Let’s turn our attention to the first chapter of the Old Testament book of Zechariah. Zechariah 1. We’re going to be studying verses 7-12 today.

This first vision that Zechariah receives from the Lord spans from verses 7-17, but we’ll only be covering the first six verses of this vision today.

So, let’s read this vision in its entirety to begin with. [Read Zec 1:7-17.]

Alright, so let’s then get into the details of this first vision of the prophet. Verse 7

KJV Zechariah 1:7 ¶ [Upon/On] the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month [Sebat/Shebat], in the second year of Darius, came the word of the LORD unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet [i.e., Zechariah…], [saying/as follows],

Sebat

So, let’s talk about the date first.

The reference to the 11th month being called S[h]ebat is Babylonian in nature. This was not the original name of the 11th month in Hebrew.

And then “The twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month…in Darius’ second year was February 15, 519 b.c.” [NET Notes]

Remember… 1:1 “The eighth month of Darius’ second year was late October – late November, 520 b.c., by the modern (Julian) calendar. This is two months later than the date of Haggai’s first message to the same community.”

Word of the Lord

This is the second of 13 times that “the word of the LORD” is mentioned in this book. The first time was back in verse 1 to open the book with that call to the Jews to turn to the Lord. They then indeed did turn back to the Lord and the Lord kept his promise and is now turning back to them. Evidence of that fact will be readily apparent in this first vision to Zechariah.

And we need to realize that this is the last time we get this kind of introduction – with the dates and all – until chapter 7, verse 1. So, now as we hear of and study all of these visions that Zechariah receives, we’re in the same timeframe. All of these individual visions come on this day that we’ve mentioned – February 15th, 519 B.C. And as crazy as it sounds, this coming February 15th will mark 2,538 years since this time in Bible history.

So, here’s what Zechariah reports as he begins to relate this first vision.

8 [I saw by/I saw at/I was attentive that/During the] night, [and behold/I saw/I had a vision and there before me was]

a man [riding upon/was riding/seated on] a red horse[,/!]

and he stood among [the/some] myrtle trees that were in the [bottom/ravine];

and behind him were there red horses, [speckled/sorrel/brown], and white.

By Night

So, let’s first realize at what time of day Zechariah sees what’s put before him. This vision is given to him “by night.” What he sees, he sees in a night time setting.

And if what Zechariah sees happens at night, you might think that he wouldn’t be able to see details – or, really, much at all. And yet, he’s able to give some pretty detailed descriptions of what he’s seeing.

And whether Zechariah is receiving this message in a dream or in a vision, whatever medium that God is conveying this message to him allows for him to be aware both of the darkness that surrounds the subject matter of the vision as well as the details that God wants the prophet to be aware of.

It’s sort of like a dream that we might have – only of course ours aren’t divine – but we might be aware in a dream that what we see is transpiring in the night. And yet we’re totally aware of intricate details that in reality we would not at all be able to see. So, that’s sort of how it’s like for Ze