2 Chronicles 24:20-21, Which Zechariah was murdered in the Temple? Part IV of IV
And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you. And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.
//We’re still discussing which Zechariah Jesus was referring to when he mentioned a man killed between the altar and the temple. Four Zechariahs each seem to fit a little. Here are the four we’re considering, stepping backward in time:
Post 1: A man killed in the Zealot uprising of 66-70 AD.
Post 2: The father of John the Baptist.
Post 3: The prophet Zechariah, of the Bible book of Zechariah
Post 4 (today): A priest from the 8th century BC.
Let me give you the words of Jesus from Matthew one more time:
That on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. –Matthew 23:35
Today’s verse, about Zechariah #4, seems to describe just such an incident. An Aramaic commentary on the Book of Lamentations (called the Targum Lamentations) also mentions a murder in the temple, of a high priest named Zechariah son of Iddo. This murder occurred on the Day of Atonement … the one day of the year that a man would be precisely where Jesus indicates: between the altar and the holy of holies. (We’re assuming Jesus means the alter of incense, not the big altar of sacrifice).
Recall that Zechariah #3 had a grandfather named Iddo (see yesterday’s post), so it’s possible the Targum is confused between the two. Lamentations was written before Zechariah #3 came on the scene, so it would be a bit odd that a commentary about Lamentations would mention Zechariah #3.
The event described in today’s verse happened in the first temple period. That’s long before Jesus, making it strange that he would refer to this incident, and where Zechariah #4 died in “the court of the house of the Lord” doesn’t quite match “between the temple and the altar,” and Zechariah #4 isn’t killed by priests as Jesus insinuates (for one thing, only a priest was allowed “between the temple and the altar”) but by officials of Judah who wanted to worship pagan deities. But there is one good reason for imagining that #4 is the right Zechariah. It’s that in the Hebrew Bible, Chronicles was the last book of the Old Testament. Thus, when Jesus says “from Abel to Zechariah,” he is saying “from the first book of the Bible to the last.”
The biggest problem with this conjecture, of course, is that Zechariah in #4 is the son of Jehoiada, whereas Matthew writes that he is the son of Berechiah. Oops! Well, it may have been a simple error on Jesus’ or Matthew’s part. Or on the part of a later copyist: some evidence exists that the verse may have originally not specified any “son of”, but merely said “Zechariah.” (The Codex Sinaiticus from the 4th century, considered the oldest complete Bible in existence, does not contain the phrase “son of Berechiah.”)
In the end, the majority of Bible scholars tend to lean toward Zechariah #4. My own opinion? It’s that all four are equally correct. Bible writers and copyists, as discussed in my books about John’s Gospel and Revelation, sometimes tended to see truth as cyclical, happening over and over. Thus, they saw each individual Zechariah’s story as a contribution to the whole.
14 Comments
Leave a Reply to Brian Cancel reply
Fantasy Football, Anyone?
Put on the whole uniform of the Team, that ye may be able to stand against the blitz of oncoming linebackers. Don the hip pads of truth, the shoulder pads of righteousness, the cleats of preparation. Don’t forget the facemask of faith and the helmet of salvation. Then clutch the pigskin with much Spirit, for that is what the Play Book of your Coach in Heaven demands.The River of Life
Twice before Lee Harmon has written about Christian topics, once on the gospel of John and once on the book of Revelation. But the question people keep asking him is this: As a liberal Christian, why do you care so much about the Bible? Others wonder whether he is truly a Christian at all.
The Way It Happened
|
|
| Revelation: A love story gone awry. | The Gospel: A love story set aright. |
What really happened 2,000 years ago? How did a persecuted minority of end-time believers known as Christians, with their dreams of Armageddon and a conquering Messiah named Jesus, evolve into the largest religion in the world? Author Lee Harmon explores the period in which the New Testament was written in his books about John's Gospel and Revelation.
(Bloggers: you may be eligible for a free review copy! Just contact us.)
Connect With Me!
A Top-100 Christian Blog
Named an Exceptional Website for Christian Theologians
Our Top Book Picks
Selected by The Dubious Disciple as Best Religion Books. Don't miss these!
Subscribers:
Twitter Followers
Facebook Fans
16806 Blog Members
354 Circles
603 Goodreads Friends & Fans
The God Show
Lee Harmon interviewed on The God Show about the History Channel's miniseries The Bible and Lee's latest book, John's Gospel: The Way It Happened.
About Lee
Hello! I'm an author, historical Jesus scholar, book reviewer, and liberal Christian, which means I appreciate and attempt to exercise the humanitarian teachings of Jesus without getting hung up on any particular supernatural or religious beliefs.
The Bible is a magnificent book that has inspired and spiritually fed generations for thousands of years, and each new century seems to bring a deeper understanding of life’s purpose. This is true of not only Christianity; through the years, our age-old religions are slowly transforming from superstitious rituals into humanitarian philosophies. In short, we are growing up, and I am thrilled to be riding the wave.
I avidly read all thought-provoking religion titles. New authors: I'd love to read and review your book!
Contact me here.
About Leslie
Hi! While Lee writes the articles and reviews the books, I edit, organize, and maintain the blog. The views expressed here are Lee's but I'm his biggest supporter! :-)
i believe its the Zechariah #2
the fact being that, when Jesus was born, all the male children around his day were murdered by the command of herod. And John the pabtist, his son was been sought after to beheded. after a search to find him proved futile, his father was the next target. while He was ministering in the temple at that time, being murdered at the temple.
