Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
Zerubbabel will successfully build the temple.
II. Photo
Zechariah has a vision: “He said to me, ‘What do you see?’ And I answered, ‘I see a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl above it.’” (v. 2a)
III. Select Verses
1: The angel who talked with me came back and woke me as a man is wakened from sleep.
2-3: He said to me, “What do you see?” And I answered, “I see a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl above it. The lamps on it are seven in number, and the lamps above it have seven pipes; and by it are two olive trees, one on the right of the bowl and one on its left.”
6-7: Then he explained to me as follows: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit — said the LORD of Hosts. Whoever you are, O great mountain in the path of Zerubbabel, turn into level ground! For he shall produce that excellent stone; it shall be greeted with shouts of ‘Beautiful! Beautiful!’”
10b-14: “Those seven are the eyes of the LORD, ranging over the whole earth.” “And what,” I asked him, “are those two olive trees, one on the right and one on the left of the lampstand?” And I further asked him, “What are the two tops of the olive trees that feed their gold through those two golden tubes?” He asked me, “Don’t you know what they are?” And I replied, “No, my lord.” Then he explained, “They are the two anointed dignitaries who attend the Lord of all the earth.”
IV. Outline
1. Zechariah is woken
2-3. The seven branched lamp and the olive trees
4-6a. Introduction to the interpretation
6b-7. Oracle for Zerubbabel
8. Second Introduction
9-10a. Zerubbabel will succeed with God’s help
10b-14. The interpretation
V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
Photo taken from http://theartblog.org/blog/wp-content/uploaded/bowl.jpg
