-40, Matt 9:20-22, 14:34-36, 23:5, Mark 6:56, Luke 8:43-48) all speak of the fringes, border or corner of Israelite garments.
The fringes, tsiytsith, are to be as a reminder of the commandments.
The 10 lost tribes were going to take hold of the commandments through the gospel.
We are to continue to take hold of the commandments.
Fasts of verse 19:
Fourth month- 17th day Jerusalem was conquered during a great famine from the seige which began in the 9th year of reign of Nebuchadnezzar. A commemorative fast.
Fifth month- 10th day the king of Babel sent his chief of the guard Nebuzaradan into the city where he burned the temple and much of the city. The fast on the 9th and is the day the spies gave a false report to Moses and Israel was banished to wander 40 years until that generation died (Num 14). The temple burning is commemorated on this day. The fast on the 9th is suspect.
Seventh month- the 4th is the fast of Gedaliah, a righteous governor slain by Ishmael, one of the king's commander. A commemorative fast.
Yom Kippur, the 10th is the day of Atonement (Propitiation). A commanded fast.
Tenth month- Nebuchadnezzar begins the seige of Jerusalem. Ties in with the fast of the fourth month.
All these fasts are commemorative except Yom Kippur, which is commanded.
Zechariah 9:1 The burden of the word of Yahweh in the land of Hadrach, and Damascus shall be the rest thereof: when the eyes of man, as of all the tribes of Israel, shall be toward Yahweh.
The Septuagint has: “and His sacrifice shall be in Damascus” Which is odd.
H4496 men-oo-khaw', men-oo-khaw' (rest)
Feminine of H4495- rest; repose or (adverbially) peacefully; figuratively consolation (specifically matrimony-union); hence (concretely) an abode: - comfortable, ease, quiet, rest (-ing place), still.
Most all versions have “resting place” or “place of rest”.
Some versions have “burden” as “Oracle” or “declaration”.
Hadrach and Damascus were cities of Aram. Aram was a descendant of Shem, where we get the term 'Shemite' (Semite). A semite is a white person. The Jews have everybody fooled into believing that they are white semites. Jews are a mixed breed, mostly of Arab and Asian blood (Hittites, Turks, Blacks and Mongolian).
Jeremiah 23:33 And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask you, saying, What is the burden (oracle, declaration) of Yahweh? you shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith Yahweh.
Amos 1:3 Thus saith Yahweh; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:
2Chronicles 20:12 O our God, wilt you not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon you.
Isaiah 8:4 For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father, and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.
These above references are of the Assyrians when they took captive Israel in the 8th century.
9:2 And Hamath also shall border thereby; Tyrus, and Zidon, though it be very wise.
9:3 And Tyrus did build herself a strong hold, and heaped up silver as the dust, and fine gold as the mire of the streets.
9:4 Behold, Yahweh will cast her out, and He will smite her power in the sea; and she shall be devoured with fire. (Isa 23:1-18; Eze 26:1-28:26; Joel 3:4-8; Amos 1:9-10; Matt 11:21-22)
Isaiah 23:1 The burden of Tyre. Howl, you ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.
This happened in the time of Alexander the Great. So this is a prophecy.
9:5 Ashkelon shall see it, and fear; Gaza also shall see it, and be very sorrowful, and Ekron; for her expectation shall be ashamed; and the king shall perish from Gaza, and Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
9:6 And a bastard (mixed race) shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
The Septuagint has: “...And aliens shall dwell in Azotus,...”
9:7 And I will take away his blood out of his mouth, and his abominations (unclean food) from between his teeth: but he that remaineth, even he, shall be for our God, and he shall be as a governor in Judah, and Ekron as a Jebusite. (Isa 14:29-31; Jer 47:1-7; Eze 25:15-17; Joel 3:4-8; Amos 1:6-8; Zeph 2:4-7)
9:8 And I will encamp about Mine house (as a watch) because of the army, because of him that passeth by, and because of him that returneth: and no oppressor shall pass through them any more: for now have I seen with Mine eyes.
Psalm 34:7 The messenger of Yahweh encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.
Here in chapter 9:1-8 are of judgment on Israel's enemies.
Verses 9-17 are of Yahweh as Israel's King in the person of Yahshua Messiah.
9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, your King cometh unto you: He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. (Matt 21:5; Mark 11:7; Luk 19:38; John 12:15)
Jeremiah 23:5 Behold, the days come, saith Yahweh, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the land.
9:10 And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim (northern House of Israel), and the horse from Jerusalem (House of Judah), and the battle bow shall be cut off: and He shall speak peace unto the heathen (nations): and His dominion shall be from sea even to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth (land). (Psa 72:8)
Hosea 1:7 But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by Yahweh their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.
