Pedigree puts Z. in a prophetic family— legitimates his right to speak for YHWH.
Zechariah 1:8
A vision in the night
Characteristic of late apocalyptic as well as earlier prophetic experience (cf. Daniel & Joseph) but not of the “classical” prophets.
Zechariah 1:12
The angel of YHWH talks to YHWH
Seventy years…. indicates a knowledge of the tradition of Jeremiah.
Zechariah 1:16
The first mention of the rebuilding of the house — a consequence, and not a condition, of God’s mercy, in contrast with Haggai.
Zechariah 1:20
Craftsmen —> God’s plan to overthrow the wicked empires.
Symbolic language is probably necessary here for reasons of poitical safety… too explicit a condemnation of Persia, for instance, would endanger the establishment of which Z. was apparently a member.
Zechariah 2:10-11
I” will live among you, declares YHWH”
….”YHWH has sent me to you”….
This combination of first and third persons strains the limits of a unitarian monotheistic interpretation… but the trinitarian understanding of this as a prophecy of the Incarnation seems much less contrived.
Zechariah 3:8
Joshua & his associates symbolic of all Israel, but the Branch is the messianic figure.
Zechariah 6:3
Joshua the messianic figure? The name is right, at least — but what happened to Zerubbabel?
Zechariah 7:8-10
Approaching again the ideals of classical prophetism. V. 10, “…in your hearts,” —close to a N.T. approach.
Zechariah 8:23
A reminder of the true purpose of Israel: cf. Genesis 12:3. The promise to the Jews is not (merely) for the sake of the Jews, but is for the sake of the nations.
Zechariah 11:15
Dark days ahead for a still-divided Israel——easy to see how the “shepherd who does not care” has been applied to the Papacy, given references to 30 pieces of silver back in v. 13…
