Sefer Zecharyah (Zechariah) is the book of the prophecies of Zecharyah ben Berechyah ben Iddo, a navi (prophet). It is one of the Neviim Acharonim (the Later Prophets), and one of the Trei Asar (the Twelve), the twelve short books of the Neviim that are written together as one sefer (the Gemara, Bava Batra 14b). Zecharyah prophesies from the second year of King Daryavesh (Darius) (1:1), to the exiles who have come back from Bavel (Babylonia) to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), while Zerubavel is rebuilding the Beit HaMikdash (the Jewish Holy Temple) and Yehoshua (Joshua) serves as kohen gadol (high priest).
Hashem calls the people to return to Him, so that He will return to them. Then Zecharyah sees a series of night visions, and a malach (angel) explains them (1:7–6:8). Riders among the myrtles report that the earth is at rest, and Hashem promises mercy for Yerushalayim. Four smiths throw down the horns that scattered Yehudah (Judah). Yerushalayim will be a city without walls, with Hashem a wall of fire around it. Yehoshua's filthy clothes are removed as a sign that his sin is removed. A golden menorah between two olive trees comes with Hashem's word to Zerubavel that the work will be done through His spirit, not through force. A flying scroll curses thieves and false swearers, a woman called wickedness is carried off in a basket, and four chariots go out over the earth.
Asked whether to keep fasting, Hashem answers that what He wants is justice and kindness, and He promises that the fasts will become festivals (7–8).
Perakim 9–14 tell of a humble king riding a donkey who speaks peace to the nations, a shepherd paid thirty pieces of silver, and a spirit of grace poured on the house of David as the land mourns. On the day of Hashem all the nations gather against Yerushalayim and Hashem fights them. His feet stand on Har HaZeitim (the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem), living waters flow from the city, Hashem is King over all the earth, and the nations go up every year for Sukkot.
Sefer Zecharyah has fourteen perakim, and two of its passages are read as haftarot. Zecharyah 2:14–4:7 is the haftarah of Parshat Behaalotcha and of Shabbat Chanukah, and perek 14 is the haftarah of the first day of Sukkot.