9:11 As for you also, by the blood of your covenant I have sent forth your prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.
This is all referring to the coming of Christ. The first Advent will not be deliverance by chariots and horses (army and war), but by the Lamb of Yahweh. He will return as the lion.
9:12 (Re)Turn you to the strong hold, you prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto you;
The Greek Septuagint: 12 Ye shall dwell in strongholds, you prisoners of the congregation: and for one day of your captivity I will recompense you double.
9:13 When I have bent Judah for Me, filled the bow with Ephraim, and raised up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and made you as the sword of a mighty man.
The Septuagint: 13 For I have bent you, O Judah, for Myself as a bow, I have filled Ephraim; and I will raise up your children, O Zion, against the children of the Greeks, and I will handle you as the sword of a warrior.
This may be a reference to the Romans (who are descendants of Zarah-Judah) and the Greeks (Alexander the Great, kinsmen of Israel, as well as dispersed Israelites of the House of Israel)
9:14 And Yahweh shall be seen over them, and His arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and Yahweh GOD shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.
9:15 Yahweh of hosts shall defend them; and they shall devour, and subdue with sling stones; and they shall drink, and make a noise as through wine; and they shall be filled like bowls, and as the corners of the altar.
The Septuagint has: “...and they shall swallow them down as wine...”
The blood drained off the corners of the altar.
9:16 And Yahweh their God shall save them in that day as the flock of His people: for they shall be as the stones of a crown, lifted up as an ensign upon His land.
Again, the Septuagint: “...even His people as a flock; for holy stones are rolled upon His land.”
Malachi 3:17 And they shall be Mine, saith Yahweh of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
His people are the same here in the OT as in the NT. The “churches” teach the same chapter 5 Swooning, that the Jews are Israel and the “church” takes their place in the NT.
If you are understanding scripture, then you can see that this is one book about one people, front to cover, and it's not the Jews.
9:17 For how great is His goodness, and how great is His beauty! Corn (As grain) shall make the young men cheerful, and new wine the maids (implication of pure, virginity).
Psalm 31:19 Oh how great is Your goodness, which You hast laid up for them that fear You; which You hast wrought for them that trust in You before the sons of Adam!
Joel 3:18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of Yahweh, and shall water the valley of Shittim.
This new wine, milk, rivers, fountains, and water all represent Christ's ministry.
Zechariah 10:1 Ask you of Yahweh rain in the time of the latter (spring) rain; so Yahweh shall make bright clouds (lightning), and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
Deuteronomy 11:14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that you mayest gather in your new grain, and your wine, and your oil.
Jeremiah 14:22 Are there any among the vanities of the nations that can cause rain? or can the skies give showers? art not You He, O Yahweh our God? therefore we will wait upon You: for You hast made all these things.
10:2 For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled (afflicted), because there was no shepherd.
Jeremiah 10:8 But they (customs of the Jews) are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities.
Habakkuk 2:18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
Job 13:4 But you are forgers of lies, you are all physicians of no value.
Matthew 9:36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
These are all referring to the deceit of the Jews. Read Zechariah chapter 5 again.
10:3 (Yahweh speaking) Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for Yahweh of hosts hath visited His flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as His goodly horse in the battle.
Ezekiel 34:17 And as for you, O My flock, thus saith Yahweh GOD; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he goats.
He goats are false shepherds.
10:4 Out of him (Judah) came forth the corner (cornerstone, Christ), out of him (Judah) the nail (tent peg), out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.
The context is Judah. Christ is the cornerstone, Christ is a Judahite. The Romans are descendents of Judah's son Zarah, this group left Egypt before the Exodus and went on to become Trojans, ancient Etruscans and here, Romans. The Romans took over the Macedonian Empire of Greece.
10:5 And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because Yahweh is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.
Psalm 18:42 Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.
10:6 And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am Yahweh their God, and will hear them.
Jeremiah 3:18 In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.
If the children of Israel are in Jerusalem here, or anywhere in the empire of Persia, the land of the north would be Europe, and from there our ancestors went west to America.
10:7 And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in Yahweh.
Ephraim represents the House of Israel, the 10 dispersed tribes. Indeed they rejoiced when they learned through the gospel that they are part of the same heritage as Judah.
Psalm 104:15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
10:8 I will hiss (whistle) for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.
The Septuagint: 8 I will make a sign to them, and gather them in; for I will redeem them, and they shall be multiplied according to their number before.
Isaiah 5:26 And He will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss (whistle) unto them from the end of the land: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:
Isaiah 49:19 For your waste and your desolate places, and the land of your destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed you up shall be far away.
