Chapter six
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In this chapter the vision of Zecharyah continues.
The last vision of the Evil locked in an eyphah showed that Evil although contained still had a place.
This vision shows that when the time is there, Yahuweh shall destroy it.
Verse 1
Then (I) turned and lifted up my eye and looked and behold four chariots came forth from between two, the mountain and the mountain, mountains of copper.
Using the definite article for each mountain means that those were known mountains.
Since the visions were in and about Yerushalaim the mountains could have been mount Moriah and the Mount of Olives
They could have travelled through the valley of the brook Kedron, which could be the valley of Jehoshaphat from Joel 3.
The mountains were probably glowing and therefore appeared to be of copper.
Chariots are implements of war and a symbol for destruction, compare Isaiah 66:15.
Verse 2-3
At chariot the first, horses red ones and at chariot the second horses black ones.
And at chariot the third, horses white ones and at chariot the fourth horses spotted, strong ones.
The plural indicates more then one horse at a chariot, probably two since war chariots had either one or two horses in a battle.
Red is the colour of warfare, Black is the colour of dead and pestilence, and White is the colour of peace. The fourth might have been black and white spotted horses.
Verse 4-5
Then (I) responded and said to the representative the (one) talking to me: "What these Sir?"
Then responded the representative and said to me: "These four spirits (of) the Heavens coming out from standing near Adon (of) all the Earth!"
Four spirits the Heavens, means four spiritual beings or action-forms, from the Heavenly regions, compare Psalm 68:18(17).
Adon could be translated Master or Lord, but it does not give the correct meaning. The Hebrew for Master or Lord is Baal.
However, Adon comes from a word that indicates a foundation on which everything rests and turns. Adon therefore is a ruler who is also the one who supports and cares.
Adoni means my ruler and is used to address a male in modern Ivrit, like we use Sir.
Adonai, used to address Yahuweh, literally means "My rulers." It is in the plural like Elohiem
The Adon of all the Earth is of course Yahuweh.
Verse 6
Regarding her, the horses, the black ones go out to land north and the white ones go out to follow them and the spotted ones go out to land the south.
To go to Babylon from Israel one has to travel north to circumvent the desert that lies in between.
The black ones going north were going to bring death to the Evil system of Babylon but the white ones after them would bring victory and peace.
The black and white spotted ones going south bringing death but also peace. There are many prophecies against the countries and nations south of Israel, especially Egypt.
In Ezekiel 23 Israel is told of, because of her idolatries (harlotry) with Assyria and Egypt.
Here is told that the sources of this idolatry shall be dealt with.
Verse 7
Also the strong ones go out, and they desired to go travelling up and down the earth. Then (there was) said, to go travelling up and down the Earth and they travelled up and down the Earth.
This looks a bit strange, the fourth set of horses was called spotted strong ones. Now the spotted ones were already going south but here it mentions the strong ones as being eager to patrol the Earth. However, these must be the red horses since they were the only ones not mentioned before.
While the black, white and spotted teams were going to perform specific task for Yahuweh, the Red ones are patrolling the Earth to keep an eye on the goings on and maybe, being Red and strong, they are also a warning.
Verse 8
Then called out to me and spook to me and said: "See the (ones) going out to the land North set down my spirit in the land North."
The Evil Babylonian system will be destroyed and the Spirit of Yahuweh will take its place.
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The whole vision is to comfort us through Zecharyah.
Everybody says; "what is Yahuweh doing about the evil in this world? We do not see any action from Him!" Like the people in Zecharyah's days said when they were obstructed in rebuilding the Temple.
However, Yahuweh shows that His heavenly Spirits are indeed full of activity on His behalf and indeed in time also shall act.
It is also intended as a warning for those that ignore Yahuweh and His Torah (teachings).<*><*><*><*><*><*>
After these visions but still relevant to them, Zecharyah receives a word from Yahuweh.
Verse 9-10
Then there was word Yahuweh to me and said:
"Take from the exiles, from Chelday and from Tobyah and from Yedyah and go you in that day and go house Yoshiyah son of Tzepanyah who come from Babel!"
