Introduction to Zechariah

E.Threefold purification (13:1-6)

F.Death of the shepherd (13:7-9)

G.The day of the Lord (14:1-21)

Jeremiah prophesies that the Babylonian exile will last 70 years. 605

Nebuchadnezzar’s three invasions of Judah 605, 597, 586

Jerusalem and the temple are destroyed. 586

Fall of Babylon and rise of Persia 539

Cyrus’s decree allows return of Jews from exile; 42,360 return initially. 538

Second temple construction begins under Zerubbabel’s and Joshua’s leadership. 536

Discouragement reinforced by opposition from transplanted peoples brought work on the temple to a halt. 526

Aeschylus, (525-456) Greek tragedian, many of whose plays dealt with the Persian invasion of Greece. He participated in the Greek victories at Marathon and Salamis.

Haggai and Zechariah encourage the people to resume construction of the temple. 520-518

Haggai’s first message August 29, 520

Temple building resumes. September 21, 520

Haggai’s second message October 17, 520

Zechariah’s first prophetic message October/November 520

Haggai’s third and fourth messages December 18, 520

Zechariah’s night visions February 15, 519

Zechariah’s message on fasting December 7, 518

Temple completed March 12, 515

Greeks, outnumbered almost five to one, defeat Persians in Battle of Marathon through superior military intelligence and strategy, forestalling Persian expansion into Europe. 490

Malachi’s prophecy 460

Second group of exiles returns to Jerusalem under the leadership of Ezra. 458

Third group of exiles return under Nehemiah’s leadership. 445

Jerusalem’s walls rebuilt under Nehemiah’s leadership 445

Nehemiah returns to Persia. 432

The second Peloponnesian Wars between Athens and other Greek city-states 431-404

Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem. 425