Zechariah 8 Commentary

The book of Zechariah begins with a title verse providing information concerning the date, authorship, and source of the revelation. It states that the prophecy occurred in the eighth month of the second year of Darius (vs 1). The biblical material likely dates the prophetic message according to the regnal year of the Persian king because there was no king in Judah during that time. Judah had been conquered by Babylon, which in turn had been taken over by Persia (Daniel 5:30-31).

The term prophet [“nābî” in Hebrew] means “proclaimer” or “forth-teller.” It describes someone who received a call from God to be God’s spokesman. A prophet was God’s emissary. He had a particular calling to see or hear what God was saying, live it out in his life, and proclaim it to the people roundabout. That means the prophet could not speak from his authority and was not free to say what he pleased. Rather, he was to discern what God thought about a given situation, what His attitude was toward the people’s behavior in the past, what He required of them in the present, and how He would act in their favor in the future.

In Zechariah 8, the LORD promises to restore Zion and Jerusalem and dwell among His covenant people, giving them safety and security in their land. He then urges them to be brave as they rebuild the temple because He will protect them from their foes and bless them abundantly. Finally, He spells out His ethical standards for His people and pledges to transform their fasts into joyful feasts once they get their priorities straight. At that time, the Gentile nations shall travel to Jerusalem to worship God because they will recognize His presence among His chosen people. The outline is as follows:

1. The Suzerain (Ruler) God promises to restore Mount Zion and reside amid Jerusalem, causing the Judeans to live in a vibrant and safe environment. At that time, He will deliver His people from all their enemies and be their God in truth and righteousness (vv. 1–8).

2. The LORD encourages the remnant of the post-exilic community of Judah to be strong as they rebuild the temple because He will give them peace from their adversaries and bless them beyond measure (vv. 9–13).

3. The Suzerain God promises to restore the fortunes of the people of Judah. But He expects them to dispense true justice in the community and refrain from evil and dishonest practices (vv. 14–17).

4. The LORD promises to transform the fasts of His covenant people into joyful festivals and elevate them so high that other nations will go to Jerusalem to seek God’s favor willingly and worship with His people (vv. 18–23).

The Bible Project - Zechariah Summary