Reading for November 15th

Read Zechariah 1.7-17 The first vision: the heavenly horsemen and God's plans for Jerusalem.
This is the first of eight visions that make up the core of Zechariah's prophecy.
In verse 7 the chronological notice dates the entire vision complex three months l
after than Zechariah's opening speech, or early in 519 BCE.
IN verse 8 these horsemen are God's heavenly patrol, keeping watch over the world's affairs (v. 10).
The significance of the horses' colors is uncertain, but the number four represents totality.
In verse 11 peace in this case is undesirable, since the plight of Jerusalem remains unchanged.
In verse 12 the Babylonian exile lasted only 50 years (587-538 BCE), not seventy,
but Jeremiah mentions a 70 year period of servitude to Babylon (Jer 25.11-12),
to which Zechariah may be referring .
In verse 16 the rebuilding of the Temple is the central concern of Zechariah's contemporary Haggai.
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