AUTHOR: Zechariah was probably born in Babylon to a priestly family. He returned to Jerusalem with his family along with the 50,000 exiles who returned under Cyrus in 536 BC. He started his work still young [Zech 2: 4], two months after Haggai started his ministry [Hag 1: 1], [Zech 1: 1]. There is agreement that the first eight chapters of the book are authored by Zechariah, in the year 520 BC. however, the date of chapters 9 to 14 is disputed, and many deny that Zechariah wrote them. The similarities in attitude between the two parts would suggest to us the unity of origin of this book. Zechariah, who began his ministry in the year 520 B.C., could well have lived to witness the important victories won by Greece over the Persians in the years 490 to 480 B.C. These victories could point to future Greek domination.

ORIGIN OF THE NAME: It originates from the Hebrew name “Zekharyah”, composed of the elements “zakhár”, which means “he remembered” and “Yah”, from “Yahweh”, which means “ God, Lord” and means “remembered by God”.

THEME: The Book of Zechariah presents the prophet with a message of encouragement for the people; those who returned from Babylonian exile were to dedicate themselves to rebuilding the temple. Words of comfort are the theme of the Book of Zechariah. His ministry, like Haggai's, was to encourage the rest of the people who returned to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Despite local opposition and the discouragement of his peers, Zechariah reversed the situation, transforming it into a glorious scene, while describing, through a series of visions and prophecies, a restored Jerusalem, protected and inhabited by the Messiah, she being the capital of a nation elevated above all other nations. The people reacted, and construction was completed in 516 BC, the sixth year of Darius' reign. Zechariah ends the Book with a description of the climactic battle on earth when the Lord himself will be involved in the battle [Zech 14:2-4 ], and then “The Lord will be King over all the earth” [Zech 14: 9]. p>

COMPILATION: Approximately 515 B.C. It consists of 14 chapters and 211 verses.