Zechariah

The angel who talked with me came back and woke me as someone is wakened from sleep.

He said to me, “What do you see?” And I answered, “I see a lampstand all of gold, with a bowl above it. The lamps on it are seven in number, and the lamps above it havealamps above it have Emendation yields “bowl above it has.” seven pipes;

and by it are two olive trees, one on the right of the bowl and one on its left.”

I, in turn, asked the angel who talked with me, “What do those things mean, my lord?”

“Do you not know what those things mean?” asked the angel who talked with me; and I said, “No, my lord.”

Then he explained to me as follows:bas follows The explanation is given in the last sentence of v. 10. “This is the word of GOD to Zerubbabel:cZerubbabel A grandson of King Jehoiachin (1 Chron. 3.17–19) and the secular head of the repatriated community (Hag. 1.1; etc.). Not by might, nor by power, but by My spiritdby My spirit I.e., Zerubbabel will succeed by means of spiritual gifts conferred upon him by GOD; cf. Isa. 11.2ff.—said GOD of Hosts.

Whoever you are, O great mountain in the path of Zerubbabel, turn into level ground! For he shall produce that excellent stone; it shall be greeted with shouts of ‘Beautiful! Beautiful!’”

And the word of GOD came to me:

“Zerubbabel’s hands have founded this House and Zerubbabel’s hands shall complete it. Then you shall know that it was GOD of Hosts who sent me to you.

Does anyone scorn a day of small beginnings? When they see the stone of distinctionestone of distinction Meaning of Heb. uncertain; in contrast to others “plummet.” in the hand of Zerubbabel, they shall rejoice.“Those seven are the eyes of GOD, ranging over the whole earth.”

“And what,” I asked him, “are those two olive trees, one on the right and one on the left of the lampstand?”

And I further asked him, “What are the two topsftops Meaning of Heb. uncertain; literally “ears” (as of grain). of the olive trees that feed their goldggold Emendation yields “oil”; cf. v. 14. through those two golden tubes?”htubes Or “funnels”; through them the oil runs from the olive trees into the bowl of vv. 2 and 3.

He asked me, “Don’t you know what they are?” And I replied, “No, my lord.”

Then he explained, “They are the two anointed dignitariesianointed dignitaries I.e., the high priest and the king (cf. 3.8–9 with note); lit. “sons of oil.” who attend the Sovereign of all the earth.”