Reading for March 9th

 Read Zechariah 4.1-14. In 4.1-14: The fifth vision: the golden lampstand and Judah's leadership. This vision may originally have been the central vision in a seven-vision sequence. In verse 2: The lampstand (Heb., "menorah') in the Temple is unusually elaborate and difficult to describe, though it related to the lampstand in the tabernacle (Ex 25.31-37). The bowl may have contained the oil for the lamps, and the lips held the lamps' wick. In verse 3: Images of trees adorned the walls of Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 6.29). In verses 6-10a: This speech to Zerubbabel, encouraging him in the rebuilding of the Temple (Hag 2.1-4; Ezra 5.1-2), interrupts the vision narrative and may be a later addition. In verse 10b: The vision narrative resumes with the explanation that the seven lamps represent God's eyes, watching the entire earth. In verse 14: The anointed ones, symbolized in the vision by the two olive trees (vv. 3, 11) represent Judah's leadership, shared by a religious figure (the high priest Joshua; 3.1-10) and by a political figure (Zerubbabel 4.6-10a). Comments or  Questions..