Superscription (1:1): Zechariah prophesied to a community that knew the fulfillment of prophecy as a fact of their lives. Earlier prophetic announcements of judgment had been proven true in the destruction of their nation. The prophet’s ministry, and the ongoing ministry of the book, is to persuade its audience that the reliability of God’s earlier words of judgment stands as evidence that God’s promises and commands are also true. While fulfillment of salvation promises began in the early years of the reign of Darius, the consummation of God’s reign was far off. God reaches out through the prophetic word and calls every generation to return in hope and faithfulness.

1:1 Zechariah begins with a date one month before the latest date in Haggai (2:10, “the ninth month, in the second year of Da…