Septuagint: Isaiah 49:19 For your desert and marred and ruined places shall now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that devoured you shall be removed far from you.
Ezekiel 36:37 Thus saith Yahweh GOD; I will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.
The fulfillment of this was when the northern tribes of Israel went on to settle Europe.
10:9 And I will sow them among the people: and they shall remember Me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again.
Baruch 2:32 And they shall praise Me in the land of their captivity, and think upon My name,
Hosea 2:22 And the land shall hear the new grain, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel.
Jezreel means, Yahweh will sow.
All these people, such as the Germanic tribes, the Vikings, basically most of the scattered children of Israel, forgot who they were over the centuries of settling Europe. When they heard the gospel, their Spirits (DNA) led them back to Yahweh.
10:10 I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.
The Septuagint ends as: “...and there shall not even one of them be left behind.”
Isaiah 11:11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that Yahweh shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.
10:11 And He shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.
The sea often represents people, or a nation of people.
Isaiah 11:15 And Yahweh shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with His mighty wind shall He shake His hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dryshod. Fulfilled.
Isaiah 14:25 That I will break the Assyrian in My land, and upon My mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders. Done.
Ezekiel 30:13 Thus saith Yahweh GOD; I will also destroy the idols, and I will cause their images to cease out of Noph; and there shall be no more a prince of the land of Egypt: and I will put a fear in the land of Egypt. Done did.
10:12 And I will strengthen them in Yahweh; and they shall walk up and down in His name, saith Yahweh.
Do you know that His name, Yahweh (YHWH), was in the older Bibles? It has been changed to LORD by the enemies of Christ, as well as ignorant and controlled translators.
Micah 4:5 For all people (the Jews and the other races) will walk every one in the name of his god, and we (the true children of Israel) will walk in the name of Yahweh our God for ever and ever.
Chapter 11 seems to open up with a reminder of the fall of Assyria.
Zechariah 11:1 Open your doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour your cedars.
11:2 Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O you oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down.
11:3 There is a voice of the howling (mourning) of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.
The thickets that clothed the banks of Jordan are called its "pride" (Jer 12:5)
11:4 Thus saith Yahweh my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;
The person addressed is Zechariah himself, who in a vision is commanded to assume the office of the good Shepherd.
It must be understood that while the children of Israel were in captivity, the land of Judah was settled with Canaanites and Edomites. These evil people had slowly taken over the religious sects and eventually became the Sadducees and Pharisees. Hence, ”beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”
11:5 Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be Yahweh; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.
False preachers making money off the flock.
When you hold the doctrine of your pastor or “church” over the doctrine of scripture, you are being slayed.
11:6 For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith Yahweh: but, lo, I will deliver the men (adamites) every one into his neighbour's hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.
11:7 And I will feed the flock of slaughter (Septuagint adds: 'in the land of Canaan:'), even you, O poor of the flock. And I took unto Me two staves (rods); the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.
Beauty means 'good will' or 'favor', Bands means 'union, brotherhood' or 'binding'.
These would represent the Houses of Judah and Israel.
11:8 Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and My soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred Me.
Could these three shepherds be the Essenes, Pharisees and Sadducees?
Hosea 5:7 They (Israel and Judah) have dealt treacherously against Yahweh: for they have begotten strange children (mixed): now shall a month devour them with their portions.
11:9 Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.
Cannibalism.
11:10 And I took My staff, even Beauty (favor), and cut it asunder, that I might break My covenant which I had made with all the people.
11:11 And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon Me knew that it was the word of Yahweh.
Zephaniah 3:12 I will also leave in the midst of you an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of Yahweh.
11:12 And I said unto them, If you think good, give Me My price (wages); and if not, forbear. So they weighed for My price (wages) thirty pieces of silver.
The Jews did not think good of Yahshua Christ. They rejected Him. Judas, an Edomite Jew, betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver. And they killed Him.
11:13 And Yahweh said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised (valued) at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of Yahweh.
Matthew 27:9-10
9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of Him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;
10 And gave them for the potter's field, as the Prince appointed me (Judas).
11:14 Then I cut asunder Mine other staff, even Bands (binding), that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
11:15 And Yahweh said unto me, Take unto you yet the instruments of a foolish (unskilled) shepherd.
Ezekiel 34:2 Son of Adam, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith Yahweh GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
11:16 For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.
Sounds like today's preachers, with Judeo-Christian doctrine they have declawed the congregation.
The Septuagint: 16 For, behold, I will raise up a shepherd against the land: he shall not visit that which is perishing, and he shall not seek that which is scattered, and he shall not heal that which is bruised, nor guide that which is whole: but he shall devour the flesh of the choice ones, and shall dislocate the joints of their necks.