It was Zechariah the prophet, who being a priest besides a prophet, is positively identified by his legal Hebrew name in Zech.1:1. The intended scope of OT history would be actually CHRONOLOGICAL as opposed to CANONICAL( the exegetical logic normally presented). Besides, the Messianic prophetic content of Zechariah’s prophetic was possibly what our Lord was referring to in the Mt 23:35 passage, the context being further elucidated in v 37 “you who kill the prophets.” Jesus was referring to OT Scriptural examples, bookends, if you will. This would disqualify Zechariah, father of John the Baptizer. The 2Chr. Zechariah son of Jehoiada has the wrong name. Besides there is nothing said about his being a prophet. Incidentally Abel would also qualify as a prophet according to the writer of Heb. 11: 4 “…God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.” (prophetic role and also a primeval priestly action.) Let’s do our exegetical homework and rightly divide the word of truth.
I pose no opinion, only to point out Zachariah #2, listed in 2 Chronicles 24:20-22, says he was clothed with the Spirit of God and stood above the people and said, “Thus says God” – That is the action of a profit and furthermore he even says in his dying breath may the Lord see and avenge. So Jesus acknowledging that death could very well be the fulfillment of his request.
Also in the hebrew gospel, which is the Nazarenes use you will find instead of ‘son of barachiah’- ‘son of Jehoiada.’ who is the very same Zachariah #2
The Zachariah in 2 Chronicles 24:20-22 is said to have been moved by the spirit of God and spoke over the people. “Thus says God” that is the very action of a profit. I would also point you to the Hebrew gospel which the Nazarene‘s use where you will find instead of ‘son of Barachiah’ – ‘son of a Jehoiada.’ the very same Zachariah in 2 Chronicles.
Where can we find that gospel ?
Also I would like to point out that in the time of the writing of the greek gospel, Zachariah, son of Barachiah, was murdered and therefore could’ve been seen by the apostles as a prophetic fulfillment of Jesus’s later words by those who did not know the history of Zachariah Jehoiada. Certainly Jesus could’ve been speaking about both simultaneously since he, being God, knew all before the foundations of the earth.
I’m ready to study more. I will not comment until further investigation. I love this C.
Another words the Pharisees and the saduceesdescended not only from those who murdered Zechariah but from CAIN himselfwho was of the WICKED ONE the devil!Esua ws also one of their ancestors so it does make Abraham their ancestor by default but GOD HATED ESAU so their you go.
Thank all of you so much for this thread. Every reply is so helpful in understanding this. As a reader the murder of Zachariah son of Barachiah would mirror the murder of the high priest Zachariah and the writings calling out the murders of priests. In speaking of one, could Jesus be speaking of both or more? Now I need to read Zechariah and go back to NT and see!
If you believe Jesus is God that came as flesh and blood to dwell amongst men, why the controversy about which Zecharias? He is the Lord and never makes a mistake, He is perfect, man is imperfect. If in doubt, meditate, ask the Holy Spirit and He will enlighten you, except if you do not believe in the Holy Spirit. If it’s the latter, it’s impossible to be a Christian.
I agree that Jesus is essentially saying “from the beginning to the end” as stated above. This is one of two times Jesus validated the Hebrew Bible and our Old Testament. The second time he does it is in Luke 24:44;
44 ¶ And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
The lay out of a Hebrew Bible is, the law, then the prophets, and lastly the psalms. Genesis is the first book and 2Chronicles is the last.
Jesus is pointing out that unbelievers have been killing the prophets that were sent by God since the beginning to the end.
Today we would say “from Genesis to Revelation” because we have a completed Bible, Old Testament to New Testament.
The reason for Zechariah’s father having different names (Mt 23:35 Barachias, 2Chron 24:20 Jehoiada) is because Jewish people had up to three different given names. A good illustration is the names of the 12 apostles (King James Bible). Compare Mt 10:2-4, Mk 3:14-19, Lk 6:13-16 side by side. Notice it’s the same people but they have different names. Did you know there were two apostles named Judas? You wouldn’t if you only read Mt 10:2-4. Notice how many names Peter had.
One last thing, when Jesus validated the Old Testament by acknowledging the law, the prophets, and the psalms, notice he doesn’t include “the apocrypha”. Those are 15 books that the Roman Catholic church arbitrarily added to the Hebrew Bible text, and that exist in the Catholic bible today. They’re bogus!
I believe the Zachariah that Jesus referred to in Matthew 23:35 is Zachariah #3
The mention of Cain and Abel is in reference to the mark God placed on Cain when he was told he must leave. Cain was afraid that people would know and kill him. Because Cain was thinking of his Father at the time he killed his brother. Did God make intersession for him by making it clear that in the same manner his life would be dealt with would be the sentence of all the people 7 fold. And as far as Zacharia in our timeline. I believe it’s in reference to Abraham Lincoln. Emancipation proclamation and the unknown soldier. But it was captain Christian rath. Kept secret from others not military.
The reason Matthew says, “son of Berechiah” is that he knows he needs to disambiguate. There were two Zechariah’s who were killed in the temple complex.
The Bible says one was killed “in the court”. Whether that was the inner court or the outer court doesn’t matter. These courts were both outside the sacred area.
Zechariah, son of Berechiah, was killed between the Holy Place (Temple – central structure) and the Altar of Sacrifice. This murder of a prophet, in the sacred area, makes it a heinous act.