Zechariah 1-6 Visions of Victory
Psalm 115:1-18 Yay Yah!
Ps 115:1 “Not to us, Yahweh, not to us, but to your name give glory, for your hesed/loyal covenantal love and for your faithfulness' sake. 2 Why should the nations say, "Where is their God, now?" 3 But our God is in the heavens. He does whatever he pleases. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. 5 They have mouths, but they don’t speak. They have eyes, but they don’t see. 6 They have ears, but they don’t hear. They have noses, but they don’t smell. 7 They have hands, but they don’t feel. They have feet, but they don’t walk, neither do they speak through their throat. 8 Those who make them will be like them; yes, everyone who trusts in them.
9 Israel, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield. 10 House of Aaron, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield. 11 You who fear Yahweh, trust in Yahweh! He is their help and their shield. 12 Yahweh remembers us. He will bless us. He will bless the house of Israel. He will bless the house of Aaron. 13 He will bless those who fear Yahweh, both small and great. 14 May Yahweh increase you more and more, you and your children. 15 Blessed are you by Yahweh, who made heaven and earth. 16 The heavens are the heavens of Yahweh; but the earth has he given to the children of men. 17 The dead don’t praise Yah, neither any who go down into silence; 18 But we will bless Yah, from this time forth and forevermore. Praise Yah!"
Observations: 115:1-7 Our God is in the heavens and does whatever He pleases. His glory is seen in His works, manifesting His hesed by faithfully fulfilling His covenantal promises to His people. Idols are just plain dumb, literally and figuratively. They can't hear prayer, see the future, nor speak things into existence. Those who trust in them, the work of their own hands, are dumb too.
115:9-18 These are probably the most blessing packed verses in the Bible. We bless God (115:18) because He blesses us. He blesses us with help, protection, and abundant increase/prosperity, when we trust and fear Him. Pretty simple. Yeah Yah!
Application: Trust and fear God, and then bless Him for His blessings.
Prayer: Mighty God who owns heaven and earth, thanks that I can trust You to fulfill all Your promises, especially those of protection and blessing. Amen.
Proverbs 26:1-5 Answering a Fool
Pr 26:1 “Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. 2 Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn't come to rest. 3 A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools! 4 Don't answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.”
Observations: 26:1 Don't honor a fool; it will come back to bite you. Silence is preferable.
26:2 Ignore their curses, God will prevent it from hurting you.
26:3 Fools only understand extreme pain, and not always.
26:4-5 Keep your mouth shut if talking to a fool will make you like him/her. Do respond if you have a good chance of succeeding in exposing their folly (but not if you become like them in the process).
Application: Err on the side of silence.
Prayer: Thank you God that I don't have to worry about setting the record straight, because You can defend Your reputation, and mine too. Amen.
Zechariah 1-6 Haggai (and Ezra) record the laying of the foundation of the temple by the exiles who returned from Babylon, but the work had stalled again. God gives Zechariah eight visions, four messages, and two “burdens” to encourage the people to seek God first and do His work. The material is arranged chiastically in three sections, the first of which is in this post. The end of chapter 6 presents a type of the crowning on the Messiah, who will build Ezekiel's temple and combine the roles of priest and king on His throne. See chart under Digging Deeper for more.
1:7-17 A Horseman among the myrtle trees (Nations at peace; Judah judged)
1:18-21 B The four horns and four craftsmen (Judgment on nations)
2:1- C The surveyor measures Jerusalem (city rebuilt)
3:1-10 D Cleansing and restoration of Joshua (representative of nation)
4:1-14 d' Lampstand & two olive trees (Zerubabbel empowered by God)
5:1-4 c' The flying scroll (city cleansed from evil)
5:5-11 b' The babe in the basket (Wickedness removed to Babylon)
6:1-8 a' Four chariots with horses (God at peace; nations judged)
Zechariah 1 Repentance, Horses, and Horns
7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying,
8 "I had a vision in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in a ravine; and behind him there were red, brown, and white horses. 9 Then I asked, ‘My lord, what are these?’" The angel who talked with me said to me, "I will show you what these are." 10 The man who stood among the myrtle trees answered, "They are the ones Yahweh has sent to go back and forth through the earth." 11 They reported to the angel of Yahweh who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, "We have walked back and forth through the earth, and behold, all the earth is at rest and in peace." 12 Then the angel of Yahweh replied, "O Yahweh of Hosts, how long will you not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which you have had indignation these seventy years?" 13 Yahweh answered the angel who talked with me with kind and comforting words. 14 So the angel who talked with me said to me, "Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh of Hosts": I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. 15 I am very angry with the nations that are at ease; for I was but a little displeased, but they added to the calamity." 16 Therefore thus says Yahweh: "I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy. My house shall be built in it," says Yahweh of Hosts, "and a line shall be stretched forth over Jerusalem."’ 17 "Proclaim further, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh of Hosts": My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and Yahweh will again comfort Zion, and will again choose Jerusalem."’"
