Which Zechariah was Jesus referring to when he spoke of “Zechariah son of Barachiah...?

Question

whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar”? ( Matt 23: 35)

Answer 1

Zechariah the son of Jehoiada is most likely the one whom Jesus had in mind when prophesying that “the blood of all the prophets spilled from the founding of the world” will be required “from this generation [the Jews of the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry], from the blood of Abel down to the blood of Zechariah, who was slain between the altar and the house.” (Lu 11:50, 51) The places mentioned as the site of the slaying correspond. In the first century C.E., Chronicles was the last book in the canon of the Hebrew Scriptures. So Jesus’ phrase, “from Abel . . . to Zechariah,” was similar to our expression, “from Genesis to Revelation.” In the parallel account at Matthew 23:35, Zechariah is called the son of Barachiah, possibly another name for Jehoiada, unless, by chance, it indicates a generation between Jehoiada and Zechariah or is the name of an earlier ancestor.


(Bar·a·chi′ah) [Jehovah Has Blessed].

Father of the Zechariah who was murdered “between the sanctuary and the altar.”—Mt 23:35; Lu 11:50, 51.

As to the words “son of Barachiah,” they are not found in Luke’s account, and they are omitted from Matthew’s account in the Codex Sinaiticus (original scribe). It has been suggested that Jehoiada, the father of a Zechariah who was murdered, may have had two names, as is the case with other persons in the Bible.—Compare Mt 9:9 and Mr 2:14; Mt 10:2, 3.

It is generally understood that Jesus here referred to Zechariah “the son of Jehoiada the priest.” (2Ch 24:20-22) This is the most logical conclusion, since Chronicles is listed last in the traditional Jewish canon, thereby making Abel the first and Zechariah the last righteous man recorded in the Hebrew Scriptures as having been murdered. According to 2 Chronicles 24:21, Zechariah was murdered “in the courtyard of Jehovah’s house.” The altar of burnt offering was in the inner courtyard, outside of and in front of the entrance to the sanctuary. This would correspond with Jesus’ location of the incident “between the sanctuary and the altar.”

Concerning both Abel and Zechariah a reckoning for the shedding of their blood was foretold. (Ge 4:10; 2Ch 24:22) Also, there is a strong parallel between the circumstances and events in the days of Zechariah the son of Jehoiada and those of the generation living when Jesus spoke these words. As Zechariah was dying he said: “Let Jehovah see to it and ask it back.” Very soon his prophetic words began to be fulfilled. A small Syrian force came up, and Jehovah delivered a great military force of Judah into their hand, the princes of Judah being greatly ruined and despoiled. The Syrians executed acts of judgment on Jehoash and left him with many diseases, after which he was murdered by his servants. (2Ch 24:23-25) After describing the bloodguilt of those to whom he was talking, Jesus said: “All these things will come upon this generation.” (Mt 23:36) Jesus’ prophecy was fulfilled on Jerusalem and Judea in 70-73 C.E.

Answer 2

The Zachariah referred to has to be son of Berechiah. This Zachariah is one of the minor prophets, and father is listed as Berechiah ( Zech 1:1 ). He would be the most likely candidate because the other Zechariah ( son of Jehoiada ) died about 800 B.C. If one thinks Christ referred to this Zechariah, then the time span from Abel to this Zechariah would not cover Old Testament period, which extended to 400 B.C.

Abel to Zechariah the son of Berechiah would make a much better sweep of the OT period than would the period from Abel to Zechariah the son of Jehoiada. Since many Zechariahs are mentioned in the Old Testament, it would not be too difficult to imagine two Zechariahs dying from similar circumstances.

Answer 3

The prophet


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

Answer 4

Jesus is only documenting a real event a death of a prophet.