Zechariah

Boyd’s Bible Dictionary:

(memory of God). Son of Berechiah (Zech. 1:11In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, (Zechariah 1:1)); of Iddo (Ezra 5:11Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. (Ezra 5:1)). Eleventh of the minor prophets and contemporary of Haggai, born in Babylon during the captivity, returned with Zerubbabel (Ezra 5:1; 6:141Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. (Ezra 5:1)
14And the elders of the Jews builded, and they prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. And they builded, and finished it, according to the commandment of the God of Israel, and according to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia. (Ezra 6:14)
). The time of his prophecies is reckoned as between B. C. 520 and 518, during the period of building the second temple, whose completion was largely due to his energies as priest and prophet. His book, 38th of O. T., is divided into two parts. Chapters 1-8 contain hopeful visions of the restored Hebrew state, exhortations to turn to Jehovah, warnings against God’s enemies. Chapters 9-14 are prophetic of the future fortunes of the theocracy, the conversion of Israel, the glorification of God’s kingdom and of the coming of the Messiah. (2) A Reubenite chief, at time of the captivity by Tiglath-pileser (1 Chron. 5:77And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah, (1 Chronicles 5:7)). (3) A Korhite Levite, keeper of one of the doors of the tabernacle (1 Chron. 9:2121And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. (1 Chronicles 9:21)). (4) A son of Jehiel (1 Chron. 9:3737And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth. (1 Chronicles 9:37)). (5) A Levite of the second order, one of the temple musicians (1 Chron. 15:18,2018And with them their brethren of the second degree, Zechariah, Ben, and Jaaziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, Eliab, and Benaiah, and Maaseiah, and Mattithiah, and Elipheleh, and Mikneiah, and Obed-edom, and Jeiel, the porters. (1 Chronicles 15:18)
20And Zechariah, and Aziel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Unni, and Eliab, and Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with psalteries on Alamoth; (1 Chronicles 15:20)
). (6) A priest who blew the trumpet before the ark on its return (1 Chron. 15:2424And Shebaniah, and Jehoshaphat, and Nethaneel, and Amasai, and Zechariah, and Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, did blow with the trumpets before the ark of God: and Obed-edom and Jehiah were doorkeepers for the ark. (1 Chronicles 15:24)). (7) A Kohathite Levite (1 Chron. 24:2525The brother of Michah was Isshiah: of the sons of Isshiah; Zechariah. (1 Chronicles 24:25)). (8) A Merarite Levite (1 Chron. 26:1111Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen. (1 Chronicles 26:11)). (9) A Manassite (1 Chron. 27:2121Of the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo the son of Zechariah: of Benjamin, Jaasiel the son of Abner: (1 Chronicles 27:21)). (10) A prince of Judah in reign of Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 17:77Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, even to Ben-hail, and to Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. (2 Chronicles 17:7)). (11) Father of Jahaziel (2 Chron. 20:1414Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation; (2 Chronicles 20:14)). (12) A son of Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 21:22And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. (2 Chronicles 21:2)). (13) Son of the high priest Jehoiada, in reign of Joash king of Judah (2 Chron. 24:2020And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you. (2 Chronicles 24:20)), and probably same as the Zacharias of Matthew 23:3535That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. (Matthew 23:35). (14) A prophet and royal counselor in reign of Uzziah (2 Chron. 26:55And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper. (2 Chronicles 26:5)). (15) Father of Abijah, mother of King Hezekiah (2 Chron. 29:11Hezekiah began to reign when he was five and twenty years old, and he reigned nine and twenty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah. (2 Chronicles 29:1)). (16) A member of the family of Asaph in time of Hezekiah (2 Chron. 29:1313And of the sons of Elizaphan; Shimri, and Jeiel: and of the sons of Asaph; Zechariah, and Mattaniah: (2 Chronicles 29:13)). (17) A Kohathite Levite in the reign of Josiah (2 Chron. 34:1212And the men did the work faithfully: and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to set it forward; and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of music. (2 Chronicles 34:12)). (18) One of the temple rulers in reign of Josiah (2 Chron. 35:88And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites: Hilkiah and Zechariah and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave unto the priests for the passover offerings two thousand and six hundred small cattle, and three hundred oxen. (2 Chronicles 35:8)). (19) Nine priests, Levites and returned captives (Ezra 8:3,11,16; 10:263Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty. (Ezra 8:3)
11And of the sons of Bebai; Zechariah the son of Bebai, and with him twenty and eight males. (Ezra 8:11)
16Then sent I for Eliezer, for Ariel, for Shemaiah, and for Elnathan, and for Jarib, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zechariah, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Joiarib, and for Elnathan, men of understanding. (Ezra 8:16)
26And of the sons of Elam; Mattaniah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, and Abdi, and Jeremoth, and Eliah. (Ezra 10:26)
; Neh. 8:4; 11:4-5,12; 12:16,35,414And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. (Nehemiah 8:4)
4And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin. Of the children of Judah; Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the children of Perez; 5And Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Col-hozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni. (Nehemiah 11:4‑5)
12And their brethren that did the work of the house were eight hundred twenty and two: and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah, (Nehemiah 11:12)
16Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; (Nehemiah 12:16)
35And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets; namely, Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph: (Nehemiah 12:35)
41And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; (Nehemiah 12:41)
). (20) A witness for Isaiah (Isa. 8:22And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah. (Isaiah 8:2)).