18 I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, four horns. 19 I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these?" He answered me, "These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem." 20 Yahweh showed me four craftsmen. 21 Then I asked, "What are these coming to do?" He said, "These are the horns which scattered Judah, so that no man lifted up his head; but these have come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations, which lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it."
Observations: 1:1-7 A contemporary of Haggai, Zechariah gets told by God to issue a call to repentance a little over a dozen years after the foundation of the temple had been laid. Like most construction projects, finishing the work is difficult. Like the One Minute Manager, God gives a short reproof, saying 1) He is displeased, 2) why, and 3) what to do. He then gives 4) positive and 5) negative reinforcement/incentives. They have drifted and need to repent, not being like their fathers who suffered for not doing so, because God purposes to curse disloyalty and bless obedience will follow their actions. Note how verse 6 resolves the “issue” of Divine sovereignty and Human responsibility. God has sovereignly attached consequences to certain actions; then we will get those consequences according to what we choose to do. God has determined to do according to our ways. God/s sanity could be called into question for repeatedly sending them prophets, calling the people to repent, and then getting angry because they didn't, if (as some assert) He had "ordained" that they would not repent. Note that God's action (drawing near/returning to them) is dependent upon their action (of first responding to the call to repent, and returning to Him). Two questions for the hard of head and heart: “Is that an accurate understanding of the passage in its context?” “Is it consistent with God's illustration of the principle throughout the rest of Scripture, in both testaments?” If the answer is yes than one's theology needs to conform to the truth. God has sovereignly set the rules (will bless those who obey, and discipline those who don't). We'd have to be crazy to think that we have no free will in responding. Israel had angered God by exercising their will to disobey (which resulted in the Babylonian Captivity); now He is calling them to again exercise their will to repent and return, so He can be gracious to them. By the way, the same invitation is open to us today (as it has been to all children of Adam, throughout all ages). As verse 6 reminds us: He deals with us according to our ways.
1:8-17 The vision of the horseman among the evergreen myrtle trees (a symbol of the Jewish people who used them for the Feast of Booths or Tabernacles) is explained: the Gentile nations are at ease, but Judah is troubled and not at peace, and God is aware of it. The man identified as the “angel of Yahweh” is considered by some to be the pre-incarnate Messiah watching out for Judah's interests. God is angry with the nations but tender toward Judah. He will return to them and see His house and city rebuilt. Notice that it was God's sovereign plan to use the nations to judge Israel, but then again, they incorrectly exercised their will (even while doing His overall will), to inflict extra harm (see v 15 in the NIV) upon Israel. Even when we are going in the direction God wants us to go, we must be careful to do things His way, or there will be negative consequences.
1:18-21 The next vision elaborates upon how God will execute His anger on the Gentiles. The four horns are the powers that had afflicted Judah (possibly Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and Syria or the Philistines/Canaanites???) but they will be scattered by four “craftsmen” whom God will raise up (Medes/Persians, Greeks, Rome, Messiah???), a similar process described in Daniel's visions.
Application: God will always do as He's promised, as in punish evil and prosper His people, so it makes sense to conduct our lives with that as the reality, even though it may take a while to realize it.
Prayer: Mighty God, I trust that all You have promised will come about; thanks for being gracious in forgiving my sin, and accepting me back when I repent; thanks for wanting a relationship with me when I return to You. Amen.
Zechariah 2 Wall of Fire
6 Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,’ says Yahweh; ‘for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the sky,’ says Yahweh. 7 ‘Come, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.’ 8 For thus says Yahweh of Hosts: ‘For honor he has sent me to the nations which plundered you; for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye. 9 For, behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they will be a spoil to those who served them; and you will know that Yahweh of Hosts has sent me.
