Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
Zephaniah
- Where and when? Judah in the days of King Josiah (c. 640–609 BC)
- To whom? Judah
- What’s the big deal? Impending judgment on Jerusalem and Judah and the nations, Day of the LORD, hope for Jerusalem and the nations
- Text to Consider: Zeph 3:9–13
Haggai
- Where and when? Jerusalem, after return from Babylonian exile (c. 520 BC). Ezra 5:1–2
- To whom? Exiles who have returned to Jerusalem
- What’s the big deal? Temple rebuilding, but not what they had hoped.
- Text to Consider: Haggai 2:1–23
Zechariah
- Where and when? Jerusalem, after return from Babylonian exile, same time as Haggai (Ezra 5:1–2)
- To whom? Exiles who had returned to Jerusalem
- What’s the big deal? Call to Repentance
- Text to Consider: Zech 1:1–6; Zech 9:9–17
Malachi
- Where and when? Even later than Haggai and Zechariah
- To whom? The people of God in Israel
- What’s the big deal? Covenant unfaithfulness through polluted offerings and withheld tithes. Coming Day of the LORD.
- Text to Consider: Mal 3:6–15; Mal 4:1–6
