Catholic Dictionary
Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.
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ZECHARIAH, BOOK OF
Prophetic writting of the Old Testament, containing, for its length, the largest number of predictions about Christ. Three visions concern the foundation of the Messianic kingdom. The fourth makes the promise "to raise my servant Baruch" (3-9b). The fourth through the sixth visions treat of Christ the priest and king. An address stresses the keeping of the commandments, and the motive power of the Messianic prophecies (7-8). The rest of the book is mainly two burdens: one over Syria, Phoenicia, and the Philistines; and the other over Israel. In the first is the prophecy of Palm Sunday (9:9-10), and the purchase of Haceldama for the treason money of Judas, who betrayed Christ. In the second (12) is a promise of the restoration of Jerusalem. The author calls himself "son of Berechiah," but he is most probably not the prophet.
