THE THEOLOGICAL PORTRAYAL OF FORGIVENESS IN ZECHARIAH 1-8

Zechariah 1-8 has an optimistic undertone and describes Yahweh’s love for thepost-exilic community in Jerusalem. At least three passages refer directly toforgiveness: Zech 1:16 – “Therefore, thus says the Lord, I have returned toJerusalem with compassion”; 3:4 – “See I have taken your guilt/sin away from you,and there will be festal clothing for you”; and 3:9 – “… and I will remove the guiltof this land in a single day”. All these references belong to the second section ofProto-Zechariah (1:7-6:15) that contains seven (or eight) visions interspersed withoracles. Two of the prominent forgiveness references are found in the vision of thehigh priest Joshua (3:1-10). This vision is different from the others and somescholars believe that 3:1-7 (8-10) may be part of a later addition or exclude it fromthe sequel numbering of the visions (Jeremias, Meyers & Meyers, Petersen,Reventlow, Willi-Plein, et al). This article discusses the portrayal of forgiveness inZechariah 1-8 offering a few possible answers to the following questions: (1) Whatis the content of forgiveness in Zechariah 1-8? (2) Were the forgiveness referenceslater additions? (3) Does 3:1-10 describe a ritual of forgiveness? (4) Was therebuilding of the temple a sign or symbol of forgiveness? (5) Was forgiveness acentral theme for the post-exilic community in Jerusalem?