Under the Mosaic dispensation the history of Prophecy falls into three divisions : (1) From Moses to Samuel-the Prophetic Office not having been needed here while God himself ruled the people. (2) From Samuel to Uzziah, B.C. 810-being termed the age of the prophets of action-Elijah, Elisha, &c. (3) From Uzziah to Malachi, B.C. 400-being known as the age of written prophecy. Under the second period "The Schools of the Prophets " were established (2 Ks. ii. 3; 1 Ks. xix. 19). Under the third period (viz., that of written prophecy, we find three classes of prophets, according to the subject matter of their prophecies : 1.-Those who prophesy of the ten tribes-prophets of Israel, viz., Hosea, Amos, &c. 2. Those who prophesy of the Gentiles-Jonah, Nahum, Obadiah. 3.-Those who prophesy of the Jews-Isaiah, Joel, Micah, &c. They are also divided into three classes according to the times when they prophesied : : 1. Those who lived before the Captivity, 800 to 606-Isaiah, Joel, Hosea, Amos, &c. 2. Those who lived under the Captivity, 606 to 500Jeremiah, Daniel, Ezekiel. 3. Those who lived after the Captivity, 536 to 400-Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. These last are called Prophets of the Restoration because they lived after the Jews had been restored (under Ezra and Nehemiah) to their own land from their Captivity at Babylon. For the circumstances under which the Prophecies of Zechariah were written our readers are referred to the Introduction to the Book of Haggai, where they will also find the order in which the Prophecies of Haggai, and some of those of Zechariah were written (page 4-6). We append here, however, the order of all Zechariah's prophecies, with an analysis. ORDER OF ZECHARIAH'S PREDICTIONS. B.C. 520-the Second year of Darius. Haggai's second prediction (ch. ii. 1-9) on the 21st day of the 7th month. Zechariah exhorts the people to repent (ch. i. 1-6) in the 8th month. Haggai's third prediction (ch. ii. 10-19) on the 24th day of the 9th month. Haggai's fourth prediction (ch. ii. 20-23) on the same day. Zechariah's visions (ch. i. 7-vi.) on the 24th day of the 11th month. B.O. 519--The Building is again interrupted, but shortly afterwards resumed (Ezra v. and vi.) Zechariah's answers about fasts (ch. vii., viii.) B.C. 516.-The Temple finished and dedicated. (Psalms xlviii., lxxxi., cxlvi.-cl. now written.) Zechariah's last prediction (ch. ix.-xiv.) ANALYSIS OF ZECHARIAH'S PREDICTIONS. 1. Introductory exhortation to repentance (ch. i. 1–6). (2) Symbolic visions. The Man among the Myrtles (ch. i. 7-17). The four horns and the Carpenters (ch. i. 18-21). Joshua the High Priest (ch. iii.) The Woman in the Ephah (ch. v. 5-11). The Crowns for Joshua (ch. vi. 9-15). 3) Answers to Questions respecting Fasts. Decision regarding Fast Days (ch. vii., viii.) (4) Direct Predictions. Israel's Security and Triumph (ch. ix., x.) NOTES ON THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. CHAPTER I. Introductory verses. A call to repentance, 1-6. FIRST VISION, 7-17.-The man among the myrtle trees. The presence of Jehovah, The Church's safety in danger. SECOND VISION, 18-21.-The enemies of His people shall be dispersed. The prophet's authority.-(v. 1) " In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying," The prophet's message; a call to repentance.-(v. 2) "The Lord hath been sore displeased with your fathers. (v. 3) Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts. (v. 4) Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord. (v. 5) Your fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live for ever? (v. 6) But my words and my statutes, which I commanded my servants the prophets, did they not take hold of your fathers? and they returned and said, Like as the Lord of hosts thought to do unto us, according to our ways, and according to our doings, so hath he dealt with us." The man among the myrtle trees.-(v. 7) "Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, (v. 8) I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white." The prophet's enquiry.-(v. 9) "Then said I, O my Lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be." The interpretation of the vision.—(v. 10) “And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, These are they whom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth. (v. 11) And they answered the angel of the Lord that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest." The angel's intercession for the people.-(v. 12) “Then the angel of the Lord answered and said, O Lord of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem and on the cities of Judah, against which thou hast had indignation these threescore and ten years? (v. 13) And the Lord answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words." The prophet is comforted.-(v. 14) "So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. (v. 15) And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the afflic tion. (v. 16) Therefore thus saith the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. (v. 17) Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem." The vision of the four horns.-(v. 18) "Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns. (v. 19) And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem." |