Zechariah 1–8 identifies Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo, and dates his early messages to 520–518 BC, alongside Haggai. Addressing the small Persian-period community in Jerusalem and Judah after the Babylonian exile, his night visions encourage temple rebuilding, cleanse the high priest Joshua, and sustain hope through Zerubbabel. Chapters 9–14 are undated, differ in style, and are often understood as later material within the book. Together these chapters call a restored people to repentance, justice, holiness, and hope in God's coming kingship. Read Zechariah with Ezra 5–6 and Haggai; the New Testament later applies its king, shepherd, and pierced-one imagery to Jesus.
Zechariah receives eight night visions assuring the postexilic community of God's sovereign presence and the coming renewal of Jerusalem, anchored by the cleansing of the high priest and the promise of divine Spirit.
Zechariah 9–14 unfolds a dense eschatological vision of a humble king entering Jerusalem, a pierced figure mourned by all, and the final day when the LORD alone reigns over all the earth.