“The Book of Zechariah,” Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide (2002), 191–92
“The Book of Zechariah,” Old Testament Seminary Student Study Guide, 191–92
The Book of Zechariah
He Saw beyond His Day
Zechariah was from a priestly family in the tribe of Levi. He was born in Babylon and returned to Jerusalem about 538 B.C. with the Jews who were allowed to return from Babylonian captivity. He was called to be a prophet about 520 B.C. (see Zechariah 1:1), which means he lived about the same time as Haggai, the prophet, and Ezra, the priest. Like Haggai, Zechariah encouraged the people to continue rebuilding the temple. But he also challenged the people to rebuild their personal spiritual lives. Zechariah was also quite visionary. His visions are both Messianic (telling about the Savior’s Second Coming) and apocalyptic (telling about the last days). Zechariah’s prophecies about Jesus Christ in chapters 9–14 are quoted more in the four Gospels of the New Testament than those of any other Old Testament prophet.