Reflections on Zechariah 6

 Zechariah 06  (Contemporary English Version)

1. Finally, I looked up and saw four chariots coming from between two bronze mountains.
2. The first chariot was pulled by red horses, and the second by black horses;
3. the third chariot was pulled by white horses, and the fourth by spotted gray horses.
4. "Sir," I asked the angel. "What do these stand for?"
5. Then he explained, "These are the four winds of heaven, and now they are going out, after presenting themselves to the Lord of all the earth.
6. The chariot with black horses goes toward the north, the chariot with white horses goes toward the west, and the one with spotted horses goes toward the south."
7. The horses came out eager to patrol the earth, and the angel told them, "Start patrolling the earth." When they had gone on their way,
8. he shouted to me, "Those that have gone to the country in the north will do what the LORD's Spirit wants them to do there."
9. The LORD said to me:
10. Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah have returned from Babylonia. Collect enough silver and gold from them to make a crown. Then go with them to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah and put the crown on the head of the high priest Joshua son of Jehozadak.
11. (SEE 6:10)
12. Tell him that I, the LORD All-Powerful, say, "Someone will reach out from here like a branch and build a temple for me. I will name him 'Branch,' and he will rule with royal honors. A priest will stand beside his throne, and the two of them will be good friends.
13. (SEE 6:12)
14. This crown will be kept in my temple as a reminder and will be taken care of by Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah."
15. When people from distant lands come and help build the temple of the LORD All-Powerful, you will know that the LORD is the one who sent me. And this will happen, if you truly obey the LORD your God.

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The first eight verses of chapter 6 relate the eighth and final vision that was given Zechariah. It is a vision of judgment on the Gentile nations who were a threat to Israel. In the context of the book of Zechariah in which the remnant of returned exiles to Israel were being encouraged to rebuild the temple, this vision helped to provide assurance of God's protection as they went about the task of rebuilding. Vulnerable to attack by their enemies as a small remnant with no army and living in a city without walls, God was their protection, providing greater security than any army. The vision and its imagery conveyed the mighty forces that were protecting them.

Leaving the vision, verses 9 and following return to the current scene of returned exiles from Babylon. Zechariah was to take an offering of silver and gold a contingent of exiles had brought with them from Babylon and make crowns to be placed on the head of Joshua, the high priest. Zechariah was also to convey a message to Joshua from the Lord, "Here is a man whose name is Branch; He will branch out from His place and build the LORD's temple." (V. 12) The name "Branch" has messianic significance, in this case likely sending the message that Joshua's task of rebuilding the temple would be representative of the Messiah establishing the millennial temple following His second Advent.

The crown placed on Joshua would be placed in the completed temple by the delegation (Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen) who had provided the gold and silver for it, serving as a memorial to their offering. The final verse of the chapter seems to have both a current as well as a future meaning. As Joshua and the people were obedient to the Lord in rebuilding the temple, "people who are far off" will come and build the Lord's temple. God would provide the help, which could have been the Lord's leading of more and more exiles to return to their homeland. This appears to be representative of the people from many nations who will return to help build the millennial temple.