Minor prophets
The book of Zechariah
Visions and promises to encourage the rebuilding, including the coming king riding on a donkey.
Zechariah began preaching two months after Haggai (Zechariah 1:1). His promise of a king “humble, and riding on a donkey” (9:9) is quoted at Jesus’ triumphal entry (Matthew 21:5).
Written at: Jerusalem (Zechariah 1:1; 7:2)
Kinds of writing
- Prophecy 100%
Key verses
Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit. Then he answered and spoke to me, saying, “This is Yahweh’s word to Zerubbabel, saying, ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says Yahweh of Armies.”
Zechariah 4:6 (World English Bible)
Your King comes, riding on a donkey. Rejoice greatly, daughter of Zion! Shout, daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King comes to you! He is righteous, and having salvation; lowly, and riding on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Zechariah 9:9 (World English Bible)
People
ZechariahZerubbabelJoshuaDarius
Places
On the timeline
Haggai and Zechariah stir the people to buildThe second temple is completedJesus enters Jerusalem on a donkeyJudas agrees to betray Jesus
The New Testament quotes or alludes to Zechariah 8 times (counted in the site’s Old in the New).
Dating notes
Chapters 1–8 are dated to 520–518 BC; chapters 9–14 are undated. Many scholars give them a later author; the traditional view is Zechariah wrote them in his later years. The span is an estimate; Scripture doesn’t say when the book was written.