Zechariah 1:3

3. Instead of proceeding directly to his message, he introduces Jehovah as commissioning him to issue the call to repentance.

Therefore Because Jehovah was displeased with the fathers and had withdrawn from them (compare Hosea 5:15). He has not yet returned to the people, but is anxious to do so; therefore he commissions Zechariah to urge the people to do their share in the matter.

Unto them The contemporaries of the prophet.

Thus saith Jehovah Repeated three times in one verse, Haggai also repeats the phrase again and again (for example, Haggai 1:4).

Jehovah of hosts See on Hosea 12:5.

Turn ye [“Return”] unto me See on Joel 2:12. In this case the “return” was to show itself in the resumption of building operations on the temple (Haggai 1:3-4; Haggai 1:9).

I will turn [“return”] The sufferings of the present, such as the famine (Haggai 1:6) and the opposition of the surrounding tribes, were an indication that Jehovah had not yet returned to his people in loving-kindness and mercy. He promises, however, that if they will do their duty he will once more shower his blessings upon them.