10 Sing and rejoice, daughter of Zion; for, behold, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of you,’ says Yahweh. 11 Many nations shall join themselves to Yahweh in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know that Yahweh of Hosts has sent me to you. 12 Yahweh will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be silent, all flesh, before Yahweh; for he has roused himself from his holy habitation!"
Observations: 2:1-13 The man with a measuring line predicts the day when Jerusalem will be overrun with people, and God will be a wall of fire around her for protection. He will dwell in their midst, being their glory, and giving them the glory and honor of the nations. God issues a call for the exiles who haven't yet returned to do so. He also indicates that many of the nations will be His people in the day He dwells in Jerusalem, yet distinct from the apple of His eye, Judah, His portion in the holy land.
Application: God pays back our enemies, and prospers His people so we will have confidence in all His promises.
Prayer: God, may I be the apple of Your eye, and experience Your protection and glory this week. Thanks. Amen.
Zechariah 3 Rescue, Forgiveness, and Blessing
8 Hear now, Joshua the high priest, you and your fellows who sit before you; for they are men who are a sign: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant, the Branch. 9 For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes: behold, I will engrave its engraving,’ says Yahweh of Hosts, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 10 In that day,’ says Yahweh of Hosts, ‘you will invite every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.’"
Observations: 3:1-10 Joshua, as the high priest, representing the sins of the people is accused by Satan as unfit for blessing because of the nation's sins. Satan hates it when people get the glory he grasped at (and missed). God rebukes Satan (for the nation has been rescued from the fire by God), removes the sin, and clothes Joshua (the nation) in righteousness. In one day God will remove the iniquity of the land, which is probably not a reference to Isaiah 53 when the Messiah suffers for their sins, but to the day when the benefits of the atoning sacrifice are applied to the repentant nation when the Messiah returns. The role of the high priest was to bring the blood of the atoning sacrifice into the Holy of Holies to atone for the nation's sins. However, the blessing (not the forgiveness) is still contingent upon walking in His ways and following His instructions. Only then can they experience the blessings of ruling and access to the Divine presence. Failure to understand the difference between forgiveness and blessing is a fountain of terrible theology in the NT. The high priest and his fellow priests are a prefiguring sign of the Messiah, the Branch, a stone with seven eyes (reminiscent of Daniel's stone that smashed the kingdoms – Dan 2, and Ezekiels visions of God in His glory -Ezk 1). When the Messiah removes the sin of the land in a day, peace and prosperity will ensue (Millennial Kingdom).
Application: God's grace provides forgiveness, and enables us to walk in His ways to blessings.
Prayer: Wonderful God, thanks for rescuing me, and restoring me, and giving me grace to walk in Your righteous ways; thanks for the prosperity and access to Your presence You offer to those who are faithful to You; may I always be among them. Amen.
Zechariah 4 Not By Might or Power
11 Then I asked him, "What are these two olive trees on the right side of the lampstand and on the left side of it?" 12 I asked him the second time, "What are these two olive branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that pour the golden oil out of themselves?" 13 He answered me, "Don’t you know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord." 14 Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth."
Observations: 4:1-14 As the previous vision encouraged Joshua, this one focuses on Zerubbabel. Together they encompass the dual roles of the Messiah. The olive trees and the lampstand are designed to encourage Zerubbabel to do the work God gave him to do, until it was finished. God gives supernatural strength (anointing) to bring about His purposes. The task of completing the temple was daunting. But the mountain would become a plain, and it's rock would be the blocks of the temple, with God's enablement. The trees linked to the lampstand symbolize the endless supply of oil to keep the lamps burning. The lampstand was what manifest the light of glory of God to the world, as would the temple when God's glory dwelt in it. Priests and kings were anointed to build up God's people to be a witness to the light. The oil was a symbol of the Spirit which enabled such a witness. There will be two witnesses to God's enablement in the future as well (Rev. 11:3-12).
Application: God glorifying work (Eph 2:10) is not done by human might or power, but by the energizing of righteous people by the inexhaustible Spirit of the everlasting God; therefore, one must be rightly related to the power source. (See “Your Relationship with the Holy Spirit under the 7PASSAGES in the sidebar.)
Prayer: Mighty God, fill me with Your power, so I may do the works You planned for me, which will bring You glory. Amen.
