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Four Chariots

Then I looked up again and saw four chariots coming from between two bronze mountains. The first chariot was pulled by red horses, the second by black horses, the third by white horses, and the fourth by powerful dappled-gray horses. “And what are these, my lord?” I asked the angel who was talking with me.

The angel replied, “These are the four spirits[a] of heaven who stand before the Lord of all the earth. They are going out to do his work. The chariot with black horses is going north, the chariot with white horses is going west,[b] and the chariot with dappled-gray horses is going south.”

The powerful horses were eager to set out to patrol the earth. And the Lord said, “Go and patrol the earth!” So they left at once on their patrol.

Then the Lord summoned me and said, “Look, those who went north have vented the anger of my Spirit[c] there in the land of the north.”

The Crowning of Jeshua

Then I received another message from the Lord: 10 “Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah will bring gifts of silver and gold from the Jews exiled in Babylon. As soon as they arrive, meet them at the home of Josiah son of Zephaniah. 11 Accept their gifts, and make a crown from the silver and gold. Then put the crown on the head of Jeshua[d] son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Here is the man called the Branch. He will branch out from where he is and build the Temple of the Lord. 13 Yes, he will build the Temple of the Lord. Then he will receive royal honor and will rule as king from his throne. He will also serve as priest from his throne,[e] and there will be perfect harmony between his two roles.’

14 “The crown will be a memorial in the Temple of the Lord to honor those who gave it—Heldai,[f] Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Josiah[g] son of Zephaniah.”

15 People will come from distant lands to rebuild the Temple of the Lord. And when this happens, you will know that my messages have been from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. All this will happen if you carefully obey what the Lord your God says.

Footnotes

  1. 6:5 Or the four winds.
  2. 6:6 Hebrew is going after them.
  3. 6:8 Hebrew have given my Spirit rest.
  4. 6:11 Hebrew Joshua, a variant spelling of Jeshua.
  5. 6:13 Or There will be a priest by his throne.
  6. 6:14a As in Syriac version (compare 6:10); Hebrew reads Helem.
  7. 6:14b As in Syriac version (compare 6:10); Hebrew reads Hen.

The Four Chariots

Now I raised my eyes again and looked, and behold, (A)four chariots were going out from between the two mountains; and the mountains were bronze mountains. With the first chariot were (B)red horses, with the second chariot (C)black horses, with the third chariot (D)white horses, and with the fourth chariot strong (E)spotted horses. So I responded and said to the angel who was speaking with me, “(F)What are these, my lord?” The angel replied to me, “These are the (G)four spirits of heaven, going out after taking their stand before the Lord of all the earth, with one of which the black horses are going out to the (H)north country; and the white ones are to go out after them, while the spotted ones are to go out to the (I)south country.” When the strong ones went out, they [a]were eager to go to [b](J)patrol the earth. And He said, “Go, [c]patrol the earth.” So they [d]patrolled the earth. Then He called out to me and spoke to me, saying, “See, those who are going to the land of the north have [e](K)appeased My wrath in the land of the north.”

The (L)word of the Lord also came to me, saying, 10 (M)Take an offering from the exiles, from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah; and you shall go the same day and enter the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah, where they have arrived from Babylon.

The Symbolic Crowns

11 Also take silver and gold, make an ornate (N)crown, and set it on the head of (O)Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 12 Then say to him, ‘The Lord of armies says this: “Behold, there is a Man whose name is [f](P)Branch, for He will [g](Q)branch out from where He is; and He will (R)build the temple of the Lord. 13 Yes, it is He who will build the temple of the Lord, and He who will (S)bear the majesty and sit and (T)rule on His throne. So He will be a (U)priest on His throne, and the counsel of peace will be between the two [h]offices.”’ 14 Now the (V)crown will become a reminder in the temple of the Lord to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and [i]Hen the son of Zephaniah. 15 (W)Those who are far away will come and [j]build the temple of the Lord.” Then you will (X)know that the Lord of armies has sent me to you. And it will take place if you completely (Y)obey [k]the Lord your God.

Footnotes

  1. Zechariah 6:7 Lit sought to go
  2. Zechariah 6:7 Lit walk about through
  3. Zechariah 6:7 Lit walk about through
  4. Zechariah 6:7 Lit walked about through
  5. Zechariah 6:8 Lit pacified My spirit in
  6. Zechariah 6:12 Lit Sprout
  7. Zechariah 6:12 Lit sprout up
  8. Zechariah 6:13 Lit of them
  9. Zechariah 6:14 I.e., Josiah
  10. Zechariah 6:15 Lit build in
  11. Zechariah 6:15 Lit the voice of the Lord