Encountering the Old Testament, 3rd Edition
A Christian Survey
series: Encountering Biblical Studies
Chapter
34. Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi: Rebuilding a People
Chapter Intro Video
Chapter Objectives
- Summarize the basic structure and content of the books of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi
- Discuss the authorship question related to Zechariah 9–14
- Describe the nature and role of disputations as Malachi used them
Chapter Summary
- Haggai’s messages focused on Judah’s spiritual apathy.
- Haggai assured his audience God would bless them if they honored God by rebuilding the temple.
- The different subject matter in Zechariah 1–8 and 9–14 has led some to suggest a multiple authorship view for the book.
- Zechariah 1–6 describes eight night visions in which God revealed his purposes for his people.
- Malachi’s message is a series of six disputations.
- Malachi’s words about God’s ultimate justice find fulfillment in John the Baptist and in Jesus.
- Malachi closed his book with a command to remember the law of Moses and a promise that God’s day of judgment was coming.
Study Questions
- Identify the historical setting in which Haggai and Zechariah prophesied. How would you characterize Haggai’s audience?
- How did Haggai and Zechariah motivate the people to rebuild the temple?
- Discuss the pertinent issues surrounding the authorship of Zechariah.
- On what aspects of Judean life did Zechariah’s visions touch? How many visions do you remember?
- What did Zechariah promise about the priesthood (3:1–10; 6:9–15)?
- How did Zechariah describe the messianic kingdom? How were his words fulfilled in the New Testament?
- What’s the main theme of Malachi?
- Malachi described many types of abuses in his day. How are people—even Christians—sometimes guilty of these same abuses today?