{"id":79373,"date":"2020-08-30T00:13:51","date_gmt":"2020-08-29T21:13:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=79373"},"modified":"2020-08-30T00:13:51","modified_gmt":"2020-08-29T21:13:51","slug":"what-is-the-strongest-thing-in-the-kingdom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/what-is-the-strongest-thing-in-the-kingdom\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is The Strongest Thing In The Kingdom?"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[],"acf":{"old_id":"79373","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":73524,"related_cahpter":"556","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"Zerubbabel answers the riddle, and disappears\u00a0\r\n\r\n","content":"

Zechariah has a new vision – emerging from two copper mountains are four chariots pulled by four horses, colored red, black, white, and speckled respectively. Once again, the angel explains to Zechariah the symbolism of the vision. This time, the four chariots represent the four winds of heaven, represent God’s spirit of judgment, and now this spirit is spreading out to the four corners of the world. Many commentaries understand that the four chariots represent Divine forces that will gain dominion over the four kingdoms that have historically ruled over the Jews, and now they themselves are envisioned as coming under God’s dominion. God singles out the black chariot, travelling northward, for commendation, which most commentators interpret as symbolizing the defeat of the Babylonians.<\/span><\/p>\n

After this series of eight visions, God instructs Zechariah to make a crown of silver and a crown of gold. Zechariah is to place both crowns on the head of Joshua, the high priest; but immediately afterwards, Zechariah is to inform Joshua that \u201cTzemach\u201d (presumably Zerubbabel), named such because “he will flourish” (in Hebrew \u2013 yiTZMaCH), will be the one to build the Temple and sit on his throne, and will wear the gold crown. However, \u201ca harmonious understanding shall prevail between them\u201d (6:13).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Zechariah concludes chapter 6 with optimistic pictures of the exiles returning to the land to rebuild the Temple.<\/span><\/p>\n

What ever happened to Zerubbabel? Radak here suggests that he did rule over the people briefly, yet not only does the promised great redemption never come to pass, but Zerubbabel disappears mysteriously. Some scholars suggest that he was removed from his office (or even executed) by the Persians, suspicious of any charismatic leader that could lead the nascent community in Judea to rebel against them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Later non-canonical works added to his legend. 1 Esdras describes the young Zerubbabel as one of the wisest men in Persia. Chapter 3 tells how Zerubbabel and two other courtiers of King Darius agree to a public dispute regarding the identity of the strongest thing in the kingdom. The king approves, promising to grant the winner great honor and royal favors.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first debater suggests that wine is the strongest, because of its ability to “lead astray all who drink it, making equal king and orphan, slave and freeman, poor and rich.” The second declares that men are the strongest, because they rule over both land and sea. He adds that makes the king even stronger, because “he is their lord and master”. If so, argues Zerubbabel logically then women are the strongest, since they give birth to men and kings alike, and men leave their parents to serve women.” He then argues that truth is even stronger than women, for “Truth endures and is strong forever.”<\/span><\/p>\n

The king concurs with Zerubbabel, and appoints him to lead the first wave of Jewish exiles back to Jerusalem to complete the Temple’s restoration. Sadly, Zerubbabel was fated to become his generation’s symbol \u2013 filled with potential, but ultimately coming to naught.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":79374,"id":79374,"title":"zech6-truth","filename":"zech6-truth.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/zech6-truth.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/what-is-the-strongest-thing-in-the-kingdom\/zech6-truth\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"zech6-truth","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":79373,"date":"2020-08-29 21:13:32","modified":"2021-07-07 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