Concise Bible Dictionary:

Bible Handbook:

520 B.C. – 14 Chapters – 211 Verses
The two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, were for a time contemporary  —  fellow-labourers among the restored of Judah (Ezra 5:11Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them. (Ezra 5:1)). The former prophet, however, was called to the exercise of his ministry two months earlier than his colleague (compare Zech. 1:11In the eighth month, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, (Zechariah 1:1) with Hag. 1:11In the second year of Darius the king, in the sixth month, in the first day of the month, came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest, saying, (Haggai 1:1)). Of Haggai we know nothing, not even his father’s name, as he is simply styled “Haggai the prophet”; but of Zechariah, we are informed of his father’s and grandfather’s name, and further learn from Nehemiah 12:44Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah, (Nehemiah 12:4) and Ezra 5:1 That he was of priestly descent, as were also Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Ezra. Zechariah began his prophetic ministry in the eighth month of the second year of Darius Hystaspes (ch. 1:1), and continued prophesying for more than two years at least (ch. 7:10). The accuracy with which these dates are given, even to the day of the month as well as the year, is to be noted, as they conclusively signify God’s recognition of the then Gentile Imperial Power and of the consequent degradation of His people.
Of the three prophets of the Restoration, Malachi unfolds the moral corruption of the people; Haggai warns, reproves, and encourages the remnant, promising Jehovah’s presence and blessing, even although under Gentile dominion; but our prophet widens and enlarges his sphere of testimony, and shows the relation of and connection of Judah especially to the Gentile Powers in their judgment, and then as received to favour subordinately to the Jews. Jerusalem as a city, and Judah as a people, are in the fore-front of these prophecies, with the future relations of both to the Gentile Powers of the last days. The details of the closing hours of Jewish unbelief are numerous and interesting, and the miraculous signs and physical facts connected with the Lord’s descent from heaven to Mount Olivet should possess intense interest to the student of prophecy (ch. 14).
The Eight Visions
In the first six chapters we have eight visions seen on the same night (ch. 1:7-8). The first vision represents the three empires which succeeded the Babylonian; it having passed away at the time of these prophecies. The earth was at rest under the yoke of the first of the three — the Persian power (ch. 1:8-11). The second vision represents the four empires and their final destruction after their scattering and destruction of Judah (ch. 1:19-21). The third vision represents the measuring of Jerusalem, thus signifying the appropriation of the city and people for Jehovah: the people will return in large numbers from the center, from whence they were anciently universally scattered, namely, Chaldea or the north. Surely Jerusalem is ever before the eyes of Jehovah, for in it He will yet establish His throne and His temple (ch. 2). The fourth vision represents the nation in the person of Joshua, the high priest, guilty and defiled; but God in the exercise of His sovereign grace pronounces their justification, and accepts them to favour and clothes them with glory (ch. 3). The fifth vision represents the combined glories of royalty and priesthood centring in Messiah, then returned to Judah (ch. 4). The sixth vision represents unsparing judgment upon the apostate and wicked part of the nation (ch. 5:1-4). The seventh vision represents Babylon as the seat and center of wickedness, civil and ecclesiastical (ch. 5:5-11). The eighth vision represents the providential course of the four great empires; the judgment upon Babylon having in meantime satisfied and vindicated the God of righteousness (ch. 6:8); the full execution of Divine judgment upon the Gentile imperial powers will be effected at the coming of the ancient of days (Dan. 7). Thus closes this series of visions (ch. 6).
Christ’s Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem
The triumphant entry of Christ as Israel’s Prince and King, into the royal city of Jerusalem (ch. 9:9, with Matt. 21:55Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. (Matthew 21:5)), and Zion strengthened against the power of Greece (ch. 9:13) — who will play no unimportant part in the coming Jewish future — are important events in the closing days of Judean history, and introductory to the establishment of Christ’s millennial kingdom. Egypt, out of which Israel was redeemed, and Assyria, into which Israel was sent in chastisement (ch. 10:10), will yield Jehovah’s people at the epoch of their happy deliverance. The brotherhood between Judah and Israel is in meantime broken, and the Messiah of Israel is valued by the nation at thirty pieces of silver (ch. 11:12), while in retributive justice, the antichrist or “idol shepherd,” will feed upon the fat and wealth of the land, but judgment