1 A Call to Repentance InI.e. Oct/Nov 520 b.c.the eighth month of the second year [of the reign] ofDarius the Great ruled Persia (capital city, Persepolis) from 522-486 b.c. He was an avid builder who used paid workers for his projects instead of slaves, a concept which at that time was revolutionary. He was a gifted visionary, and an energetic king whose social and economic goals endured and greatly benefited both his subjects and future generations. He developed efficient highways, standardized coinage, weights, measures, and he promoted religious tolerance and human rights.Darius [the king of Persia], the word of the Lcame to Zechariah (the Lremembers) the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, the prophet, saying,
2 “The Lwas extremely angry with your fathers.
3 Therefore say to the Jews, ‘Thus says the Lof hosts (armies), “Return to Me,” declares the Lof hosts, “and I shall return to you.
4 Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, ‘Thus says the Lof hosts, “Repent [that is, change your way of thinking]andreturn now from your evil way [of life] and from your evil deeds.” ’ But they did not listen or pay attention to Me,” declares the L.
5 “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever?
6 But did not My words (warnings) and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, overtake your fathers? Then they repented and said, ‘As the Lof hosts planned to do to us [in discipline and punishment], in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so has He dealt with us.’ ” ’ ”
7 Patrol of the Earth On the twenty-fourth day of the eleventh month (Feb 15, 519..), which is the month of Shebat, in the second year of [the reign of] Darius, the word of the Lcame to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo, as follows:
8 In the night I saw [a vision] and behold, aThis Man is identified as the Angel of the Lord in 1:11, with capitalization used to indicate Him.Man was riding on a red horse, and it stood among the myrtle trees that were in the ravine; and behind Him were horses: red, sorrel (reddish-brown), and white.
9 Then I said, “O my lord, what are these?” And theThis is the interpreting angel, mentioned in vv 9, 13, 14; 2:3; 4:1, 4, 5; 5:5, 10; 6:4, 5, and is not to be confused with the Man in v 8 or the Angel of the Lord in v 11.angel who was speaking with me said, “I will show you what these are.”
10 And the Man who stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are the ones whom the Lhas sent to go throughout the earthandpatrol it.”
11 And the men on the horses answered the“Angel” has been capitalized here to reflect the likelihood that it is God appearing in a visible form (see note Gen 16:7).Angel of the Lwho stood among the myrtle trees and said, “We have gone throughout the earth [patrolling it] and behold, all the earth sits at rest [in peace and free from war].”
12 Then the Angel of the Lsaid, “O Lof hosts, how long will You withhold mercyandcompassion from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which You have had indignationandanger these seventy years [of the Babylonian captivity]?”
13 And the Lanswered the angel who was speaking with me with gracious and comforting words.
14 So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, “Proclaim, ‘Thus says the Lof hosts, “I am jealous [with a burning, fiery passion] for Jerusalem and for Zion [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely mine] with a great jealousy.
15 But I am very angry with theI.e. the powerful Gentile nations whom God used to punish the Israelites for their disobedience.nations who are at easeandfeel secure; for while I was only a little angry, theyThe conquering nations sought to wipe out the children of Israel, an evil which exceeded God’s intended punishment.furthered the disaster [against the people of Israel].”
16 Therefore, thus says the L, “I have returned to Jerusalem with mercyandcompassion. My house shall be built in it,” says the Lof hosts, “and aI.e. Jerusalem shall be rebuilt and restored to even greater glory.measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.” ’
17 Proclaim again, ‘Thus says the Lof hosts, “My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the Lshall again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.” ’ ”
18 Then I looked up, and saw four horns (powers)!
19 So I asked the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these?” And he answered me, “These are the horns [the powerful Gentile nations] that have scattered Judah (the Southern Kingdom), Israel (the Northern Kingdom), and Jerusalem (capital city of Judah).”
20 Then the Lshowed me four craftsmen.
21 I asked, “What are these [horns and craftsmen] coming to do?” And he said, “These are the horns (powers) that have scattered Judah so that no man raised up his head [because of the suffering inflicted by the Gentile nations]. But thesecraftsmenhave come to terrify themandmake them panic, and throw down the horns of the nations who have lifted up their horns against the land of Judah in order to scatter it.”