Zechariah 4

The lampstand with seven lamps (vs. 1-10)—Zechariah’s next vision (his fifth--remember there are no chapter divisions in the original writing) was of “a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps” (v. 2). There was a lampstand of gold in the tabernacle/temple, but it didn’t not have the seven lamps attached (Ex. 25:31-32), not were there two olive trees on either side of it, as in Zechariah’s image (v. 3). He asked the angel what the vision meant (v. 4); the angel responded, “you don’t know?”, and Zechariah confesses his ignorance (v. 5). Was Zechariah supposed to know what these visions meant? Was the angel’s words a rebuke? They sound like it, but they probably weren’t. One writer suggests this was “a stimulus to reflection on the mystery,” and I think that’s a good explanation. The angel explains that the vision is “the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel,” to encourage him in his work of rebuilding the temple. The Lord would be the source of the governor’s strength (vs. 6-7). And there would be no obstacles: “'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!” (v. 7). And when the temple is finished, there will be great rejoice—shouts of “grace, grace to it!” Zerubbabel is plainly told that he will finish the temple, and thereby know that the Lord has been with him (v. 9). People may despise the Jews for their little land and wealth (‘the day of small things”), but the work will be done under the watchful eye of the Lord (v. 10). It is not altogether clear, to me, how the lampstand and lamps relate to the Lord being the source of Zerubbabel’s strength, but then, we don’t have to understand it. If the Lord says that “X’” means “X” then that’s what it means! The various interpretations of the commentators are as various as there are commentators. Best to leave well enough alone here and let the angel’s answer suffice, though it may not be clear to us. Zechariah may have had some understanding at his time, some historical reference, that is currently lost to us.

The two olive trees (vs. 11-4)—Zechariah was as confused as the rest of us. “What are these two olive trees?” (v. 11), and olive branches (v. 12). Again, the angel asked him, “Do you not know what these are?”, and again the prophet professes his ignorance (v. 13). So it is explained to him that the two trees are “the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the whole earth" (v. 14). There is near universal agreement that these two “anointed ones” are Joshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the governor.