Zechariah

I looked up again, and I saw: Four chariots were coming out from between the two mountains; the mountains were of copper.

The horses of the first chariot were bay, the horses of the second chariot were black;

the horses of the third chariot were white, and the horses of the fourth chariot were spotted—dappled.

And I spoke up and asked the angel who talked with me: “What are those, my lord?”

In reply, the angel said to me, “Those are the four winds of heaven coming out after presenting themselves to the Sovereign of all the earth.

The one with the black horses is going out to the region of the north; the white ones have gone outahave gone out Change of vocalization yields “will go out.” to what is to the west of them;bwhat is to the west of them Cf. ʼaḥor, “west,” Isa. 9.11. Emendation yields “the region of the west.” the spotted ones have gone outchave gone out Meaning of Heb. uncertain. to the region of the south;

and the dappled ones have gone out…”dthe dappled ones have gone out… Emendation yields “the bay ones will go out to the region of the east.” They were ready to start out and range the earth, and he gave them the order, “Start out and range the earth!” And they ranged the earth.

Then he alerted me, and said to me, “Take good note! Those that went out to the region of the north have done my pleasureedone my pleasure Cf. postbiblical naḥath ruaḥ, “gratification.” Emendation yields, “done GOD’s pleasure.” in the region of the north.”fthe region of the north I.e., Babylonia, whose communication with Judah was via North Mesopotamia and Syria; cf. 2.10–11.

The word of GOD came to me:

Receive fromgfrom Emendation yields “the gift of.” the exiled community—from Heldai, Tobijah, and Jedaiah, who have come from Babylon—and you, in turn, proceed the same day to the house of Josiah son of Zephaniah.

Take silver and gold and make crowns. Place [one] on the head of High Priest Joshua son of Jehozadak,

and say to him, “Thus said GOD of Hosts: Behold, a man called the Branchhthe Branch See note at 3.8. shall branch out from the place where he is, and he shall build the Temple of GOD.

He shall build the Temple of GOD and shall assume majesty, and he shall sit on his throne and rule. And there shall also be a priest seated on his throne,iseated on his throne Septuagint reads “on his right side.” and harmonious understanding shall prevail between them.”

The crowns shall remain in the Temple of GOD as a memorial to Helem,jHelem The Syriac version reads “Heldai”; cf. v. 10. Tobijah, Jedaiah, and HenkHen In v. 10, “Josiah.” son of Zephaniah.

Peoples from far away shall come and take part in the building of the Temple of GOD, and you shall know that I have been sent to you by GOD of Hosts—if only you will obey the ETERNAL your God!