Zechariah 1:1-3

Context

Introduction

1:1 In the eighth month of Darius’¹ second year,² the word of the Lord came to the prophet Zechariah,³ son of Berechiah son of Iddo, as follows:

1:2 The Lord was very angry with your ancestors.⁴ 1:3 Therefore say to the people:⁵ The Lord who rules over all⁶ says, “Turn⁷ to me,” says the Lord who rules over all, “and I will turn to you,” says the Lord who rules over all.

[1:1] ¹sn Darius is Darius Hystaspes, king of Persia from 522-486 b.c.

[1:1] ²sn The eighth month of Darius’ second year was late October – late November, 520 b.c., by the modern (Julian) calendar. This is two months later than the date of Haggai’s first message to the same community (cf. Hag 1:1).

[1:1] ³sn Both Ezra (5:1; 6:14) and Nehemiah (12:16) speak of Zechariah as a son of Iddo only. A probable explanation is that Zechariah’s actual father Berechiah had died and the prophet was raised by his grandfather Iddo. The “Zechariah son of Barachiah” of whom Jesus spoke (Matt 23:35; Luke 11:51) was probably the martyred prophet by that name who may have been a grandson of the priest Jehoiada (2 Chr 24:20-22).

[1:2] ⁴tn Heb “fathers” (so KJV, NAB); NIV “forefathers” (also in vv. 4, 5).

[1:3] ⁷tn Heb “to them”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[1:3] ⁸sn The epithet Lord who rules over all occurs frequently as a divine title throughout Zechariah (53 times total). This name (יְהוָה צְבָאוֹת, yÿhvah tsÿva’ot), traditionally translated “Lord of hosts” (so KJV, NAB, NASB; cf. NIV, NLT “Lord Almighty”; NCV, CEV “Lord All-Powerful”), emphasizes the majestic sovereignty of the Lord, an especially important concept in the postexilic world of great human empires and rulers. For a thorough study of the divine title, see T. N. D. Mettinger, In Search of God, 123-57.

[1:3] ⁹tn The Hebrew verb שׁוּב (shuv) is common in covenant contexts. To turn from the Lord is to break the covenant and to turn to him (i.e., to repent) is to renew the covenant relationship (cf. 2 Kgs 17:13).