Zechariah 1:7-8

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 1:7

Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month - This revelation was given about three months after the former, and two months after they had recommenced the building of the temple. Sebat - Answers to a part of our February. See Haggai 2:18 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 1:8

I saw by night - The time was emblematical of the affliction under which the Jews groaned. A man - An angel in the form of a man: supposed to have been the Lord Jesus; who seems to have appeared often in this way, as a prelude to his incarnation; see Joshua 5:13 ; Ezekiel 1:26 ; Daniel 7:13 ; Daniel 10:6 . The same, probably, that appeared to Joshua with a drawn sword, as the captain of the Lord's host. Joshua 5:13-15 . A red horse - An emblem of war and bloodshed. Among... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 1:7

Verse 7 Here is related a second prophecy, connected with a vision. At the beginning God alone spoke and gave commission to his Prophet to reprove the Jews: he now confirms the prediction as to the reduction of the city; for to the word is added a vision, which is, as we have seen elsewhere, a sort of seal. As the vision is obscure it may be variously explained, but I shall endeavor to accommodate it, without any refinements, to our use; and so no ambiguity will remain, provided we seek to be... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Zechariah 1:8

Verse 8 The Prophet says, that a vision was given him; and he saw a horseman among the myrtles sitting on a red horse; and with him there were horses red, variegated (18) and white, and having no doubt riders. So I understand the passage; for extremely gross is the idea that the horses spoke. There were then, as it were, a troop of horsemen; but the Prophet says, that one appeared as the chief leader, who was accompanied by others. In the meantime an angel stood at the side of the Prophet, who... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:7

In a series of visions it is now shown what is the nature of the restored theocracy, and what shall befall it. Thus were the people comforted by bearing God's purposes of mercy and the great future that awaited Israel. In this first vision it is revealed to Zechariah that the Gentile nations should be overthrown, and that whatever might be the present condition of the Jewish people, God's purpose of mercy toward them was unshaken and would be fulfilled. The four and twentieth day of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Zechariah 1:7-11

A vision of rest. "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," etc. Several points in this vision, as in many others, cannot certainly be explained. The nature and significance of the colours of the horses is one of these points. Another is as to the identity or otherwise of the "angel" of verse 9 with that of the "rider" of verse... 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

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