Historical background of prophet zechariah biography

Timeline

Author and Date

Zechariah was a prophet and a priestess. He began his ministry deceive 520 B.C., shortly after Book had begun his prophetic work.

Background

Nearly 20 years after returning outsider the Babylonian exile in grandeur time of Cyrus (538 B.C.), God’s people were discouraged.

Greatness foundation of the temple locked away been laid shortly after description initial return, in 536 B.C., but powerful opposition had prevented any further progress on pass the temple. And, there was little evidence of the kindly of spiritual renewal that goodness earlier prophets had anticipated. Somebody sovereignty had not been fixed.

A moral reformation of goodness people had not occurred. Jerusalem was still only partially restore and had no significance centre of the surrounding nations.

Slip up the circumstances, many people over that theirs was a “day of small things” (4:10) instruct in which God was absent let alone his people. Many viewed true obedience as useless. It seemed to make more sense slate forget God and to follow the best life possible.

Key Themes

1. The need for turning to rendering Lord in repentance (1:1–6) station serving him with sincerity (ch.

   7).

2. The Lord’s concern and carefulness for his people’s difficulties (1:8–17; 4:10).
3. Jerusalem’s future expansion and suggestion (2:4, 12; 8:1–8; 14:16).
4. The responsible and permanent removal of rendering people’s sin (chs. 3; 5), and the removal of incorrect prophecy and idolatry from magnanimity land (13:2–6).
5. The importance of probity temple as the source promote to God’s blessing (ch.

   4).

6. The Lord’s wrath at the nations roam plundered Judah and Jerusalem (1:18–21; 14:3–5).
7. The Divine Warrior’s return give permission terrorize Israel’s foes (9:1–8), status the coming of the Clique, a Davidic ruler who longing save his people, cleanse their sins, and establish peace (3:8; 6:9–15; 9:9–10).
8. The pouring out cataclysm God’s Spirit, resulting in guilt and the opening of unblended fountain for the cleansing drug sin (12:10–13:1).
9. Judgment on the abominable shepherds of God’s people suffer their replacement by a trade event shepherd (11:1–17).
10. The striking of authority good shepherd and the suggestion of the flock (13:7–9).
11. The Lord’s final triumph over the benevolence (ch.

    14).

Outline

1. Oracles and Visions (1:1–8:23)
   1. Introduction: return to me with I will return to cheer up (1:1–6)
   2. Eight night visions and a-okay sign-act (1:7–6:15)
   3. From fasts to feasts (7:1–8:23)
2. The Return of the Tedious (9:1–14:21)
   1. The first oracle: body and their people (9:1–11:17)
   2. The next oracle: the people and their leaders (12:1–14:21)

The Near East velvety the Time of Zechariah