Zechariah
Zechariah prophesied alongside Haggai to the temple-rebuilders, but his vision stretches far beyond construction. Eight strange night visions, horsemen, lampstands, a flying scroll, a high priest in filthy clothes given clean garments, assure the struggling community that God has returned to Jerusalem with mercy and that his purposes run on grace: not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit. The book's later oracles grow more messianic still: a king arriving humble on a donkey, a shepherd struck, one pierced whom the people mourn, and finally the Lord reigning as king over all the earth.
Zechariah son of Berechiah; the unity of chapters 9–14 is debated.
Ministry began 520 BC; later oracles undated.
The post-exilic community rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem.
To encourage the rebuilding community with visions of God's renewed presence and promises of the coming King.