The Skeptics Annotated Bible
Page 245
(1.18-21) Zechariah sees four horns that are sawed off by four carpenters.
18 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.
(1.18) “Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.”
19 And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.
(1.19) “I said unto the angel … What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”
20 And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.
(1.20) “And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.”
21 Then said I, What come these to do? And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.
(1.21) “These are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.”
ZECHARIAH 2
(2.1-5) Next Zechariah sees a man with a measuring line in his hand, who told him he was going to measure Jerusalem. Then an angel stopped by to chat, and finally God shows up and says he’ll build a wall of fire around Jerusalem, and he’ll be the glory inside.
2 I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.
(2.1) “Behold a man with a measuring line in his hand.”
2 Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof.
(2.2) “Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem.”
3 And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him,
(2.3) “The angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him.”
4 And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein:
5 For I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.
(2.5) “I, saith the LORD, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her.”
6 Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.
7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.
(2.8-9) God says the Israelites are his favorite people, “the apple of his eye.” If you mess with them, he’ll shake his hand at you.
8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
(2.8) “He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.”
9 For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me.
(2.9) “I will shake mine hand upon them.”
10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.
11 And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee.
12 And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
13 Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.
ZECHARIAH 3
(3.1-5) Zechariah sees Joshua in filthy clothes standing next to Satan, hanging out with God and an angel. The angel said to take off Joshua’s dirty clothes and Zechariah said to put a mitre on his head. So that’s what they did.
3 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.
(3.1) “He shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.”
2 And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?
(3.2) “The LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan.”
3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.
(3.3) “Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.”
4 And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.
(3.4) “He answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him.”
5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.
(3.5) “I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments.”
6 And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,
7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.
8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
(3.7-8) “Thus saith the LORD … I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.”
9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
(3.9) “For, behold, the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes.”
10 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.
(3.10) “In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.”
ZECHARIAH 4
(4.1-3) The angel wakes up Zechariah and shows him a candlestick with a bowl on top, seven lamps on top of the bowl, and seven pipes on the top of the lamps, with two olive trees next to the bowls.
4 And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep,
2 And said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof:
(4.1-2) “The angel … waked me … and said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof.”
3 And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.
(4.3) “And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left.”
4 So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord?
5 Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
(4.7) “W
ho art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.” Someday there will be a great talking mountain that will become a plain that will bring forth a headstone that will scream “Grace, grace unto it.”
8 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
9 The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.
10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
(4.10) “Those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.” God has seven eyes that “run to and fro through the whole earth.”
(4.11-14) Zechariah asks about the two olive trees next to the candlesticks, and about the golden pipes, and the golden oil. The angel says they are they are the anointed ones that stand next to God.
11 Then answered I, and said unto him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof?
(4.11) “What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side?”
12 And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?
(4.12) “What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil?”
13 And he answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my lord.
14 Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.
(4.14) “These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the LORD of the whole earth.”
161 Who is the Lord of the earth?
ZECHARIAH 5
(5.1-4) Zechariah sees a 30 foot flying scroll that burns down the houses of thieves and liars.
5 Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.
(5.1) “Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.”
2 And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits.
(5.2) “I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits.”
3 Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.
4 I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.
(5.4) “It shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall … consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.”
5 Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth.
6 And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.
(5.7-8) Evil is personified as a woman.
7 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.
(5.7) “Behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.”
8 And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.
(5.8) “He said, This is wickedness.”
(5.9-11) Two women with stork-like wings fly off with an ephah to the land of Shinar.
9 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.
(5.9) “There came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork.”
10 Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?
(5.10-11) “Whither do these bear the ephah? … To build it an house in the land of Shinar.”
11 And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.
ZECHARIAH 6
(6.1-7) Zechariah sees four horses of different colors running to and fro between mountains of brass. They are the four spirits of the heavens.
6 And I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.
(6.1) “Behold, there came four chariots out from between two mountains; and the mountains were mountains of brass.”
2 In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses;
3 And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.
(6.2-3) “In the first chariot were red horses; and in the second chariot black horses; And in the third chariot white horses; and in the fourth chariot grisled and bay horses.”
4 Then I answered and said unto the angel that talked with me, What are these, my lord?
5 And the angel answered and said unto me, These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.
(6.5) “These are the four spirits of the heavens, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth.”
161 Who is the Lord of the earth?
6 The black horses which are therein go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.
(6.6) “The black horses … go forth into the north country; and the white go forth after them; and the grisled go forth toward the south country.”
7 And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.
(6.7) “And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.”
8 Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country.
9 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
10 Take of them of the captivity, even of Heldai, of Tobijah, and of Jedaiah, which are come from Babylon, and come thou the same day, and go into the house of Josiah the son of Zephaniah;
11 Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest;
(6.12-13) The angel shows Zechariah a man named “BRANCH” who will build the temple of the Lord and bear the glory.
12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:
(6.12) “Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD.”
13 Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.
(6.13) “He shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne.”
14 And the crowns shall b
e to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the LORD.
15 And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.
ZECHARIAH 7
7 And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month, even in Chisleu;
(7.1) “And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Darius, that the word of the LORD came unto Zechariah in the fourth day of the ninth month.”
2 When they had sent unto the house of God Sherezer and Regem-melech, and their men, to pray before the LORD,
(7.3-6) Zechariah asks all the important questions. Should we weep alone in the fifth month, as he has for so many years? How about the seventh month for seventy years? And should we eat and drink for ourselves or for others?
3 And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?
(7.3) “Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?”
4 Then came the word of the LORD of hosts unto me, saying,
5 Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?
(7.5) “When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto me, even to me?”
6 And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?
(7.6) “And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?”
7 Should ye not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?