Editing Book of Zechariah (section)

== Composition ==
{{further|Babylonian captivity}}
[[Image:Gustave Doré (1832-1883) - The Bible (1865) - Zechariah 6-5.jpg|thumb|250px|Zechariah's vision of the [[Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse]],<ref>{{bibleverse||Zechariah|6:1–8|HE}}</ref> [[engraving]] by [[Gustave Doré]].]]
The return from exile is the theological premise of the prophet's visions in chapters 1–6. Chapters 7–8 address the [[quality of life]] God wants his renewed people to enjoy, containing many encouraging promises to them. Chapters 9–14 comprise two "[[oracle]]s" of the future.

===Chapters 1 to 6===
The book begins with a [[Zechariah 1#Preface (1:1–6)|preface]] in verses 1:1-6,<ref name=larkin>Larkin, K. J. A., ''37. Zechariah'', in Barton, J. and Muddiman, J. (2001), [https://web.archive.org/web/20171102094409/http://b-ok.org/book/946961/0df02a The Oxford Bible Commentary], archived on 2 November 2017</ref>{{rp|611}} which recalls the role of the "former prophets" in calling Israel in times past to repentance. Then follows a series of eight visions succeeding one another in one night,{{cn|reason=The [[Pulpit Commentary]] (https://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/zechariah/1.htm) suggests that "the visions were seen in this one night at short intervals", but do other interpreters argue for the visions all taking place during one night?|date=December 2024}} which may be regarded as a symbolical history of Israel, intended to furnish consolation to the returned exiles and to stir up hope in their minds. These visions include seeing [[Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse|four horses]], [[Four Horns and Four Craftsmen|four horns and four craftsmen]], a man with a [[Measuring rod|measuring line]], [[Joshua the High Priest]], a [[Zerubbabel#Zechariah|gold lampstand and two olive trees]], [[Zechariah 5|a flying scroll and a woman in a basket]], and four chariots.<ref>{{bibleverse-nb||Zechariah|1:7–6:8|HE}}</ref> The symbolic action, the crowning of [[Joshua the High Priest|Joshua]],<ref>{{bibleverse-nb||Zechariah|6:9–15|HE}}</ref> describes how the kingdoms of the world become the kingdom of God's [[Messiah]].

The German commentators [[Carl Friedrich Keil]] and [[Franz Delitzsch]] enumerate seven visions,<ref>Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch (1857-78), [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/kad/zechariah/1.htm Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament]: Zechariah 1, accessed on 9 January 2025</ref> arguing that the visions conventionally numbered as the sixth and the seventh are better treated as a single vision.<ref>Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch (1857-78), [https://biblehub.com/commentaries/kad/zechariah/5.htm Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament]: Zechariah 5, accessed on 9 January 2025</ref>

===Chapters 7 and 8===
Two years after the initial visions, chapters 7 and 8 are delivered. They are an answer to the question whether the days of mourning for the destruction of the city should be kept any longer. The answer is addressed to the entire people, assuring them of God's presence and blessing.

===Chapters 9 to 14===
This section consists of two "oracles" or "burdens": the opening words of both chapter 9 and chapter 12 (and also the first chapter of [[Book of Malachi|Malachi]]) announce "The burden of the word of the Lord".
*The first oracle (Zechariah 9–11) gives an outline of the course of God's providential dealings with his people down to the time of the coming of the Messiah, although the opening "burden" is addressed to the foreign nations.<ref name=larkin />{{rp|613}}
*The second oracle (Zechariah 12–14) points out the glories that await Israel in "the latter day", the final conflict and triumph of God's kingdom. The "burden" in Zechariah 12:1 stands against Israel.<ref>{{bibleverse|Zechariah|12:1|NKJV}}: NKJV</ref>
Katrina Larkin argues that there is a unity across these six chapters established by a series of short "linking passages" at 9:9-10, 10:1-2, 11:1-3, 11:17 and 13:7-9". She refers to these passages as compact and metrical, addressed directly to their audience, which contain material linking with both the previous and the subsequent text.<ref name=larkin />{{rp|613}}