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Zechariah’s Eighth Vision

I looked up again,[a] and I saw, and look!—four chariots coming out from between two mountains, and the mountains were mountains of bronze. With the first chariot there were red horses, and with the second chariot there were black horses. And with the third chariot there were white horses, and with the fourth chariot there were strong[b] dappled horses. And I answered and said to the angel that was talking to me, “What are these, my lord?” And the angel answered and said to me, “These are the four winds[c] of the heavens going out after presenting themselves before the Lord of all the earth. The one with[d] the black horses is going out to the north country, and the white horses go after them,[e] while the dappled ones go to the south country.” When the strong horses went out, they were anxious to go to patrol the earth. And he[f] said, “Go, patrol the earth.” And they patrolled the earth. And he cried out to me and said to me, “See those going out to the north country have set my spirit at rest in the north country.”

The Branch is Crowned

And the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 10 “Collect[g] from the exiles—from Heldai, Tobijah, and from Jedaiah, all of whom came from Babylon—and go on that day, go to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. 11 Take the silver and gold and make a crown, and set it on the head of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 And say to him, ‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts: “Look, here is a man whose name is Branch,[h] and from his place he will sprout, and he will build the temple of Yahweh. 13 And he will build the temple of Yahweh, and he will bear majesty and will sit and rule on his throne. And he shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two of them.”’[i] 14 And the crown will be for Helem,[j] for Tobijah, for Jedaiah, and for Hen[k] son of Zephaniah, as a memorial in the temple of Yahweh. 15 And those who are far off will come and build the temple of Yahweh, and you will know that Yahweh of hosts has sent me to you. And it will happen if you will listen diligently to the voice of Yahweh your God.”

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 6:1 Literally “I did again, I lifted up my eyes”
  2. Zechariah 6:3 Other ancient versions read “grey” here
  3. Zechariah 6:5 Or “spirits” (The same Hebrew word can be translated “wind” or “spirit” depending on the context)
  4. Zechariah 6:6 Literally “Her with which”
  5. Zechariah 6:6 Some interpret the word “after” to indicate a westward direction
  6. Zechariah 6:7 That is, “Lord of all the earth”
  7. Zechariah 6:10 The imperative “Collect” has no object; many translations supply “silver and gold” or “an offering”
  8. Zechariah 6:12 Hebrew “Sprout” or “Shoot” (“Branch” is a traditional rendering in English)
  9. Zechariah 6:13 That is, between king and priest
  10. Zechariah 6:14 “Helem” is probably another name for Heldai (v. 10)
  11. Zechariah 6:14 “Hen” is frequently understood as a reference to Josiah (v. 10)

Eighth Vision: Four Chariots

Then I looked up again and saw four chariots coming from between two mountains. And the mountains were made of bronze. The first chariot had red horses,(A) the second chariot black horses,(B) the third chariot white horses,(C) and the fourth chariot dappled(D) horses—all strong horses. So I inquired of the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?”

The angel told me, “These are the four spirits[a](E) of heaven going out after presenting themselves to the Lord of the whole earth. The one with the black horses is going to the land of the north, the white horses are going after them, but the dappled horses are going to the land of the south.” As the strong horses went out, they wanted to go patrol the earth, and the Lord said, “Go, patrol the earth.” So they patrolled the earth. Then He summoned me saying, “See, those going to the land of the north have pacified My Spirit in the northern land.”

Crowning of the Branch

The word of the Lord came to me:(F) 10 “Take an offering from the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have arrived from Babylon, and go that same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah. 11 Take silver and gold, make crowns and place them on the head of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 You are to tell him: This is what the Lord of Hosts says: Here is a man whose name is Branch;(G) He will branch out from His place and build the Lord’s temple. 13 Yes, He will build the Lord’s temple; He will be clothed in splendor(H) and will sit on His throne and rule. There will also be a priest on His throne, and there will be peaceful counsel between the two of them.(I) 14 The crown will reside in the Lord’s temple as a memorial to Heldai, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen[b] son of Zephaniah. 15 People who are far off will come and build the Lord’s temple, and you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent Me to you. This will happen when you fully obey the Lord your God.”(J)

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 6:5 Or winds
  2. Zechariah 6:14 Probably Josiah