This sounds like the Edomite Jews and their doctrine. Herod, an Edomite, beheaded John.
11:17 Woe to the idol (vain) shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up (withered), and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.
Jeremiah 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture! saith Yahweh.
This is referring to the “covering” of chapter 5. Today's “churches” are just repeating the doctrine of the Pharisees along with other lies and deceits that have been “swooned” over our people for the last few hundred years.
What scatters the sheep? Teaching that Jesus is a Jew, that all you have to do is “believe”, that you are “saved” by your own self declaration, that God's promises to Israel are for everybody else too, that you will avoid judgment day with the “rapture”. “Personal Salvation”. That it's OK to eat pork. It's time to wake up and follow what scripture says, not your “church”.
Zechariah 12:1 The burden (Oracle, declaration, prophetic utterance) of the word of Yahweh for Israel, saith Yahweh, which stretcheth forth the heavens (skies), and layeth the foundation of the earth (land), and formeth the spirit of man (adam) within him.
'Man' is defined in scripture as 'awdawm', hence Adam, meaning fair, ruddy, to show blood in the face. There is only one race that this describes. This race received the breath of the Spirit (DNA).
Isaiah 42:5 Thus saith God Yahweh, He that created the skies, and stretched them out; He that spread forth the land, and that which cometh out of it; He that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
12:2 Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
Isaiah 51:17 Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, which hast drunk at the hand of Yahweh the cup of His fury; you hast drunken the dregs of the cup of trembling, and wrung them out.
12:3 And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth (land) be gathered together against it.
This is a dual prophecy.
Since Jerusalem refers to either the city, or the people (seed of Jacob/Israel) depending on context, Both will be demonstrated:
A City- Jerusalem throughout time had been Canaanite territory, then an Israelite land, they disobeyed, Yahweh sent the Assyrians, who took all the land, all of Israel and most of Judah, but not Jerusalem. Yahweh blessed Hezekiah with 15 more years. Later on, the Babylonians destroyed the city and took Judah captive. Then the Persians, then Alexander the Great.
But each of these waves of peoples were “cut in pieces”. At the time of Christ, the Edomite Jews had control, but the Romans, who were descendants of Zerah-Judah, destroyed the temple in 70 AD and true Israelites have never returned. Only the Jews live there now.
A People- Jerusalem, a people, would only be the anointed, chosen, peculiar, separate, holy, family and seed of Jacob/Israel. Isaac was dedicated by Abraham to Yahweh. Isaac is the lump. Jacob and Esau are the vessels. One for mercy, one for destruction. One's children are a pure race, one is a mixed race. One are Israelites, one are Edomites. One are the anglo-isaacsons of the white nations of the world, one are the Canaanite/Edomite nation of the Jew state Israel.
The other races burden themselves with our laws and heritage, which they cannot be a part of, Yahweh planted us here and only we have His Spirit breathed into us. Israelites are the light (or the city) on the hill, Yahweh's government if you will, and He chose us for this. Someone cannot become a child of God's, it is a genetic and spirit thing. Can someone become a part of your children's inheritance, even if they “believed”?
But still, the other races, and the Jews, are against us, even in our giving and compassion. Just look at our once white, Godly country, now overrun with aliens and ruled by a government that is 80% of Jews now, just like Jerusalem in Christ's time.
The Septuagint has: 3 And it shall come to pass in that day that I will make Jerusalem a trodden stone to all the nations: every one that tramples on it shall utterly mock at it, and all the nations of the land shall be gathered together against it.
12:4 In that day, saith Yahweh, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open Mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.
Everybody believes the Jews are Israel, then (at the time of Christ) and now.
Psalm 76:6 At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, both the chariot and horse are cast into a dead sleep.
The Septuagint ends verse 4 as: “...and I will smite all the horses of the nations with blindness.”
12:5 And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength in Yahweh of hosts their God.
12:6 In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.
12:7 Yahweh also shall save the tents (tabernacles, the people) of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.
The phrase “save the tents of Judah first”, are a reference of Christ's ministry. The House of Judah were the Israelites of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin that returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity. Christ walked with these kinsmen, the apostles, especially Paul, continued the message to the “lost” or dispersed Israelites of the House of Israel, which were scattered across the empire, and settling Europe.
The “churches” teach that these Israelites disappeared and the “church” took their place. Find that in scripture.
12:8 In that day shall Yahweh defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem (which would be Israelites); and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel (messenger) of Yahweh before them.
12:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace (favor) and of supplications (compassion): and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Jeremiah 50:4 In those days, and in that time, saith Yahweh, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek Yahweh their God.