Zechariah 5 Flying Scroll and Babe in the Basket
5:1 Then again I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, a flying scroll. 2 He said to me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a flying scroll; its length is twenty cubits, and its breadth ten cubits." 3 Then he said to me, "This is the curse that goes out over the surface of the whole land; for everyone who steals shall be cut off according to it on the one side; and everyone who swears falsely shall be cut off according to it on the other side. 4 I will cause it to go out," says Yahweh of Hosts, "and it will enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him who swears falsely by my name; and it will remain in the midst of his house, and will destroy it with its timber and its stones."
5 Then the angel who talked with me came forward, and said to me, "Lift up now your eyes, and see what is this that is appearing." 6 I said, "What is it?" He said, "This is the ephah basket that is appearing." He said moreover, "This is their appearance in all the land 7 (and behold, a talent of lead was lifted up); and this is a woman sitting in the midst of the ephah basket." 8 He said, "This is Wickedness"; and he threw her down into the midst of the ephah basket; and he threw the weight of lead on its mouth. 9 Then lifted I up my eyes, and saw, and behold, there were two women, and the wind was in their wings. Now they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah basket between earth and the sky. 10 Then I said to the angel who talked with me, "Where are these carrying the ephah basket?" 11 He said to me, "To build her a house in the land of Shinar. When it is prepared, she will be set there in her own place."
Observations: 5:1-4 Things are starting to get a little weird, and aren't interpreted, so any interpretation should suffice :) These two visions deal with the need for God's people to be pure and evil removed from their midst, something necessary both in Zerubabbel's day and the Messiah's day in the future.
The dimensions of the scroll correspond to those of the Holy Place of the Tabernacle (Ex 26:8) which was just outside the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. The scroll probably represents the law which was contained in the Ark on two stone tablets. The two center commandments on each tablet are on the scroll, perhaps given as representative of God's requirements. The law will seek out and judge those who break it. The false deceitful dealings and stealing highlight the need for social justice, which were lacking at times among those who returned from exile. They might have a temple, and not be practicing idol worship, but if their relationships with each other weren't as God wanted, they would suffer. The law must be followed by the whole land if they are to be exempt from judgment, and experience the blessings God wants to bestow on them.
5:5-11 The babe in the basket represents “Wickedness” which is what the hypocrites do (Ps 50). The ephah was a large measure, like a bushel basket, frequently used in commerce. Wickedness is confined in the basket and carried off to Shinar/Babylon by two unclean birds/storks. Perhaps by touching wickedness, they became defiled. In any event Wickedness is now established outside of Israel in Babylon. A woman from Babylon will make her appearance again in Revelation 17-18 in the last days.
Application: Either we remove evil from our lives, or God will (and not that gently).
Prayer: God, help me see evil as You do, and eschew it as Job did. Amen.
Zechariah 6 Horses, Crowns, Messiah
9 The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 10 "Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah; and come the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have come from Babylon. 11 Yes, take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest; 12 and speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, "Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: and he shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build the temple of Yahweh; 13 even he shall build the temple of Yahweh; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on his throne; and he shall be a priest on his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. 14 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. 15 Those who are far off shall come and build in/upon the temple of Yahweh; and you shall know that Yahweh of Hosts has sent me to you. This will happen, if you will diligently obey the voice of Yahweh your God."’"
Observations: 6:1-8 The visions end where they started with angelic horsemen (cf chapter 1) accomplishing God's will on the earth. The key item is they have quieted God's Spirit in the north country (indicating Babylon).
6:9-15 This last section, before “messages” of the next two chapters contains instruction to crown Joshua as king, a type of the Messiah (the anti-type) who will establish His kingdom and build the Millennial Temple after the nations are judged. Note that the roles of priest and king are combined in the “Branch” (from the root of Jesse/David). Crowns is in the plural, perhaps indicating a composite crown. High priests wore turbans, not crowns. At no other time has the high priest, who had to be from the line of Levi, been sitting on the throne as the sanctioned Davidic King, who had to be from the line of Judah. The Book of Hebrews indicates the Messiah was a priest after the order of Melchizedek, not Levi. The chapter ends with an indication of those from afar off building in or upon the temple, which the Messiah constructed. This is probably a reference to the inclusion of Gentiles in the Messiah's kingdom. Participation in the Messiah's blessing will be dependent upon diligent obedience to the voice of God, just like always.
Application: God is working out a great plan to glorify Himself; our participation is dependent upon diligent obedience. How have You specifically obeyed God lately?
