Fausset's Bible Dictionary

He left Babylon, where he was born, very young. Zechariah began prophesying in youth (Zec_2:4), "this young man. In the eighth month, in Darius' second year (520 B.C.), Zechariah first prophesied with Haggai (who began two months earlier) in support of Zerubbabel and Shealtiel in the building of the temple, which had been suspended under Pseudo-Smerdis Artaxerxes (Ezr_4:24; Ezr_5:1-2; Ezr_6:14). The two, "Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo" the priest prophet, according to a probable tradition composed psalms for the liturgy of the temple: Psalms 137; 146 to 148, according to Septuagint; Psalm 125, 126 (See NEHEMIAH) according to the Peshito; Psalm 111 according to Vulgate.

The Hallelujah characterizes the post exile psalms, it occurs at both beginning and end of Psalms 146 to 150; these are all joyous thanksgivings, free from the lamentations which appear in the other post exile psalms. Probably sung at the consecration of the walls under Nehemiah; but Hengstenberg thinks at the consecration of the second temple. Jewish tradition makes Zecharia a member of the great synagogue. (See ZECHARIAH, BOOK OF.)

2. Firstborn son of Meshelemiah, a Korhite, keeper of the N. gate of the tabernacle under David (1Ch_9:21; 1Ch_26:2; 1Ch_26:14, "a wise counsellor".)

3. One of the sons of Jehiel (1Ch_9:37); in 1Ch_8:31 Zacher.

4. A Levite in the tabernacle choir under David, "with psalteries on Alamoth" (1Ch_15:20); of the second order of Levites (verse 18), a porter or gatekeeper.

5. One of Judah's princes under Jehoshaphat, sent to teach the law of Jehovah in Judah's cities (2Ch_17:7).

6. Son of Jehoiada, and so cousin of king Joash whom Jehoiada saved from Athaliah (2Ch_24:20). (See ZACHARIAS.)

7. A Kohathite Levite under Josiah, an overseer of the temple repairs (2Ch_34:12).

8. Leader of the sons of Pharosh, returned from Babylon with Ezra (Ezr_8:3).

9. Son of Bebai; also returned, leading 28 males, with Ezra (Ezr_8:11).

10. A chief, summoned by Ezra to the consultation at the river Ahava, before the second caravan returned (Ezr_8:16); at Ezra's left, in expounding the law (Neh_8:4).

11. Of Elam's family; married a foreign wife (Neh_10:26).

12. Ancestor of Uthai or Athaiah (Neh_11:4).

13. A Shilonite, ancestor of Maaseiah (Neh_11:5).

14. A priest, son of Pashur, ancestor of Adaiah (Neh_11:12).

15. Representing Iddo the priest's family, in the time of Joiakim, son of Jeshua (Neh_12:16); probably the same as Zechariah the prophet, son (descendant) of Iddo.

16. A priest, son of Jonathan, blew the trumpet at the dedication of the city wall (Neh_12:35; Neh_12:41).

17. A Reubenite chief in Tiglath Pileser's time, at Israel's captivity (1Ch_5:7).

18. A priest who blew the trumpet in the procession of the ark (1Ch_15:24).

19. Son of Isshiah or Jesiah (1Ch_24:25).

20. Hosah's fourth son (1Ch_26:11).

21. A Manassite, father of Iddo, chief in Gilead under David (1Ch_27:21).

22. Father of Jahaziel (2Ch_20:14).

23. Son of Jehoshaphat (2Ch_21:2), slain by Jehoram.

24. Uzziah's prophetical counselor (2Ch_26:5), "who had understanding in the visions of God" ("who had insight into seeing of God"); compare Dan_1:17; as this phrase is not equivalent to "who had prophetic visions from God," but to such "seeing of God" as was granted to the elders of Israel in Exo_24:10, it is better to read beyireath for bireoth; so Septuagint, Syriac, Targum Arabic, Raschi, Kimchi, etc., "who was (his) instructer in the fear of God."

25. Father of Abijah or Abi, Hezekiah's mother (2Ch_29:1).

26. One of Asaph's family who joined in purifying the temple under Hezekiah (2Ch_29:13).

27..A ruler of the temple under Josiah (2Ch_35:8), "the second priest" next to Hilkiah the high priest (2Ch_34:9; 2Ki_25:18).

28. Son of Jeberechiah, taken by Isaiah as one of the "faithful witnesses to record" when he wrote concerning Maher-shalal-hash-baz ("hasting to the spoil he hasteth to the prey".) The other witness was Uriah, or Urijah, a priest, whom Urijah used as his tool in copying the Damascus altar. (See URIJAH.) As Isaiah, in order to enforce upon Ahaz' attention the truth symbolized, namely, that Assyria whom Ahaz trusted would soon prey upon Judah, chose one witness from the king's bosom friends, so it is likely Zechariah the other witness was also a bosom friend of Ahaz.

Now 2 Kings 18 informs us that the mother of Hezekiah, son of Ahaz, was Abi daughter of Zechariah; hence it appears Ahaz was Zechariah's son in law; Isaiah naturally chose him as the other of the two witnesses. The undesigned coincidence between the prophet Isaiah (Isa_8:2) and the independent historian (2Ki_16:10; 2Ki_18:2) confirms the genuineness of both. (See Blunt's Undesigned Coincidences, 2:2.) Thus No. 27 will be the same person as No. 25; else he may have been the same as No. 26.