Christ's death reconciled both houses unto Him, the apostles brought the word to both houses.
Ezekiel 39:29 Neither will I hide My face any more from them: for I have poured out My spirit upon the house of Israel, saith Yahweh GOD.
Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
Are Ezekiel and Joel contradicting each other, or does “all flesh” mean “all of the house of Israel” as Yahweh saith?
Continuing with ...and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
Acts 2:36-37
36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Prince and Christ.
37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Immerse yourselves in Knowledge.
12:11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon (a Syrian storm god) in the valley of Megiddon.
The Septuagint has: 11 In that day the lamentation in Jerusalem shall be very great, as the mourning for the pomegranate grove cut down in the plain.
Hadad-rimmon—a place or city in the great plain of Esdraelon, the battlefield of many a conflict, near Megiddo; called so from the Syrian idol Rimmon. Hadad also was the name of the sun, a chief god of the Syrians [Macrobius, Saturnalia, 1.23].
This may refer to the death of King Josiah of a wound received at Megiddo, in the battle with Pharaoh-Necho, and to the national lamentation made for him.
2Kings 23:29 In his days (610-595 BC) Pharaohnechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him.
2Chronicles 35:20-25
20 After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him.
21 But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with you, you king of Judah? I come not against you this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear you from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy you not.
22 Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.
23 And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.
24 His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.
25 And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.
Pharaohnechoh must have been a Hamite or Shemite, as Yahweh does not speak through the other races.
12:12 And the land shall mourn, every family apart (itself); the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;
Revelation 1:7 Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the land shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.
12:13 The family of the house of Levi apart (itself), and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;
12:14 All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.
The “wailing” will come from the people that have been worshiping the wrong god and people. Baal and the Jews. If the scriptures and these commentaries didn't make it clear, Yahweh will when He returns!
Zechariah 13:1 In that day there shall be a fountain (for cleansing) opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
13:2 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith Yahweh of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.
Exodus 23:13 And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect: and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of your mouth.
2Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying Yahweh that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
13:3 And it shall come to pass, that when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, You shalt not live; for you speakest lies in the name of Yahweh: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.
In other words, say you were raised in a family that went to “church”, and ya'll believed Jesus was a Jew. Then Yahweh opened your eyes to this lie and you understood the truth. When you go to tell your parents that the “churches” are teaching Jewish lies, they will thrust you out!
13:4 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive:
The Septuagint ends as: “...and they shall clothe themselves with a garment of hair, because they have lied.”
Micah 3:6-7
6 Therefore night shall be unto you, that you shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that you shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.
7 Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.
Mock piety.
13:5 But he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man (adam) taught me to keep cattle from my youth.
'to keep cattle' is not in the original Hebrew. It should read: “for adam acquired me from my youth.” There going to confess they are not prophets.
13:6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in your hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
13:7 Awake, O sword, against My shepherd, and against the man that is My fellow (neighbor), saith Yahweh of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn Mine hand upon the little ones (insignificant- little sheep).
Isaiah 40:11 He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
Matthew 26:31 Then saith Jesus unto them (disciples), All you shall be offended because of Me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
13:8 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith Yahweh, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace (favor).
13:9 And I will bring the third part (the remnant) through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name (Yahweh), and I will hear them: I will say, It is My people: and they shall say, Yahweh is My God.
Isaiah 48:10 Behold, I have refined you, but not with silver; I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction.
Those who believe the “church” doctrine of the “rapture” better read verse 9 again.
If you are not tried through fire, you are not His child. This trial is our test here on earth. If you build on truth and knowledge, and practice The Way, when our Prince returns you will be refined. This can't happen if you escape in the “rapture”. Or praise a Jewish Jesus. That's like calling Him a Devil Saint!
This last chapter is full of prophecies. It seems to jump around from Assyrians to the 2nd Advent.
Zechariah 14:1 Behold, the day of Yahweh cometh, and your spoil shall be divided in the midst of you.
Isaiah 13:9 Behold, the day of Yahweh cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
14:2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled (looted), and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue (remnant) of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
This happens in America today. The aliens are everywhere, our women raped by blacks, debt is also a form of captivity. We no longer are a Christian nation!
Joel 3:2 I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat (valley of decision, judgment), and will plead with them there for My people and for My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted My land.
These are dual prophecies that have happened and as well as are happening.
14:3 Then shall Yahweh go forth, and fight against those nations, as when He fought in the day of battle.
14:4 And His feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.
Mount of Olives may also be a symbolism to the 'kingdom of Israel'.
Verse 4 may be a reference to the civil war. Possibly Alexander the Great's kingdom, which was divided into four after his death.
