Zechariah 7:1-12

1 It happened in the fourth year of king Daryavesh that the word of the LORD came to Zekharyah in the fourth day of the ninth month, the month of Kislev.

2 The people of Beit-El sent Sar'etzer and Regem-Melekh, and their men, to entreat the LORD's favor,

3 and to speak to the Kohanim of the house of the LORD of Hosts, and to the prophets, saying, "Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?"

4 Then the word of the LORD of Hosts came to me, saying,

5 "Speak to all the people of the land, and to the Kohanim, saying, 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and in the seventh month for these seventy years, did you at all fast to me, really to me?

6 When you eat, and when you drink, don't you eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?

7 Aren't these the words which the LORD proclaimed by the former prophets, when Yerushalayim was inhabited and in prosperity, and its cities around her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?'"

8 The word of the LORD came to Zekharyah, saying,

9 "Thus has the LORD of Hosts spoken, saying, 'Execute true judgment, and show kindness and compassion every man to his brother.

10 Don't oppress the widow, nor the fatherless, the sojourner, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.'

11 But they refused to listen, and turned their backs, and stopped their ears, that they might not hear.

12 Yes, they made their hearts as hard as flint, lest they might hear the law, and the words which the LORD of Hosts had sent by his Spirit by the former prophets. Therefore great wrath came from the LORD of Hosts.

Zechariah 7:1-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ZECHARIAH 7

This chapter treats concerning the nature and use of certain fasts kept by the Jews, on account of the destruction of the temple, and other things; and concerning the message of the former prophets to them, and the effects of it. The occasion of the former was an embassy sent by the Jews to the priests and prophets, to know whether they should continue the fast of the fifth month; upon which the prophet was sent by the Lord unto them. The time of the prophecy is noted, Zec 7:1. An account of the embassy is given, of the persons that were sent, and to whom, and upon what account, Zec 7:2,3. The answer of the Lord to it by the prophet, showing the usefulness of fasts to him, and putting them upon hearkening to his voice by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was in great prosperity, Zec 7:4-7 and then they are exhorted by him, in the ministry of the present prophet, to acts of righteousness, several species of which are mentioned; and which were the same they had been exhorted to by the former prophets, but had neglected, and hardened their hearts against all exhortations and instructions, Zec 7:8-12 and were the reason of their captivity and desolation, Zec 7:13,14.