Zechariah 1

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 1

In this chapter, after the introduction (Zech. 1:1), we have, I. An awakening call to a sinful people to repent of their sins and return to God, Zech. 1:2-6. II. Great encouragement given to hope for mercy. 1. By the vision of the horses, Zech. 1:7-11. 2. By the prayer of the angel for Jerusalem, and the answer to that prayer, Zech. 1:12-17. 3. By the vision of the four carpenters that were employed to cut off the four horns with which Judah and Jerusalem were scattered, Zech. 1:18-21. read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 1

THIS prophet was colleague with the prophet Haggai, and a worker together with him in forwarding the building of the second temple (Ezra 5:1); for two are better than one. Christ sent forth his disciples two and two. Zechariah began to prophesy some time after Haggai. But he continued longer, soared higher in visions and revelations, wrote more, and prophesied more particularly concerning Christ, than Haggai had done; so the last shall be first: the last in time sometimes proves first in... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 1:1-6

Here is, I. The foundation of Zechariah's ministry; it is laid in a divine authority: The word of the Lord came to him. He received a divine commission to be God's mouth to the people and with it instructions what to say. He received of the Lord that which also he delivered unto them. The word of the Lord was to him; it came in the evidence and demonstration of the Spirit, as a real thing, and not a fancy. For the ascertaining of this, we have here, 1. The time when the word of the Lord came... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 1:7-17

We not come to visions and revelations of the Lord; for in that way God chose to speak by Zechariah, to awaken the people's attention, and to engage their humble reverence of the word and their humble enquiries into it, and to fix it the more in their minds and memories. Most of the following visions seem designed for the comfort of the Jews, now newly returned out of captivity, and their encouragement to go on with the building of the temple. The scope of this vision (which is as an... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Zechariah 1:18-21

It is the comfort and triumph of the church (Isa. 59:19) that when the enemy shall come in like a flood, with mighty force and fury, then the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Now, in this vision (the second which this prophet had), we have an illustration of that, God's Spirit making a stand, and making head, against the formidable power of the church's adversaries. I. We have here the enemies of the church bold and daring, and threatening to be its death, to cut off... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 1 In this chapter, after the account of the prophet, and the time of the prophecy by him, are an exhortation of the people of the Jews to repentance; the vision of a rider upon a red horse, and the intercession of the angel of the Lord for Jerusalem; and another vision of the enemies of the Jews, and of their deliverers. In Zechariah 1:1 is the general inscription of the book; in which an account is given of the time of its writing, and of the writer of it: then... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:1

In the eighth month ,.... The month Marchesvan, called the month Bul, in 1 Kings 6:38 which answers to part of our October, and part of November: this was but two months from the first prophecy of Haggai, Haggai 1:1 and but a few days after his second, Haggai 2:1 so near were the prophecies of these two prophets together: in the second year of Darius : king of Persia; not Darius the Mede, but Darius the son of Hystaspes: came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah ; that is, "the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:2

The Lord hath been sore displeased with your fathers. Who lived before and at the time of the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, and which was manifest by their captivity; all which were occasioned by their sins, with which they provoked the Lord to sore displeasure against them; and this is mentioned as a caution to their children, that they might not follow their example, and incur the like displeasure. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:3

Therefore say thou unto them ,.... This is an order from the Lord to Zechariah, to say unto them, in the name of the Lord: thus saith the Lord of hosts ; of the hosts above and below, of angels and of men, of heaven and earth, and all that is therein: this is said, that the greater regard might be had to his words: turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts ; by repentance, and acknowledgment of former sins; by reformation for the future; by attending to the worship and service of God,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:4

Be ye not as your fathers ,.... Who lived before the captivity, and misused the prophets and messengers of the Lord, and despised his word, and fell into gross idolatry; the evil examples of parents and ancestors are not to be followed: unto whom the former prophets have cried : such as Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others: saying, thus saith the Lord of hosts, Turn now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings ; by their "evil ways" may be meant their idolatrous worship; and... read more

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