Zechariah 6 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Zechariah 6

A Vision of Four Chariots

6:1 Again I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, four chariots came out from between two mountains. And the mountains were mountains of bronze. 2 The first chariot had red horses, the second black horses, 3 the third white horses, and the fourth chariot dappled horses—all of them strong.¹ 4 Then I answered and said to the angel who talked with me, “What are these, my lord?” 5 And the angel answered and said to me, “These are going out to the four winds of heaven, after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. 6 The chariot with the black horses goes toward the north country, the white ones go after them, and the dappled ones go toward the south country.” 7 When the strong horses came out, they were impatient to go and patrol the earth. And he said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. 8 Then he cried to me, “Behold, those who go toward the north country have set my Spirit at rest in the north country.”

The Crown and the Temple

9 And the word of the LORD came to me: 10 “Take from the exiles Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go the same day to the house of Josiah, the son of Zephaniah. 11 Take from them silver and gold, and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua, the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 And say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD. 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the LORD and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there² shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”’ 14 And the crown shall be in the temple of the LORD as a reminder to Helem,³ Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen the son of Zephaniah.

15 “And those who are far off shall come and help to build the temple of the LORD. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. And this shall come to pass, if you will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.”

Footnotes

[1] 6:3 Or and the fourth chariot strong dappled horses
[2] 6:13 Or he
[3] 6:14 An alternate spelling of Heldai (verse 10)

Commentary

v1-8: The vision of four chariots, identified as the four spirits of Heaven, who go from the presence of the Lord into the whole earth. The chariot with the black horses gives rest to God's Spirit in the land of the north, as in 1.11,15. In chapter 1, the rebellion in the earth is judged, bringing peace; here God's Spirit is at rest, for God's work of judgment has been accomplished.

v9-11: The crown for Joshua, the high priest; a foretaste of Christ, who is both priest and king. Joshua's father, Jehozadak is referred to in 1 Chr 6.15, in the line of Zadok, for whom a blessing is promised, Ezek 44.15-16.

v12-13: The Branch, Jer 23.5-6, the priest sitting as king; Christ of the order of Melchizedek and the line of David; both endless dynasties are fulfilled in Christ; priest forever (Heb 7.17, quoting Ps 110.4) and king forever (2 Sam 7.16).

v14: The crown is laid up before the Lord, for Joshua is not the fulfilment of the prophecy, but merely a shadow of the glorious priest-king to come.

v15: The rebuilding of the temple is a specific sign from God, as a blessing upon the people who returned with Zerubbabel, and a vindication of Joshua and Zerubbabel. There is however an on going challenge to obey.