Ezekiel 11:23 And the glory of Yahweh went up from the midst of the city, and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city.
Joel 3:12 Let the heathen (nations) be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat (judgment): for there will I sit to judge all the heathen (nations) round about.
14:5 And you shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, you shall flee, like as you fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and Yahweh my God shall come, and all the saints with you.
Amos 1:1 The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
The earthquake mentioned in several places in Amos is generally believed by archaeologists to have occurred circa 750 BC and to have been as high as 8.0 on the Richter scale. (Zec 14:5, Is 5:25)
Joel 3:11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all you heathen (nations), and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause your mighty ones to come down, O Yahweh.
14:6 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark:
Confusion.
14:7 But it shall be one day which shall be known to Yahweh, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light.
The Septuagint begins as: “7 and there shall be for one day cold and frost...”
14:8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea (Dead Sea), and half of them toward the hinder sea (Mediteranean Sea): in summer and in winter shall it be.
This may be a reference to America, seas on both sides, we the people are JerUSAlem. The waters (Word) go out from us.
14:9 And Yahweh shall be king over all the earth (land): in that day shall there be one Master, and His name one.
Revelation 11:15 And the seventh messenger sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Prince, and of His Anointed (the people); and He shall reign for ever and ever.
Ephesians 4:5-6
5 One Prince, one faith (allegiance), one baptism (immersion in knowledge and understanding),
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (All Jacob/Israel)
14:10 All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses.
The reference to 'a plain' means a level field where we will see each other again, unification. It is also the Jordan valley.
14:11 And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.
Revelation 22:3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him:
14:12 And this shall be the plague (overthrow) wherewith Yahweh will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.
14:13 And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult (panic) from Yahweh shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.
Interesting is the Septuagint: 13 And there shall be in that day a great panic from Yahweh upon them; and they shall lay hold every man of the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall be clasped with the hand of his neighbour. Holding hands? As opposed to “against the hand”?
14:14 And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen (nations) round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.
14:15 And so shall be the plague of the horse, of the mule, of the camel, and of the ass, and of all the beasts that shall be in these tents, as this plague (overthrow).
14:16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, Yahweh of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
Isaiah 60:6 The multitude of camels shall cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of Yahweh.
Isaiah 66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith Yahweh.
Leviticus 23:34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto Yahweh.
14:17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth (land) unto Jerusalem to worship the King, Yahweh of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
14:18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith Yahweh will smite the heathen (nations) that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
14:19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.
14:20 In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO YAHWEH; and the pots in Yahweh's house shall be like the bowls before the altar.
14:21 Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto Yahweh of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of Yahweh of hosts.
Isaiah 35:8-9
8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
Joel 3:17 So shall you know that I am Yahweh your God dwelling in Zion, My holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more.
ZECHARIAH – CHURCH DOCTRINE VS. SCRIPTURE
Below are 3 sources of what the modern churches preach today about the book of Zechariah.
The purpose is to expose the apostasy and perversion of the scriptures, and to educate our people about the truth of our heritage. That we, the anglo-saxon race who are the descendants of ancient Israel, are the people of Abraham's seed and therefore the heirs of the promises of Yahweh. Not the Jews who distort and pervert the scriptures and teach the 'traditions of men'.
Biblehub.com
The book of Zechariah is Narrative History, Prophetic and Apocalyptic in genre. It is a post-exilic book, meaning it was written after (post) the return from captivity (exile) in Babylon. The prophet Zechariah wrote chapters 1-8 approximately 520-518 B.C. (Before the temple completed), and then wrote chapters 9-14 approximately 480 B.C. (After the temple is completed). Zechariah is among the most precisely dated books in the Bible. Key personalities are Zechariah, Zerubbabel and Joshua.
The purpose of this book is that Zechariah wrote to encourage the remnant, who had recently returned from exile. Their faith in God was weak and they were not motivated to build the temple. They needed to learn and conform to the law of God again.
• In chapters 1-8, Zechariah recorded his visions, encouraged the people to reinstate the priesthood, and other religious laws that were forgotten during the 70-year exile. Zechariah gives great hope and encouragement about the coming Messiah Jesus Christ, who will set up His throne and rule as the mighty Branch, the High Priest, who will offer up the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. “Then say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, a man whose name is Branch, for He will branch out from where He is; and He will build the temple of the LORD. “Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the LORD, and He who will bear the honor and sit and rule on His throne. Thus, He will be a priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two offices” (6:12-13).