will surely overtake him (ch. 11). Jerusalem will be a burdensome stone and cause of wrath to the peoples besieging it — for Jerusalem, after the return of her people, will be besieged twice by the surrounding nations. Certain judgment will fall on the congregated nations gathering in rage against Judah, while the civil leaders of the returned people, the nation as a whole, as also the greatness and strength of Jerusalem with its inhabitants, will feel the awful stroke. The judgment and then deliverance and blessing of the remnant of Israel (ch. 13:8-9) will be followed by the general mourning of the nation in presence of their once pierced Messiah — the king (David), the prophet (Nathan), the priest (Levi), and the people (Shimei or Simeon), with “their wives apart” — that is, individually — will thus all share in the general mourning and confession of national and individual sin (ch. 12). Idolatry rooted out of the land; Jehovah owning the “Good Shepherd” on the cross as His fellow; the apostate part of the nation cut off, and a third or remnant number purified by judgment and owned as Jehovah’s people (ch. 13). The second and final siege of Jerusalem by the nations north and east of Jerusalem; the descent from heaven of the Lord, accompanied by all His heavenly saints and the miraculous signs and physical changes in and about Jerusalem; the feast of tabernacles kept yearly by the spared nations in Jerusalem, with holiness stamped upon the civil and ecclesiastical polity set up in the City of the Great King, and the utter extermination of the Canaanite closes this interesting book of combined Jewish and Gentile prophecy, which, in its fullest bearing, can only apply at the end of this age (ch. 14).
The quotation in Matthew 27:9-10,9Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; 10And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me. (Matthew 27:9‑10) and ascribed to Jeremiah, is really from chapter 11:13 of our prophet. The difficulty has been explained on the ground that Jeremiah headed the list of prophetic writings as directed by the Jewish doctors, and consequently that any quotation from any Old Testament prophet could thus be ascribed to Jeremiah. The peculiar reference to that prophet in Matthew 16:14,14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. (Matthew 16:14) does, in the opinion of many, imply some such arrangement referred to.
General Divisions
Chapters 1 – 6  —  The future blessing of Judah and Jerusalem, with judgment upon the Gentile oppressors of Jehovah’s people, closing with the introduction of Messiah’s millennial reign as King and Priest upon His Throne — presented in a series of visions.
Chapter 7 – 14  —  The moral condition of the people; the relation of the Gentiles to Israel in the future days, with their full and final destruction — a remnant spared and the latter-day glory — Jerusalem being the center.
Brief Synopsis of the Book
Chapter 1. — Jehovah’s jealousy for Zion; His return in mercy to Jerusalem and the destruction of the Gentile Empires who had scattered Judah.
Chapter 2. — The future establishment of Jerusalem, her glory, prosperity, and joy as chief among the nations; Jehovah in her midst.
Chapter 3. — The full justification of the Jewish people pronounced by Jehovah Himself; the guilty and defiled nation represented by Joshua, the High Priest.
Chapter 4. — The glories of royalty and priesthood would yet be established in Zion, setting her as chief in blessing on the earth.
Chapter 5. — The apostate nation of Israel under the governmental curse of Jehovah; and Babylon regarded as the seat of wickedness on earth.
Chapter 6. — Providential government exercised through the four Empires; Christ the branch building the temple and bearing the glory in the future.
Chapter 7. — Jehovah’s controversy with the priests and people; the returned remnants called to the exercise of practical righteousness.
Chapter 8. — Jehovah and the people’s future return to Zion and the latter-day glory and blessing of Jerusalem; Jehovah in her midst.
Chapter 9. — Historical fulfilment from Alexander’s overthrow of Persia till Christ; the early part of the chapter typical of the future.
Chapter 10. — Israel gathered from the north and south, Assyria and Egypt, and strengthened by Jehovah Himself.
Chapter 11. — The Messiah, all Israel, the Gentile oppressors, the Antichrist (verses 15-17), all in special relation to the last days.
Chapter 12. — Judgment of the hostile eastern powers; Israel, delivered, mourns in presence of her once crucified Saviour.
Chapter 13. — Practical cleansing of the people; mass of the nation cut off, and a third or remnant numbered delivered.
Chapter 14. — The last gathering of the Gentiles against Jerusalem, and numerous details of the closing days.
Note
The triumphal march of the Lord into Jerusalem (ch. 9:9); the price at which He was valued (the price of an ox or a slave in the marts of the east), and the use to which the money was applied (ch. 11:12-13), with the piercing of His blessed side (ch. 12:10) — are Messianic predictions fulfilled to the letter.

Jackson’s Dictionary of Scripture Proper Names:

remembered of Jehovah