The prophetic Book of Zechariah

, consisting of fourteen chapters, after a brief introduction, contains various prophetic visions and prophetic discourses, especially concerning the building of the second temple of Jerusalem, the restoration of Jerusalem, and the revival of public life. The expected Messiah is called in it “the Man whose name is the Branch”; “He shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD” (Zech. 6:12). It should be noted here that in no other prophetic book are so many details given concerning the last days of the Savior’s earthly life as in the prophet Zechariah.

Here we find clear predictions of the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem upon a donkey and a colt (9:9): “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” Of the betrayal of Christ for thirty pieces of silver: “And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD” (11:12–13). Of the piercing of the Savior’s side upon the cross: “And they shall look upon me whom they have pierced” (12:10).

Of the darkening of the sun at the time of the Lord’s crucifixion: “And it shall come to pass, that in that day the light shall not be clear, nor dark: but it shall be one day which shall be known to the LORD, not day, nor night: but it shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light” (14:7). Of the striking of the shepherd and the scattering of the apostles during His sufferings: “Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered” (13:7). In foretelling the spread of the knowledge of God from Jerusalem, he says: “And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem” (14:8).

And of the union of all under the headship of the one King and Lord he prophesies thus: “And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one” (14:9).