Zechariah
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Jehovah is renowned or remembered.
A prophet of Judah, the eleventh of the twelve minor prophets. Like Ezekiel, he was of priestly extraction. He describes himself (1:1) as “the son of Berechiah.” In Ezra 5:1 and 6:14 he is called “the son of Iddo,” who was properly his grandfather. His prophetical career began in the second year of Darius (B.C. 520), about sixteen years after the return of the first company from exile. He was contemporary with Haggai (Ezra 5:1).
His book consists of two distinct parts, (1) chapters 1 to 8, inclusive, and (2) 9 to the end. It begins with a preface (1:1-6), which recalls the nation’s past history, for the purpose of presenting a solemn warning to the present generation. Then follows a series of eight visions (1:7-6:8), succeeding one another in one night, which may be regarded as a symbolical history of Israel, intended to furnish consolation to the returned exiles and stir up hope in their minds. The symbolical action, the crowning of Joshua (6:9-15), describes how the kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of God’s Christ.
Chapters 7 and 8, delivered two years later, are an answer to the question whether the days of mourning for the destruction of the city should be any longer kept, and an encouraging address to the people, assuring them of God’s presence and blessing.
The second part of the book (ch. 9-14) bears no date. It is probable that a considerable interval separates it from the first part. It consists of two burdens.
The first burden (ch. 9-11) gives an outline of the course of God’s providential dealings with his people down to the time of the Advent.
The second burden (ch. 12-14) points out the glories that await Israel in “the latter day”, the final conflict and triumph of God’s kingdom.
The son or grandson of Jehoiada, the high priest in the times of Ahaziah and Joash. After the death of Jehoiada he boldly condemned both the king and the people for their rebellion against God (2 Chr 24:20), which so stirred up their resentment against him that at the king’s commandment they stoned him with stones, and he died “in the court of the house of the Lord” (24:21). Christ alludes to this deed of murder in Matt 23:35, Luke 11:51.
A prophet, who had “understanding in the seeing of God,” in the time of Uzziah, who was much indebted to him for his wise counsel (2 Chr 26:5).
Besides these, there is a large number of persons mentioned in Scripture bearing this name of whom nothing is known.
One of the chiefs of the tribe of Reuben (1 Chr 5:7).
One of the porters of the tabernacle (1 Chr 9:21).
A Levite who assisted at the bringing up of the ark from the house of Obededom (1 Chr 15:20-24).
A Kohathite Levite (1 Chr 24:25).
A Merarite Levite (1 Chr 27:21).
The father of Iddo (1 Chr 27:21).
One who assisted in teaching the law to the people in the time of Jehoshaphat (2 Chr 17:7).
A Levite of the sons of Asaph (2 Chr 20:14).
One of Jehoshaphat’s sons (2 Chr 21:2).
The father of Abijah, who was the mother of Hezekiah (2 Chr 29:1).
One of the sons of Asaph (2 Chr 29:13).
One of the “rulers of the house of God” (2 Chr 35:8).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Zechariah (1)
zek-a-ri'-a (zekharyahu, or zekharyah; the Septuagint Zacharia(s)): A very common name in the Old Testament. The form, especially the longer form, of the name would suggest for its meaning, "Yah remembers" or "Yah is renowned," and the name was doubtless understood in this sense in later times. But the analogies with ZACCUR, ZECHER, ZICHRI (which see), etc., make some original ethnic derivation probable.
(1) King of Israel, son of Jeroboam II (the King James Version "Zachariah"). See the next article.
(2) The grandfather of King Hezekiah, through Hezekiah's mother Abi (2 Kgs 18:2, the King James Version "Zachariah" parallel 2 Chr 29:1).
(3) A contemporary of Isaiah, taken by Isaiah as a trustworthy witness in the matter of the sign Maher-shalal-hash-baz (Isa 8:1). As his father's name was Jeberechiah, some support seems to be offered to theories of those who would make him the author of certain portions of Zechariah.
See ZECHARIAH, BOOK OF.
(4) A Reubenite of the time of Israel's captivity (1 Chr 5:7).
(5) A Benjamite, living in Gideon (1 Chr 9:37; called "Zecher" in 8:31). He was the brother of Kish and hence, the uncle of Saul.
(6) A Manassite of Gilead, at the time of David (1 Chr 27:21).
(7) The third son of Jehoshaphat (2 Chr 21:2). He was slain by Jehoram (2 Chr 21:4).
(8) A "prince" who Jehoshaphat sent to "teach" in the cities of Judah (2 Chr 17:7). As this "teaching" was in connection with the establishing of the Law, Zechariah was primarily a judge.
(9) A prophet who was influential in the early days of Uzziah (2 Chr 26:5). He is characterized as ha-mebh in bire'oth (beyir'ath(?)) ha-elohim, which phrase is usually understood to mean that he had instructed (Revised Version margin) the king in the fear of God. As long as he lived the king profited by his instruction and advice.
The following eight are all Levites:
(10) A doorkeeper at the time of David, who was made a singer "of the second degree" (1 Chr 15:18; the text is confused). He was a player on a "psaltery" (1 Chr 15:20) and took part in the thanksgiving when the Ark was brought to Jerusalem (1 Chr 16:5).
(11) A son of Isshiah (1 Chr 24:25).
(12) A son of Meshelemiah, a "porter of the door of the tent of meeting" at the time of David (1 Chr 9:21; 1 Chr 26:2; 1 Chr 26:14). In 1 Chr 26:14 called "a discreet counselor."
(13) A son of Hosah, a Merarite, also at David's time (1 Chr 26:11).
