Zechariah 1:7-17

Zechariah 1:7-17

[7] Upon the four  and twentieth  day  of the eleventh  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,  saying,  [8] I saw  by night,  and behold a man  riding  upon a red  horse,  and he stood  among the myrtle trees  that were in the bottom;  and behind  him were there red  horses,  speckled,  and white.  [9] Then said  I, O my lord,  what are these? And the angel  that talked  with me said  unto me, I will shew  thee what these be. [10] And the man  that stood  among the myrtle trees  answered  and said,  These are they whom the LORD  hath sent  to walk  to and fro through the earth.  [11] And they answered  the angel  that stood  among the myrtle trees,  and said,  We have walked to and fro  through the earth,  sitteth still,  and is at rest.  [12] Then the angel  of the LORD  answered  and said,  O LORD  of hosts,  how long wilt thou not have mercy  on Jerusalem  and on the cities  of Judah,  against which thou hast had indignation  these threescore and ten  years?  [13] And the LORD  answered  the angel  that talked  with me with good  words  and comfortable  words.  [14] So the angel  that communed  with me said  unto me, Cry  thou, saying,  the LORD  of hosts;  I am jealous  for Jerusalem  and for Zion  with a great  jealousy.  [15] And I am very  sore  displeased  with the heathen  that are at ease:  for I was but a little  displeased,  and they helped  forward the affliction.  [16] Therefore thus saith  the LORD;  I am returned  to Jerusalem  with mercies:  my house  shall be built  in it, saith  the LORD  of hosts,  shall be stretched forth  upon Jerusalem.  [17] Cry  yet, saying,  the LORD  of hosts;  My cities  through prosperity  shall yet be spread abroad;  and the LORD  shall yet comfort  Zion,  and shall yet choose  Jerusalem. 

What does Zechariah 1:7-17 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

This first vision emphasizes that God was lovingly jealous of His chosen people and would restore them even though they were troubled at present and the nations that oppressed them were at ease (cf. Habakkuk). In the vision an angelic patrol reported on the state of the whole earth. This vision presents hope for dispersed and downtrodden Israel. [1]