Zechariah 5
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Vision of the flying scroll (5:1-4)
Zechariah now looks and sees a flying scroll. The scroll’s length was 30 feet and its width was 15 feet. It is interesting to note at the least that these are the same dimensions as the porch of Solomon built before the entrance of the temple. The flying scroll is also the same dimensions as the Holy Place of the tabernacle. Since the size is the same as these two things, we are likely seeing the communication of the law and holiness in these dimensions. The flying scroll represents the curse that goes over the whole land against those who steal and those who swear falsely. In this vision we have a reminder that sin will not be tolerated and warning against those who would be careless with the law of God. The people of Israel had been in captivity for 70 years because of such carelessness and it seems that some of the people were relapsing into those same errors.
Vision of a woman in a basket (5:5-11)
Zechariah now looks and sees a basket that is going out. This basket represented the iniquity in the land. As Zechariah is looking, he sees the lead lid of the basket lifted and inside is a woman. The woman represents wickedness, is thrust back into the basket, and the lid is thrust back down. Two women come and lifted up the basket between heaven and earth. Zechariah asks where the two women are taking the basket. The angel responds that it is going to the land of Shinar, to build a house for it.
This vision has a couple of points to understand. First, we see the removal of the sins of the people. Their sins had been very great and grievous against the Lord, causing His anger to burn hot and destroy them. The people have returned from their punishment in captivity and now God is showing them that those sins have been removed and taken to a far away land. The other point that seems to be made in the vision is that there is a growing wickedness developing in Shinar. Shinar is known as the first world kingdom found by Nimrod in Genesis 10:10-11. But Shinar was also a reference to Babylon. Though by this point Babylon had been conquered by Persia, Shinar and Babylon still stood as a reference for the world nations of wickedness that stand against God. In Revelation we see the use of the name Babylon to represent a wicked world power that stood against God’s kingdom. In this vision we are getting a glimpse that the evil powers have not been destroyed completely yet, even though the people’s sins are removed and they are building in Jerusalem.
