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"In the eighth month of the second year of Darius"

Text: Zechariah 1:1

AN INTERESTING HISTORICAL NOTE

Zechariah noted when he began his ministry as a prophet of the LORD God.

“In the eighth month of the second year of Darius,
the word of the LORD came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah,
the son of Iddo the prophet, saying,”
Zechariah 1:1

This text may be compared with the opening words of Haggai the prophet.

“In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month,
on the first day of the month, the word of the LORD
came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel,
governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,”
Haggai 1:1

1. “The second year of Darius”

a) This was Darius the Persian king.

b) Both Zechariah and Haggai were given their prophetic ministry in the same year.

2. “Haggai the prophet”

a) His family background was not stated.

b) Little is known about his family life apart from the fact that he was a prophet.

c) He began his prophetic ministry in the sixth month of the second year of Darius.

d) He does not seem to have an illustrious family background.

3. “Zechariah the prophet”

a) A little bit more is known about Zechariah. A brief mention is made about his background.

b) Berechiah was probably his grandfather. His father was the famous Iddo.

i) Iddo was called a seer or prophet (2 Chronicles 12:15).

ii) He was a scholar and historian (2 Chronicles 13:22).