Editing Book of Zechariah (section)

===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>