• Chapters 9-14 are difficult passages to understand, many are prophetic and apocalyptic. Zechariah writes judgment against the neighboring enemies. Most importantly he declared the first coming of the Messiah who would be mounted on a donkey (9:9), His betrayal (11:12), and His crucifixion (12:10). Finally, he writes about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ descending from heaven the same way He had left in Acts 1:11, in the clouds. “In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west by a very large valley, so that half of the mountain will move toward the north and the other half toward the south” (14:4).
Biblestudytools.com
Summary of the Book of Zechariah
Background
Zechariah's prophetic ministry took place in the postexilic period, the time of the Jewish (incorrect) restoration from Babylonian captivity. (not Jewish, the Jews were not in captivity, the children of Israel were. The Jews replaced Israel in Jerusalem while they were in captivity, polluting the priesthood)
Author and Unity
Like Jeremiah (1:1) and Ezekiel (1:3), Zechariah was not only a prophet (1:1) but also a member of a priestly family. He was born in Babylonia and was among those who returned to Judah in 538/537 b.c. under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua (his grandfather Iddo is named among the returnees in Ne 12:4). At a later time, when Joiakim was high priest (Ne 12:12-21), Zechariah apparently succeeded Iddo (1:1,7) as head of that priestly family (Ne 12:10-16). Since the grandson succeeded the grandfather, it has been suggested that the father (Berekiah, 1:1,7) died at an early age.
Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai (Ezr 5:1; 6:14) but continued his ministry long after him (compare 1:1 and 7:1 with Hag 1:1; Ne 12:1-16).
Most likely Zechariah wrote the entire book that bears his name.
Dates
The dates of Zechariah's recorded messages are best correlated with those of Haggai and with other historical events as follows:
1. | Haggai's first message (Hag 1:1-11; Ezr 5:1) | Aug. 29, 520 b.c. |
2. | Resumption of the building of the temple (Hag 1:12-15; Ezr 5:2) | Sept. 21, 520 |
3. | Haggai's second message (Hag 2:1-9) | Oct. 17, 520 |
4. | Beginning of Zechariah's preaching (1:1-6) | Oct./Nov., 520 |
5. | Haggai's third message (Hag 2:10-19) | Dec. 18, 520 |
6. | Haggai's fourth message (Hag 2:20-23) | Dec. 18, 520 |
7. | Tattenai's letter to Darius concerning the rebuilding of the |
|
8. | Feb. 15, 519 | |
9. | Joshua crowned (6:9-15) | Feb. 16 (?), 519 |
10. | Dec. 7, 518 | |
11. | Dedication of the temple (Ezr 6:15-18) | Mar. 12, 516 |
12. | After 480 (?) |
Occasion and Purpose
The occasion is the same as that of the book of Haggai. The chief purpose of Zechariah (and Haggai) was to rebuke the people of Judah and to encourage and motivate them to complete the rebuilding of the temple (Zec 4:8-10; Hag 1-2), though both prophets were clearly interested in spiritual renewal as well. In addition, the purpose of the eight night visions (1:7 -- 6:8) is explained in 1:3,5-6: The Lord said that if Judah would return to him, he would return to them. Furthermore, his word would continue to be fulfilled.
Theological Teaching
The theology of Zechariah's prophecy matches his name, which means "The Lord (Yahweh) remembers." "The Lord" is the personal, covenant name of God and is a perpetual testimony to his faithfulness to his promises. Lord is not a name, it is a title, and the title of Baal, which is the Devil. Do you think Yahweh likes it when you call Him by the title of the Devil? He "remembers" his covenant promises and takes action to fulfill them. In the book of Zechariah God's promised deliverance from Babylonian exile, including a restored kingdom community and a functioning temple, the earthly throne of the divine King.
Literary Forms and Themes
The book is primarily a mixture of exhortation (call to repentance, 1:2-6), prophetic visions (1:7 -- 6:8), a prophetic oracle of instruction or exhortation involving a symbolic coronation scene (6:9-15), hortatory messages (mainly of rebuke and hope) prompted by a question about fasting (chs. 7 - 8) and judgment and salvation oracles (chs. 9 - 14). The prophetic visions of 1:7 -- 6:8 are called apocalyptic (revelatory) literature, which is essentially a literature of encouragement to God's people. When the apocalyptic section is read along with the salvation (or deliverance) oracles in chs. 9 - 14, it becomes obvious that the dominant emphasis of the book is encouragement because of the glorious future that awaits the people of God.
In fact, encouragement is the book's central theme -- primarily encouragement to complete the rebuilding of the temple. Various means are used to accomplish this end, and these function as subthemes. For example, great stress is laid on the coming of the Messiah and the overthrow of all anti-kingdom forces by him so that God's rule can be finally and fully established on earth. The then-current local scene thus becomes the basis for contemplating the universal, eschatological picture.