Prayer: God, help me see Your will, and motivate me to embrace it wholeheartedly, for Your glory's sake. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: Note how 1:6 resolves the “issue” of Divine sovereignty and Human responsibility. God has sovereignly attached consequences to certain actions; then we will get those consequences according to what we choose to do. God has determined to do according to our ways. God will bring about His plan to bless Jews and Gentiles together after He restores the nation and judges sin. The Messiah will build the Millennial temple and fulfill all God's desire. God gives encouragement to His servants to serve Him with His power.
Us in a nutshell: We who have been cleansed and pardoned by God have the responsibility to remove sin from ourselves and ourselves from sin, drawing upon God's Spirit to wholeheartedly obey and do His work. We should never be discouraged by the task God's given us, because He always makes available all we need to do His will.
Where to Go for More:
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Zechariah complete text
Zechariah 1
!:1 In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying, 2 "Yahweh was very displeased with your fathers. 3 Therefore tell them: Thus says Yahweh of Hosts: ‘Return to me,’ says Yahweh of Hosts, ‘and I will return to you,’ says Yahweh of Hosts. 4 Don’t you be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying: Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, ‘Return now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings’; but they did not hear, nor listen to me, says Yahweh. 5 Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 But my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, didn’t they overtake your fathers? "Then they repented and said, ‘Just as Yahweh of Hosts determined to do to us, according to our ways, and according to our practices, so he has dealt with us.’"
7 On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Shebat, in the second year of Darius, the word of Yahweh came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying, 8 "I had a vision in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in a ravine; and behind him there were red, brown, and white horses. 9 Then I asked, ‘My lord, what are these?’" The angel who talked with me said to me, "I will show you what these are." 10 The man who stood among the myrtle trees answered, "They are the ones Yahweh has sent to go back and forth through the earth." 11 They reported to the angel of Yahweh who stood among the myrtle trees, and said, "We have walked back and forth through the earth, and behold, all the earth is at rest and in peace." 12 Then the angel of Yahweh replied, "O Yahweh of Hosts, how long will you not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which you have had indignation these seventy years?" 13 Yahweh answered the angel who talked with me with kind and comforting words. 14 So the angel who talked with me said to me, "Proclaim, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh of Hosts": I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. 15 I am very angry with the nations that are at ease; for I was but a little displeased, but they added to the calamity." 16 Therefore thus says Yahweh: "I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy. My house shall be built in it," says Yahweh of Hosts, "and a line shall be stretched forth over Jerusalem."’ 17 "Proclaim further, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh of Hosts": My cities will again overflow with prosperity, and Yahweh will again comfort Zion, and will again choose Jerusalem."’"
18 I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, four horns. 19 I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these?" He answered me, "These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem." 20 Yahweh showed me four craftsmen. 21 Then I asked, "What are these coming to do?" He said, "These are the horns which scattered Judah, so that no man lifted up his head; but these have come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations, which lifted up their horn against the land of Judah to scatter it."
Zechariah 2
2:1 I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand. 2 Then I asked, "Where are you going?" He said to me, "To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its breadth and what is its length." 3 Behold, the angel who talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, 4 and said to him, "Run, speak to this young man, saying, ‘Jerusalem will be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it. 5 For I,’ says Yahweh, ‘will be to her a wall of fire around it, and I will be the glory in the midst of her.
6 Come! Come! Flee from the land of the north,’ says Yahweh; ‘for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the sky,’ says Yahweh. 7 ‘Come, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.’ 8 For thus says Yahweh of Hosts: ‘For honour he has sent me to the nations which plundered you; for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye. 9 For, behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they will be a spoil to those who served them; and you will know that Yahweh of Hosts has sent me.
10 Sing and rejoice, daughter of Zion; for, behold, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of you,’ says Yahweh. 11 Many nations shall join themselves to Yahweh in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of you, and you shall know that Yahweh of Hosts has sent me to you. 12 Yahweh will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 13 Be silent, all flesh, before Yahweh; for he has roused himself from his holy habitation!"
