Zechariah 1:7-17

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 1:7

Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat ,.... Called Sabat in the Septuagint version, and in the Apocrypha: "Now Simon was visiting the cities that were in the country, and taking care for the good ordering of them; at which time he came down himself to Jericho with his sons, Mattathias and Judas, in the hundred threescore and seventeenth year, in the eleventh month, called Sabat:' (1 Maccabees 16:14) It is said by the Jews F7 Targum Sheni in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:8

I saw by night ,.... Or, "that night" F13 הלילה "hac nocte", Drusius. ; the night of the twenty fourth of Sebat; a proper and usual time for visions; and it may denote the obscurity of the vision, as it was in some respects to the prophet; and the state of the church at this time, it being a night season with it, and in a low estate; and the care that the Lord, who is Israel's Keeper, has of them in such seasons, being in the midst of them: and behold ! this is prefixed to the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:9

Then said I, O my Lord ,.... These are the words of the Prophet Zechariah to the angel that showed him this vision: what are these ? what is the meaning of this vision? particularly who are meant by the horses, red, speckled, and white, and those upon them? And the angel that talked with me ; who seems to be different from the Angel of the Lord, the man among the myrtle trees, Zechariah 1:8 he was one of the ministering spirits; see Revelation 17:1 , said unto me, I will show... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:10

And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said ,.... And so prevented the angel from giving the account he was about to give; and who was more capable of it, and which to do was great condescension in him, and was doing the prophet a singular honour: these are they whom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth ; which is a description of the angels, the ministering spirits sent forth by God to take their tour throughout the earth; not to do mischief, as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:11

And they answered the Angel of the Lord, that stood among the myrtle trees, and said ,.... That is, the ministering angels, signified by the red horses, speckled, and white, replied to what the Angel of the Lord had said concerning them; or rather agreed to and confirmed his account of them; or else gave up the account of their tour through the earth, with their observations upon the state of it: We have walked to and fro through the earth ; according to their mission and commission: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:12

Then the Angel of the Lord answered and said ,.... The same that was among the myrtle trees in the bottom, Zechariah 1:8 , O Lord of hosts, how long wilt thou not have mercy on Jerusalem, and on the cities of Judah ; which were fallen to ruin, and had lain waste for many years. These words are expressive of the intercession of Christ on the behalf of the people of the Jews, his professing people, both with respect to their temporal and spiritual good: against which thou hast had... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:13

And the Lord answered the angel that talked with me ,.... See Zechariah 1:9 what was the effect of Christ's intercession for the people of the Jews, was communicated to a ministering angel, and by him to the Prophet Zechariah: with good words, and comfortable words ; such as would be for the good and comfort of God's people, as follows; see Isaiah 40:1 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Zechariah 1:14

So the angel that communed with me ,.... Having an order from the other Angel, or the Lord of hosts: said unto me, Cry thou ; proclaim, publish, declare in the hearing of the people, for their comfort and encouragement. The Targum renders it, "prophesy": saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I am jealous for Jerusalem, and for Zion, with a great jealousy ; which is expressive of his conjugal affection for his church and people, his zeal for their good, and his indignation at their... 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

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