Zechariah

1. Eleventh of the 12 minor prophets. Son of Berechiah, grandson of Iddo; Ezra (Ezr 5:1; Exr 6:14) says son of Iddo, omitting Berechiah the intermediate link, as less known, and perhaps having died early. Zechariah was probably, like Ezekiel, priest as well as prophet, Iddo being the priest who returned with Zerubbabel and Joshua from Babylon (Neh 12:4; Neh 12:16). His priestly birth suits the sacerdotal character of his prophecies (Zec 6:13). He left Babylon, where he was born, very young. Zechariah began prophesying in youth (Zec 2:4), "this young man. In the eighth month, in Darius' second year (520 B.C.), Zechariah first prophesied with Haggai (who began two months earlier) in support of Zerubbabel and Shealtiel in the building of the temple, which had been suspended under Pseudo-Smerdis Artaxerxes (Ezr 4:24; Ezr 5:1-2; Ezr 6:14). The two, "Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo" the priest prophet, according to a probable tradition composed psalms for the liturgy of the temple: Psalms 137; 146 to 148, according to Septuagint; Psalm 125, 126 (See NEHEMIAH) according to the Peshito; Psalm 111 according to Vulgate. The Hallelujah characterizes the post exile psalms, it occurs at both beginning and end of Psalms 146 to 150; these are all joyous thanksgivings, free from the lamentations which appear in the other post exile psalms. Probably sung at the consecration of the walls under Nehemiah; but Hengstenberg thinks at the consecration of the second temple. Jewish tradition makes Zecharia a member of the great synagogue. (See ZECHARIAH, BOOK OF.)
2. Firstborn son of Meshelemiah, a Korhite, keeper of the N. gate of the tabernacle under David (1Ch 9:21; 1Ch 26:2; 1Ch 26:14, "a wise counsellor".)
3. One of the sons of Jehiel (1Ch 9:37); in 1Ch 8:31 Zacher.
4. A Levite in the tabernacle choir under David, "with psalteries on Alamoth" (1Ch 15:20); of the second order of Levites (verse 18), a porter or gatekeeper.
5. One of Judah's princes under Jehoshaphat, sent to teach the law of Jehovah in Judah's cities (2Ch 17:7).
6. Son of Jehoiada, and so cousin of king Joash whom Jehoiada saved from Athaliah (2Ch 24:20). (See ZACHARIAS)
7. A Kohathite Levite under Josiah, an overseer of the temple repairs (2Ch 34:12).
8. Leader of the sons of Pharosh, returned from Babylon with Ezra (Ezr 8:3).
9. Son of Bebai; also returned, leading 28 males, with Ezra (Ezr 8:11).
10. A chief, summoned by Ezra to the consultation at the river Ahava, before the second caravan returned (Ezr 8:16); at Ezra's left, in expounding the law (Neh 8:4).
11. Of Elam's family; married a foreign wife (Neh 10:26).
12. Ancestor of Uthai or Athaiah (Neh 11:4).
13. A Shilonite, ancestor of Maaseiah (Neh 11:5).
14. A priest, son of Pashur, ancestor of Adaiah (Neh 11:12).
15. Representing Iddo the priest's family, in the time of Joiakim, son of Jeshua (Neh 12:16); probably the same as Zechariah the prophet, son (descendant) of Iddo.
16. A priest, son of Jonathan, blew the trumpet at the dedication of the city wall (Neh 12:35; Neh 12:41).
17. A Reubenite chief in Tiglath Pileser's time, at Israel's captivity (1Ch 5:7).
18. A priest who blew the trumpet in the procession of the ark (1Ch 15:24).
19. Son of Isshiah or Jesiah (1Ch 24:25).
20. Hosah's fourth son (1Ch 26:11).
21. A Manassite, father of Iddo, chief in Gilead under David (1Ch 27:21).
22. Father of Jahaziel (2Ch 20:14).
23. Son of Jehoshaphat (2Ch 21:2), slain by Jehoram.
24. Uzziah's prophetical counselor (2Ch 26:5), "who had understanding in the visions of God" ("who had insight into seeing of God"); compare Dan 1:17; as this phrase is not equivalent to "who had prophetic visions from God," but to such "seeing of God" as was granted to the elders of Israel in Exo 24:10, it is better to read beyireath for bireoth; so Septuagint, Syriac, Targum Arabic, Raschi, Kimchi, etc., "who was (his) instructer in the fear of God."
25. Father of Abijah or Abi, Hezekiah's mother (2Ch 29:1).
26. One of Asaph's family who joined in purifying the temple under Hezekiah (2Ch 29:13). 27..A ruler of the temple under Josiah (2Ch 35:8), "the second priest" next to Hilkiah the high priest (2Ch 34:9; 2Ki 25:18).
27. Son of Jeberechiah, taken by Isaiah as one of the "faithful witnesses to record" when he wrote concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz ("hasting to the spoil he hasteth to the prey".) The other witness was Uriah, or Urijah, a priest, whom Urijah used as his tool in copying the Damascus altar. (See URIJAH) As Isaiah, in order to enforce upon Ahaz' attention the truth symbolized, namely, that Assyria whom Ahaz trusted would soon prey upon Judah, chose one witness from the king's bosom friends, so it is likely Zechariah the other witness was also a bosom friend of Ahaz. Now 2 Kings 18 informs us that the mother of Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, was Abi daughter of Zechariah; hence it appears Ahaz was Zechariah's son in law; Isaiah naturally chose him as the other of the two witnesses. The undesigned coincidence between the prophet Isaiah (Isa 8:2) and the independent historian (2Ki 16:10; 2Ki 18:2) confirms the genuineness of both. (See Blunt's Undesigned Coincidences, 2:2.) Thus No. 27 will be the same person as No. 25; else he may have been the same as No. 26.