Genre
The genre of Zechariah is mostly apocalyptic. One feature of this type of literature is looking back over the past but writing from the perspective that one is predicting the future. You don’t see that quite so much in Zechariah but you do see other elements of this genre: lots of fantastical imagery and symbolism.
The book ends with a vision of a future time in which conflict will end with victory on the side of those who are faithful to God.
Historical Context
In his historical context, the prophet Zechariah was challenging the post-exilic community to rebuild the temple. Jerusalem fell in 587BC and the temple was completely destroyed shortly thereafter. About 50 years later the the first Jews begin to return to the land from their exile in Babylon
The Book of Ezra (a historical book) tells us that the people were so preoccupied with rebuilding the land that they didn’t have time for God or the temple. Survival was so tough that they couldn’t see beyond it most days. But Ezra tells us they finally did get around to it by 515 BC – it took them almost 25 years after they returned, 75 years after the destruction of the temple.
The prophet Haggai – which is the book right before Zechariah – was a contemporary and on the same mission. Probably Malachi was also a contemporary.