Historical background

From this passage, we enter the second division of the book of Zechariah (7:1-8:23). (1) First, let us look at the historical background. It was the fourth year of King Darius, on the fourth day of the ninth month (Chislev) (December 7, 518 B.C.). This was about two years after Zechariah saw the eight visions (chapters 1-6), and also about two years after the rebuilding of the temple had resumed (ref. Hag. 1:12-15). Since the temple would be completed two years after this time (Ezra 6:14-16), this event took place at the exact midpoint of the four-year period during which the construction of the temple was being carried out. (2) The residents of Bethel came up to Jerusalem with a specific question. Bethel was the city where the golden calf had been placed during the period of the divided kingdom (Jeroboam, the first king of the northern kingdom, placed golden calves in Dan and Bethel). His purpose was to prevent the people of the northern kingdom from going up to Jerusalem. (3) Here, the residents of Bethel came up to Jerusalem seeking an answer from the Lord. From this, we can see that after returning from the Babylonian exile, they did not set up golden calves but instead came to acknowledge the supremacy of Jerusalem.

Question from Bethel

“Now the town of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regemmelech and their men to seek the favor of the Lord, speaking to the priests who belong to the house of the Lord of armies, and to the prophets, saying, ‘Shall I weep in the fifth month and fast, as I have done these many years?’” (v 2-3). (1) Those who were sent were Sharezer, Regem-melech, and their men, but these two names are Babylonian names. They were a new generation, born in Babylon and returned to their homeland. (2) It says, “the prophets.” This includes both Zechariah and Haggai (a prophet from the same period as Zechariah). (3) Their question was, “Now that we have returned to our homeland and the new temple is nearly complete, should we still continue the fast of the fifth month?” (4) The fast of the fifth month was a fast commemorating the destruction of the temple by the Babylonian army. Zechariah does not answer their question immediately (the answer appears in 8:18-19) but first questions their motives. That is the content of the passage we will study next time. Religious acts themselves have no meaning if not driven by a sincere attitude and motive toward God. Let us examine ourselves to see whether there is love and devotion toward God within us.