Chapter 1

1:1  In the eighth month, 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,

eighth month

i.e. November.

1:7  Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the 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,

Sebat

Eleventh month i.e. February.

1:8  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.

I saw

The "man" ( Zechariah 1:8 ) is the "my lord," "the angel that talked with me" ( Zechariah 1:9 ), and "the angel of the Lord" ( Zechariah 1:10 Zechariah 1:11 ). The "man" "stood among the myrtle trees" ( Zechariah 1:8 ). The prophet addresses him as "my lord" (cf) Genesis 19:2 but when the "man" answers he perceives that he has addressed an angel--"the angel that talked with me" ( Zechariah 1:9 ). In Zechariah 1:10 the being of the vision is again "the man that stood among the myrtle trees." In Zechariah 1:11 he is called "the angel of the Lord," and to him the (riders on the) "red horses, speckled with white" say: "We have walked to and fro," etc. Then ( Zechariah 1:12 ) "the angel of the Lord" (i.e. the "man," "my lord," "the angel that talked with me") intercedes for the land against a world at ease. The date of the intercession was at the end of the 70 years' captivity of Judah. Zechariah 1:9-12 .

Taken as a whole Zechariah 1:8-17 Zechariah's first vision reveals Judah in dispersion; Jerusalem under adverse possession; and the Gentile nations at rest about it. This condition still continues, and Jehovah's answer to the intercession of the angel sweeps on to the end-time of Gentile domination, when "the Lord shall yet comfort Zion," etc. ( Zechariah 1:16 Zechariah 1:17 ).

Isaiah 40:1-5 . See "Kingdom (O.T.)" (See Scofield "Genesis 1:26") See Scofield " Zechariah 12:8 ".

red horse Cf. Revelation 6:4 . The whole Gentile period is characterized by the red horse, i.e. "sword." ; Daniel 9:26 ; Matthew 24:6 Matthew 24:7 .

1:9  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.

angel

(See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4") .

1:11  And they answered the angel of the LORD that stood among the myrtle trees, and said, We have walked to and fro through the earth, and, behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest.

angel

(See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4")

1:12  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?

angel

(See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4")

1:13  And the LORD answered the angel that talked with me with good words and comfortable words.

angel

(See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4")

1:14  So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.

angel

(See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4")

1:18  Then lifted I up mine eyes, and saw, and behold four horns.

horn

A "horn" is the symbol of a Gentile king Daniel 7:24 ; Revelation 17:12 and the vision is of the four world empires ; Daniel 2:36-44 ; 7:3-7 which have "scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem" (v.19)

1:19  And I said unto the angel that talked with me, What be these? And he answered me, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.

angel

(See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4")

1:20  And the LORD shewed me four carpenters.

And the Lord

The word charash, trans. "carpenter," is lit. carver, engraver. Zechariah 1:21 makes it plain that, whatever the four carvers may be, they are used to "fray," or carve away (Heb. charad) in the sense of diminishing, enfeebling, the great Gentile world-powers. They may stand for Jehovah's "four sore judgments," the sword, famine, evil beasts, and pestilence Ezekiel 14:21 the four horses of Rev. 6.