Zechariah 7:7 NIV

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

This occasional sermon, which the prophet preached, and which is recorded in this and the next chapter, was above two years after the former, in which he gave them an account of his visions, as appears by comparing the date of this (Zech. 7:1), in the ninth month of the fourth year of Darius, with the date of that (Zech. 1:1), in the eighth month of the second year of Darius; not that Zechariah was idle all that while (it is expressly said that he and Haggai continued prophesying till the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 7:7

Should ye not hear the words which the Lord hath cried by the former prophets ,.... As Hosea, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and others; suggesting that it would have been much better for them to have regarded the exhortations and instructions which the Lord sent them by his servants, which would have prevented their captivity; and so would have had no occasion of fasting and mourning: for those prophecies were delivered out when Jerusalem was inhabited, and in prosperity, and the cities thereof... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 7:7

The words which the Lord hath cried by the former prophets - הראשנים נביאים nebiim harishonim , is the title which the Jews give to Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, and the two books of Kings. The latter prophets, אחרונים נביאים nebiim acharonim , are Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve minor prophets. The hagiographa, כתובים kethubim , holy writings, are the Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 7:7

Verse 7 And the Prophet’s object is more evident from the next verse, when he says, Are not these the words which Jehovah proclaimed by the former Prophets? He confirms here his doctrine by many testimonies, that is, that God had already through successive ages exhorted the Jews to true repentance, and condemned their dissimulation, that they might not think that true religion was made up of fasting and of similar things. And this the Prophet did, not only to gain or secure to himself more... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:1-7

Hypocrisy unmasked. "And it came to pass in the fourth year of King Darius, that the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah," etc. In the latter half of the last chapter we were told of an embassy to Jerusalem, which met with acceptance and honour. In the present passage we read of another, which meets with just the opposite treatment. The question asked by these messengers is not answered at all in this chapter. Not only so, those who ask it are indirectly rebuked for so doing. Why this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:1-7

Religious beliefs that are right; religious services that are wrong. "And it came to pass in the fourth year," etc. The preceding visions and symbolic actions recorded in this book occurred, we are informed, in the eighth month of the second year of King Darius. What is here recorded appears to have taken place in the ninth month of the fourth year of that king's reign—about two years later. The ninth month is here called Chisleu, and corresponds with the latter part of November and the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:1-14

God and men. I. THE UNITY OF GOD 'S PURPOSE . God's thoughts do not vary, though he varies his methods. His end for nations and individuals is always the same—advancement, not merely in knowledge and culture, but in moral goodness. II. THE MERCIFULNESS OF GOD 'S WARNINGS . At no time hath God left himself without wirelesses. By word and providence and in countless ways his warnings come. We see this in the past. ( Zechariah 7:7 , "former prophets.") So in the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:4-7

§ 2. In answer to the inquiry, the delegates are told that fasting is in itself an indifferent thing, but is to be estimated by the conduct of those who observe it. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:7

Should ye not hear the words, etc.? A verb must be supplied. "Do ye not know the words?" or "Should ye not obey the words?" Syriac, Septuagint, and Vulgate, "Are not these the words?" By the former prophets ( Zechariah 1:4 ). It had been a common cry of the prophets from early times that men must not put their trust in the observance of outward ceremonies, but attend to the cultivation of moral obedience and purity (see 1 Samuel 15:22 ; Proverbs 21:3 ; Isaiah 1:11 , Isaiah 1:12 ,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:7

God's education of the people. I. THE MORAL RELATIONSHIP OF THE PEOPLE . We are not absolutely separate existences. Related through birth, custom, association, and in other ways, we are connected, we are parts of one great whole. Hence in a large degree we are what others have made us. This must be taken into account as a factor in life. II. THE CONTINUOUS SPIRITUAL EDUCATION OF THE PEOPLE . The past speaks to us as well as the present. We learn from the dead... read more

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 7:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 7:7

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 7:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:1-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:1-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:4-7

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 7:7

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