(14) The father of the prophet, JAHAZIEL (which see) (2 Chr 20:14).
(15) A son of Asaph, who assisted in the purification of the Temple at the time of Hezekiah (2 Chr 29:13).
(16) A Kohathite, who assisted in the repair of the Temple at the time of Josiah (2 Chr 34:12).
(17) A son of Jonathan, an Asaphite, one of the musicians at the dedication of the wall at the time of Nehemiah (Neh 12:35).
The following are all priests:
(18) A trumpeter at the time of David (1 Chr 15:24).
(19) A son of Jehoiada, at the time of Joash. He rebuked the people publicly for their apostasy, and was stoned by them, Joash consenting to their act (2 Chr 24:20-22). As 2 Chronicles is the last book in the Hebrew Old Testament, Zechariah was regarded as the last of the Old Testament martyrs, and hence, is coupled with Abel (the first martyr) in Matt 23:35 parallel Luke 11:51. The words "son of Barachiah" in Matthew are due to confusing this Zechariah with the prophet.
See ZACHARIAH.
(20) One of the "rulers of the house of God" at the time of Josiah (2 Chr 35:8).
(21) A son of Pashhur, 242 of whose descendants as "chiefs of fathers' houses" dwelt in Jerusalem at the time of Nehemiah (Neh 11:13).
(22) A trumpeter at the dedication of the wall at the time of Nehemiah (Neh 12:41).
(23) The prophet (Ezra 5:1; Ezra 6:14; Neh 12:16; Zech 1:1; Zech 1:7; Zech 7:1; Zech 7:8; 1 Esdras 6:1; 7:3).
See ZECHARIAH, BOOK OF.
The following are all returned exiles or are mentioned only as ancestors of such:
(24) A son of Parosh (Ezra 8:3; 1 Esdras 8:30 has "Zacharias" here and elsewhere).
(25) A son of Bebai (Ezra 8:11; 1 Esdras 8:37)
(26) One of the "chief men" dispatched by Ezra to bring priests from Casiphia (Ezra 8:16; 1 Esdras 8:44). Doubtless the same as (24) or (25), above.
(27) One of the persons who stood by Ezra at the reading of the Law (Neh 8:4; 1 Esdras 9:44); almost certainly identical with (26).
(28) A son of Elam, who had taken a foreign wife (Ezra 10:26; 1 Esdras 9:27).
(29) A son of Amariah, a Judahite, the ancestor of certain persons dwelling in Jerusalem (Neh 11:4).
(30) A son of "the Shilonite," the ancestor of certain persons dwelling in Jerusalem (Neh 11:5).
Burton Scott Easton
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Zechariah (2)
(zekharyah, zekharydhu, "Yah has remembered" (2 Kgs 14:29; 2 Kgs 15:8-12); Zacharias, the King James Version Zachariah): Son of Jeroboam II, and 14th king of Israel. He was the 4th of the line of Jehu, and reigned six months. Zechariah succeeded to a splendid inheritance, as he was king, not only of the ten tribes of Israel, but of the Syrian state of Damascus, which his father had subdued. In the unusual wealth and dignity of this position lay his peril. Also there were two dark shadows falling across his path, though both probably unseen by him. One was the promise to Jehu, as the reward of his destroying the worship of Baal in Israel, that his sons should sit on the throne of Israel to the 4th generation (2 Kgs 10:30; 2 Kgs 15:12). Zechariah was Jehu's great-great-grandson. The other was the word of Amos to the priest of Bethel: "Then said the Lord. ... I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword" (Amos 7:8; Amos 7:9).
The only brief notice of Zechariah personal to himself is that he gave his support to the worship of the calves, since Jeroboam I established the religion of the state. He hardly had time, however, to identify himself with this or any institution before he was publicly assassinated by Shallum, the son of Jabesh (he "smote him before the people"). The prophet Hosea was then alive, and there is probably allusion to this crime when, addressing Ephraim, he says: "Where is thy king, that he may save thee in all thy cities?. ... I have given thee a king in mine anger, and have taken him away in my wrath" (Hos 13:10; Hos 13:11; compare 1:4).
There has long been difficulty with the chronology of this period. Archbishop Ussher assumed an interregnum of 11 years between the death of Jeroboam II and Zechariah's accession. This is accepted as probable by a recent writer, who sees "at least 10 years of incessant conflict between rival claimants to the throne on Jeroboam's death" (see article "Zechariah" in HDB, IV). It seems more likely that there is error in certain of the synchronisms. The year of Zechariah's accession was probably 759 BC (some put it later), and the 6 months of his reign, with that given to Shallum, may be included in the 10 years of Menahem, who followed them (2 Kgs 15:17).
See CHRONOLOGY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT.
W. Shaw Caldecott
See also
Person Zakarias (2 Kgs 18,2) Person Zakarias (1 Chr 5,7) Person Zakarias (1 Chr 9,21) Person Zakarias (1 Chr 24,25) Person Zakarias (1 Chr 27,21) Person Zakarias (2 Chr 17,7) Person Zakarias (2 Chr 20,14) Person Zakarias (2 Chr 21,2) Person Zakarias (2 Chr 24,20) Person Zakarias (2 Chr 26,5) Person Zakarias (2 Chr 35,8) Person Zakarias (Ezr 5,1) Person Zakarias (Neh 11,12) Person Zakarias (Neh 12,16) Person Zakarias (Es 8,2)
Kilde: Easton's Bible Dictionary (M.G. Easton, 1897) og International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (red. James Orr, 1915/1939), public domain. Translated into Danish with AI and not yet proofread (fully or partially). Links to people and places: Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0).