Introduction

Zechariah is prophesying during the time when the people have returned from their captivity in Babylon and are rebuilding the temple.

Verses
1The word of the LORD of Armies came to me.
2The LORD of Armies says: “I am jealous for Zion with great jealousy, and I am jealous for her with great wrath.”
3The LORD says: “I have returned to Zion, and will dwell in the middle of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called ‘The City of Truth;’ and the mountain of the LORD of Armies, ‘The Holy Mountain.’ ”
4The LORD of Armies says: “Old men and old women will again dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, every man with his staff in his hand for very age.
5The streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.”
6The LORD of Armies says: “If it is marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in those days, should it also be marvellous in my eyes?” says the LORD of Armies.
7The LORD of Armies says: “Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country;
8and I will bring them, and they will dwell within Jerusalem; and they will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.”
9The LORD of Armies says: “Let your hands be strong, you who hear in these days these words from the mouth of the prophets who were in the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of Armies was laid, even the temple, that it might be built.
10For before those days there was no wages for man, nor any wages for an animal; neither was there any peace to him who went out or came in, because of the adversary. For I set all men everyone against his neighbour.
11But now I will not be to the remnant of this people as in the former days,” says the LORD of Armies.
12“For the seed of peace and the vine will yield its fruit, and the ground will give its increase, and the heavens will give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things.
13It shall come to pass that, as you were a curse amongst the nations, house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Don’t be afraid. Let your hands be strong.”
14For the LORD of Armies says: “As I thought to do evil to you, when your fathers provoked me to wrath,” says the LORD of Armies, “and I didn’t repent;
15so again I have thought in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. Don’t be afraid.
16These are the things that you shall do: speak every man the truth with his neighbour. Execute the judgement of truth and peace in your gates,
17and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbour, and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate,” says the LORD.
18The word of the LORD of Armies came to me.
19The LORD of Armies says: “The fasts of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months shall be for the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts. Therefore love truth and peace.”
20The LORD of Armies says: “Many peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come;
21and the inhabitants of one shall go to another, saying, ‘Let’s go speedily to entreat the favour of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of Armies. I will go also.’
22Yes, many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD of Armies in Jerusalem, and to entreat the favour of the LORD.”
23The LORD of Armies says: “In those days, ten men will take hold, out of all the languages of the nations, they will take hold of the skirt of him who is a Jew, saying, ‘We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’ ”

Questions

1. What does the LORD say about the future of Jerusalem?

v 3 to 5 The LORD says: “I have returned to Zion, and will dwell in the middle of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called ‘The City of Truth;’ and the mountain of the LORD of Armies, ‘The Holy Mountain.’ ”
The LORD of Armies says: “Old men and old women will again dwell in the streets of Jerusalem, every man with his staff in his hand for very age.  The streets of the city will be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.”

2. What does the LORD of Armies say about his people in the east and west countries?

v 7 and 8 The LORD of Armies says: “Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; and I will bring them, and they will dwell within Jerusalem; and they will be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.”

3. How does the LORD want his people to treat their neighbours?

v 16 and 17 These are the things that you shall do: speak every man the truth with his neighbour. Execute the judgement of truth and peace in your gates, and let none of you devise evil in your hearts against his neighbour, and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate,” says the LORD.

Summary Points

  • v 1 to 8 Jerusalem is the LORD's city and his people will again return to the city and live there
  • v 9 to 15 The LORD encourages the people to be strong and rebuild the temple. They have suffered problems in the past but the LORD will bless them in the future
  • v 16 to 19 The people are to deal well with their neighbours and to pursue truth and peace
  • v 20 to 23 Many peoples and nations will come to worship the LORD in Jerusalem

Timeline 500 BC

Audio