Several of Zechariahās prophecies are dated to the second and fourth years of the reign of Darius (520 and 518 BCE), at the time when the construction of the second Temple had begun in earnest under the Persian-appointed governor Zerubbabel. Like Ezekiel and Jeremiah, he was a priest, and his grandfather, Iddo, is mentioned among the priests in Ezra chapter 5 and Nehemiah chapter 12. His contemporaries include the prophet Haggai, who began prophesying two months before him, and the high priest Joshua. He encouraged the people to repent, emphasized that Godās rule stands in contrast to military might ā āNot by might, nor by power, but by My spiritā (4:6) ā and stressed that ritual fast days have no value unless accompanied by spiritual improvement.
