This was our first week in Zechariah.
Zechariah is the second to last book in the Old Testament. The prophet began his ministry in 520 B.C. It is likely that the first 8 chapters come from early in that time frame, and the last chapters (9 thru 14) come at least 20 years later.
This is the post-exilic period. Judah is beginning to see a return of exiles to the city. But work has not gone as hoped ini terms of rebuilding the city, the walls and the Temple. It is in this environment of discouragement that Zechariah begins his ministry.
You can read the historical situation by looking at the first chapters of Ezra. Haggai is also written about the same time.
Below is an outline of Zechariah:
A. Oracles and Visions (Zech. 1:1–8:23)
1. Introduction: return to me and I will return to you (Zech. 1:1–6)
2. Eight night visions and a sign-act (Zech. 1:7–6:15)
a. Vision one: the Lord’s hidden horsemen (Zech. 1:7–17)
b. Vision two: Judah’s oppressors oppressed (Zech. 1:18–21)
c. Vision three: Jerusalem unwalled (Zech. 2:1–13)
d. Vision four: the reclothing of Joshua (Zech. 3:1–10)
e. Vision five: the olive trees and the lampstand (Zech. 4:1–14)
f. Vision six: the flying scroll—wickedness judged (Zech. 5:1–4)
g. Vision seven: the flying ephah—wickedness removed (Zech. 5:5–11)
h. Vision eight: the Lord’s army on the move (Zech. 6:1–8)
i. A sign-act: the crowning of Joshua (Zech. 6:9–15)
3. From fasts to feasts (Zech. 7:1–8:23)
a. Ritual or reality (Zech. 7:1–14)
b. The promise of the future (Zech. 8:1–23)
B. The Return of the King (Zech. 9:1–14:21)
1. The first oracle: leaders and their people (Zech. 9:1–11:17)
a. The return of the king (Zech. 9:1–17)
1. The divine warrior comes (Zech. 9:1–8)
2. The king enters Jerusalem (Zech. 9:9–11)
3. The king’s enemies destroyed and his people redeemed (Zech. 9:12–17)
b. The shepherds and the flock (Zech. 10:1–12)
1. Judgment on Judah’s shepherds (Zech. 10:1–5)
2. The restoration of the flock (Zech. 10:6–12)
c. The shepherds and one shepherd (Zech. 11:1–17)
1. Judgment on Judah’s shepherds (Zech. 11:1–3)
2. A sign-act: the shepherd rescues his flock but is rejected (Zech. 11:4–17)
2. The second oracle: the people and their leaders (Zech. 12:1–14:21)
a. The restoration and renewal of God’s people (Zech. 12:1–13:6)
1. Jerusalem’s triumph and the nations’ doom (Zech. 12:1–9)
2. Mourning for sin (Zech. 12:10–14)
3. Cleansing from sin and idolatry (Zech. 13:1–6)
b. Judgment and transformation (Zech. 13:7–14:21)
1. The shepherd struck and the flock scattered (Zech. 13:7–9)
2. Jerusalem’s judgment, deliverance, and exaltation (Zech. 14:1–11)
3. The nations humbled and brought into submission (Zech. 14:12–21)