Zechariah 1:4-6

4-6. Similar appeals were made to former generations, but they would not heed; therefore they were cut off.

The former prophets All the predecessors of Zechariah. They all with one accord urged the people to hate the evil and love the good. It is not necessary to suppose that the prophet has in mind any particular prophet or any particular utterance (compare Hosea 14:2; Eze 33:11 ; 2 Kings 17:13; Amos 5:14). The fathers did not hearken, and judgment overtook them.

Where are they?… do they live forever? The fathers are dead and even the prophets have passed away, but the words which the latter spoke and the former neglected proved true, for the threatened destruction came.

Words Especially of threatening (Jeremiah 39:16; Ezekiel 12:28).

Statutes Not a legal term as in Malachi 4:4, but practically identical with the preceding “word”; the judicial decrees of Jehovah proclaimed by the prophets.

My servants the prophets The “former prophets” (Zechariah 1:4). The prophets are frequently called the servants of God or of Jehovah, because it was their office to execute the purpose of their divine Master. Take hold of [“overtake”] “The judgments decreed by Jehovah resemble messengers sent out by Jehovah to pursue and destroy the sinners” (Deuteronomy 28:15; Deuteronomy 28:45). The climax was the exile.

They returned Though the judgments did not produce a complete change of heart, they did open the eyes of the people so that they recognized that they were sent by Jehovah in punishment for their own sins (Lamentations 2:17; Ezra 9:5 ff.). The experience of the fathers should teach a lesson to the children.