Zechariah 1:15

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:15

And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease ,.... The Chaldeans and Persians, and other nations, enemies of the Jews, who were now free from war, and enjoyed great prosperity, when the state and condition of the Jews was very low and discouraging: for I was but a little displeased : that is, with his people the Jews, for their ingratitude, idolatry, and immorality; and which displeasure he showed by suffering them to be carried into captivity; see Isaiah 54:8 , ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 1:15

I was but a little displeased - I was justly displeased with my people, and I gave their enemies a commission against them; but they carried this far beyond my design by oppression and cruelty; and now they shall suffer in their turn. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 1:15

Verse 15 God here obviates the doubt which might have easily crept into the minds of the godly. “Why should he then give up the miserable Jews to the will of the Gentiles, and suffer these heathens at the same time to be in a quiet state and to enjoy their pleasures?” This indeed at the first view seemed very strange: if God had such a zeal towards Jerusalem, why did he not give some token at least of his favor? He therefore gives this answer, — That though the condition of the Gentiles was now... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:7-17

§ 3. The first vision: the horsemen in the myrtle grove. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:7-17

The first vision: God's government of the world. "Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat, in the second year of Darius, came the word of the Lord unto Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse," etc. About three months after the call of Zechariah to the prophetic office, he had no less than seven, or, as some count, eight visions in one night. And this night, we... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:12-16

A vision of mercy. "Then the angel of the Lord answered and said," etc. In the last portion ( Zechariah 1:7-11 ) we saw Christ, or the Angel-Jehovah, presented to us as a King, exercising visitatorial powers. In the present we seem to read of him under those two other principal aspects in which he is revealed to his people, viz. I. INTERCESSION . We find this to be: 1 . Exceedingly apposite. Much had already been done for the remnant of the Captivity; but much also remained.... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:15

The heathen; the nations, who were God's instruments in punishing Israel. That are at ease. Living in proud security and self-enjoyment ( Isaiah 32:9 , Isaiah 32:11 ; Amos 6:1 ; comp. Amos 6:11 ). Septuagint, τὰ συνεπιτιθέμενα , "which join in attacking her;" Vulgate, opulentas, "wealthy," their riches giving them self-confidence. I was but a little displeased. God had been angry with his people, it is true, but only in measure, chastising them, like a parent, for their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:15

The wrath of God and the wrath of man. I. GOD 'S WRATH IS THE HIGHEST IN CASES . It is not a mood or passion; not the outburst of arbitrary power; but the calm expression of the Eternal Mind. He who does wrong identifies himself with the wrong, and so far must be an object of indignation. God feels towards things as they are. How different the wrath of man (cf. James 4:1 )! II. GOD 'S WRATH IS THE PUREST JUSTICE . Law must stand. Government and order must be... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Zechariah 1:15

I am sore displeased - literally “with great anger am I angered against the nations which are at ease.” The form of the words shows that the greatness of the displeasure of God against those who oppress His people, is proportionate to the great and tender love toward themselves. God had been angered indeed with His people; with their enemies He was “angered with a great anger;” and that the more, because they were at ease, in unfeeling self-enjoyment amid the miseries of others.I was a little... read more

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