Zechariah 3
3:1 He showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of Yahweh, and Satan standing at his right hand to be his adversary. 2 Yahweh said to Satan, "Yahweh rebuke you, Satan! Yes, Yahweh who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Isn’t this a burning stick plucked out of the fire?" 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the angel. 4 He answered and spoke to those who stood before him, saying, "Take the filthy garments off of him." To him he said, "Behold, I have caused your iniquity to pass from you, and I will clothe you with rich clothing." 5 I said, "Let them set a clean turban on his head." So they set a clean turban on his head, and clothed him; and the angel of Yahweh was standing by. 6 The angel of Yahweh protested to Joshua, saying, 7 "Thus says Yahweh of Hosts: ‘If you will walk in my ways, and if you will follow my instructions, then you also shall judge my house, and shall also keep my courts, and I will give you a place of access among these who stand by.
8 Hear now, Joshua the high priest, you and your fellows who sit before you; for they are men who are a sign: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant, the Branch. 9 For, behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes: behold, I will engrave its engraving,’ says Yahweh of Hosts, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 10 In that day,’ says Yahweh of Hosts, ‘you will invite every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.’"
Zechariah 4
4:1 The angel who talked with me came again, and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. 2 He said to me, "What do you see?" I said, "I have seen, and behold, a lampstand all of gold, with its bowl on the top of it, and its seven lamps thereon; there are seven pipes to each of the lamps, which are on the top of it; 3 and two olive trees by it, one on the right side of the bowl, and the other on the left side of it." 4 I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, "What are these, my lord?" 5 Then the angel who talked with me answered me, "Don’t you know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord." 6 Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, "This is the word of Yahweh to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says Yahweh of Hosts. 7 Who are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you are a plain; and he will bring out the capstone with shouts of ‘Grace, grace, to it!’" 8 Moreover the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also finish it; and you will know that Yahweh of Hosts has sent me to you. 10 Indeed, who despises the day of small things? For these seven shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. These are the eyes of Yahweh, which run back and forth through the whole earth."
11 Then I asked him, "What are these two olive trees on the right side of the lampstand and on the left side of it?" 12 I asked him the second time, "What are these two olive branches, which are beside the two golden spouts, that pour the golden oil out of themselves?" 13 He answered me, "Don’t you know what these are?" I said, "No, my lord." 14 Then he said, "These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth."
Zechariah 5
5:1 Then again I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, a flying scroll. 2 He said to me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a flying scroll; its length is twenty cubits, and its breadth ten cubits." 3 Then he said to me, "This is the curse that goes out over the surface of the whole land; for everyone who steals shall be cut off according to it on the one side; and everyone who swears falsely shall be cut off according to it on the other side. 4 I will cause it to go out," says Yahweh of Hosts, "and it will enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him who swears falsely by my name; and it will remain in the midst of his house, and will destroy it with its timber and its stones."
5 Then the angel who talked with me came forward, and said to me, "Lift up now your eyes, and see what is this that is appearing." 6 I said, "What is it?" He said, "This is the ephah basket that is appearing." He said moreover, "This is their appearance in all the land 7 (and behold, a talent of lead was lifted up); and this is a woman sitting in the midst of the ephah basket." 8 He said, "This is Wickedness"; and he threw her down into the midst of the ephah basket; and he threw the weight of lead on its mouth. 9 Then lifted I up my eyes, and saw, and behold, there were two women, and the wind was in their wings. Now they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah basket between earth and the sky. 10 Then I said to the angel who talked with me, "Where are these carrying the ephah basket?" 11 He said to me, "To build her a house in the land of Shinar. When it is prepared, she will be set there in her own place."
Zechariah 6
6:1 Again I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass. 2 In the first chariot were red horses; in the second chariot black horses; 3 in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot dappled horses, all of them powerful. 4 Then I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?" 5 The angel answered me, "These are the four winds of the sky, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The one with the black horses goes out toward the north country; and the white went out after them; and the dappled went forth toward the south country." 7 The strong went out, and sought to go that they might walk back and forth through the earth: and he said, "Go around and through the earth!" So they walked back and forth through the earth. 8 Then he called to me, and spoke to me, saying, "Behold, those who go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country."
9 The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 10 "Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah; and come the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have come from Babylon. 11 Yes, take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them on the head of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest; 12 and speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says Yahweh of Hosts, "Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: and he shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build the temple of Yahweh; 13 even he shall build the temple of Yahweh; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule on his throne; and he shall be a priest on his throne; and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. 14 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. 15 Those who are far off shall come and build in the temple of Yahweh; and you shall know that Yahweh of Hosts has sent me to you. This will happen, if you will diligently obey the voice of Yahweh your God."’"
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