Those Exiles were still living in Babylon and were coming to the house of Yoshiyah in Yerushalaim to bring offerings for the temple service as is required from Israelites living anywhere.
This Tobyah, an Israelite, is not the Tobyah who opposed the building of the Temple, Neh.2:10, because he was an Ammonite a descendant from Lot and his Younger Daughter, Gen.19:38.
Zecharyah was told to go to the house they were going to from Babylon and take their offerings.
Verse 11
"And take silver and gold and make crowns and place on head Yehoshua son of yehotzadak the High Priest."
The Hebrew indicates several round ornaments, possibly three put together.
Normally on the High Priest was put a turban and a crown on a king.
With this action it was indicated that from hence on, one person could perform the function of High Priest and King.
This dedication, was given to illustrate the following revelation of Yahuweh.
Verse 12
And speak to him to say:
"So says Yahuweh Tzevaot to tell: "behold man Branch his name and from his beneath (basic being) he shall branch and build Temple Yahuweh.
The Hebrew word 'oumittachttayv' is a compounded form of 'tachat ', which means 'under, beneath or below'. The literal translation of the compound word is ' and from his beneath'Or 'from under Him'.
The expression means something like "from his foundation" or "from his original being."
When we compare this with the context of Yahuweh in the Tanakh, we could say that Yahuweh shall branch.
Just like a bank or institution has branches in another place to serve the local needs.
Yahuweh has branched into the Moshiya and became the man Yehoshua (Yeshua).
He shall build the Temple of Yahuweh.
Now when we look at Haggai 1:2 we see that they were to rebuild the house (Bait) of Yahuweh, which in Ezra and Nehemiah is referred to as the Temple.
It is therefore not this Temple the Branch shall build.
However, when we look at the Ketuvim Nazarene (writings of Yeshua's followers), we see that the believers individually and as a congregation are called the Temple of Yahuweh.
Yahuweh could have meant this, but it might also refer to the Millennial Temple as mentioned by Ezekiel in his last chapters. The following verses tell us more about this.
Verse 13
And He shall build the Temple Yahuweh and He shall carry majesty and He shall sit and reign on His throne and be priest on His throne and council (of) shalom (peace and well being) shall be between the two of them.
Between the two functions of King (majesty) and Priest shall he give advise for peace and prosperity. That is, His function shall be to work at Shalom as Priest, which is intercessor and as King, which is ruler.
Jeremiah tells us when this shall be in Jer.23:5-8, and he repeats it in Jer.33:14-16. About this coming time, we shall learn more from the following chapters of Zechariah.<*><*><*><*><*><*>
Verse 14
And the crowns to be to Chelem and to Tobiyah and to Yedayah and to Chen son of Tzepanyah for a reminder in Temple Yahuweh.
The crowns used for an illustration also will be used as a reminder of people who go to extra lengths to pay their dues to Yahuweh.
It was not directly a leisure trip from Babylon to Israel and back, just to bring your gifts to the Temple. It took Ezra about 4 months, Ezra 7:9.
Verse 15
Then rechokiym be coming and build at Temple Yahuweh, And they know that Yahuweh Tzevaot send me to you. And shall be, if (you) listen (in order) to give heed, at voice Yahuweh your Elohiem!
Rechokiym is a Biblical and rabbinical expression used for those that do not belong to the Hebrew faith. It is usually translated as: "Those far of"
Paul uses the same expression in Ephesians 2:13, where he states that the barriers set up by the halacha, oral law, have been broken down by Yeshua, because He taught strictly the written Torah only.
Those from the outside who have taken to the complete written Hebrew Torah, which is faith in Yahuweh and His Moshiyach Yeshua, shall be helping in building the millennial Temple.
The building of the Temple shall be done, wether they listen to the voice of Yahuweh or not.
However, they shall know that this message is from Yahuweh if they listen to and obey His voice.<*><*><*><*><*><*>
After these revelations there is a gap of about two years before Zecharyah continues with writing down what Yahuweh reveals to him.
This does not mean that Yahuweh did not speak or directed Israel via Zecharyah at all in this time; it just was not recorded or recorded and lost.
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