Several interpreters have arranged the eight visions of 1:7 -- 6:8 in a chiastic (or concentric) pattern of a-b-b-c / c1-b1-b1-a1:
a The Lord controls the events of history (1:7-17)
b Nations that devastated Israel will in turn be devastated (1:18-21)
b Israel will be fully restored (ch. 2)
c Israel will be restored as a priestly nation (ch. 3)
c1 Israel will be restored under royal and priestly leadership (ch. 4)
b1 Lawbreakers will be purged from Israel (5:1-4)
b1 The whole sinful system will be removed from the land (5:5-11)
a1 The Lord controls the events of history (6:1-8)
Insight.org
Who wrote the book?
Grandson of the priest Iddo, Zechariah prophesied to the people of Judah after they returned from their seventy years of exile in Babylon (Zechariah 1:1; Nehemiah 12:1, 4, 16). Zechariah’s grandfather returned from Babylon, his young grandson in tow, with the first group of Israelites allowed back, in 538 BC under the decree of Cyrus, king of Persia. Because of his family lineage, Zechariah was a priest in addition to a prophet. He, therefore, would have had an intimate familiarity with the worship practices of the Jews (not Jews, Israelites of the house of Judah), even if he had never served in a completed temple. As a “young man” at the time of his first prophecies (Zechariah 2:4), his life more than likely extended into the reign of Xerxes I (485–465 BC), the king best known in the Bible for making Esther the queen of Persia (Esther 1:1).1
Where are we?
Zechariah, a young man, especially when compared to his contemporary Haggai, came alongside the older prophet to deliver messages from the Lord to the Jewish remnant (no, the remnant of Judah and Benjamin) recently returned from Babylon. While Haggai’s overall message had more of a cautionary tone to it (pointing out the Jews’ sin and self-focus)(the Jews are nothing but sin and self focus)(the message is to the House of Judah), Zechariah emphasized a tone of encouragement to the struggling Israelites trying to rebuild their temple. Are they Israelites or are they Jews Mr. Commentator? The Jews are Edomites and Canaanites. The Israelites are anglo-saxon. The tribes are the white nations of the world.
Zechariah’s dated visions and messages in chapters 1–8 all take place in the same general time period as Haggai’s, beginning in October–November 520 BC with a call for the people of Judah to repent (Zechariah 1:1). He then received eight visions on the restless night of February 15, 519 BC (1:7), followed by four messages that he preached on December 7, 518 BC (7:1). Though his final messages in chapters 9–14 go undated, the mention of Greece in 9:13 suggests the prophecies came much later in his life, presumably sometime in the 480s BC, before Ezra (458 BC) and Nehemiah (444 BC) arrived to again revitalize the Jewish people. Blasphemy!, these are Israelites, not devil seed Jews!
Why is Zechariah so important?
The book of Zechariah contains the clearest and the largest number of messianic (about the Messiah) passages among the Minor Prophets. In that respect, it’s possible to think of the book of Zechariah as a kind of miniature book of Isaiah. Zechariah pictures Christ in both His first coming (Zechariah 9:9) and His second coming (9:10–10:12). Jesus will come, according to Zechariah, as Savior, Judge, and ultimately, as the righteous King ruling His people from Jerusalem (14:8–9).
What's the big idea?
Meaning “Yahweh remembers,” Zechariah’s name was appropriate to the purpose of his prophecies. His book brims over with the hope that God would remember His promises to His people, even after all the time they spent outside the land. The prophet used a simple structure of eight visions (Zechariah 1:1–6:15), four messages (7:1–8:23), and two oracles (9:1–14:21) to anticipate the completion of the temple and, ultimately, the future reign of the Messiah from Jerusalem. Like many of the prophets, Zechariah saw isolated snapshots of the future; therefore, certain events that seem to occur one right after the other in Zechariah’s prophecy actually often have generations or even millennia between them.
For a people newly returned from exile, Zechariah provided specific prophecy about their immediate and distant future—no doubt a great encouragement. Their nation would still be judged for sin (5:1–11), but they would also be cleansed and restored (3:1–10), and God would rebuild His people (1:7–17). Zechariah concluded his book by looking into the distant future, first at the rejection of the Messiah by Israel (9:1–11:17), and then at His eventual reign when Israel will finally be delivered (12:1–14:21).
How do I apply this?
Have you struggled with discouragement? Read Zechariah. While the book contains its share of judgments on the people of Judah and beyond, it overflows with hope in the future reign of the Lord over His people. It’s easy to get caught up in the oftentimes depressing events of day-to-day life, to lose our perspective and live as people without hope. The book of Zechariah serves as a correction for that tendency in our lives. We have a hope that is sure. How refreshing!