Vision Report: Evil Exported in a Measuring Basket:

5:5–6 The interpreting angel/messenger calls Zechariah’s attention to the next visionary object and tells him to “Look up and see what this is that is appearing.” It is “coming out” (ytsʾ, NIV “appearing”), like the flying scroll (v. 3, NIV “going out”) and the four chariots (6:1), but we do not know its origin. The temple is the most likely point of origin for all of these objects. Zechariah does not report what he sees; he simply asks, “What is it?” The angel’s first answer is too simple, “It is a measuring basket.” Zechariah could have recognized this very ordinary item, a basket or vessel of a size that would hold an ephah of dry material, such as grain or flour. The angel’s second answer reveals what is special about this particular c…