Zec 1:12 | NET2full | STEP | The angel of the Lord then asked , “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies , how long before you have compassion on Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah that you have been so angry with for these 70 years ?”

‏ Zechariah 1:12

12 The angel of the Lord then asked, “O Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ^{▼▼sn Note that here the angel of the Lord is clearly distinct from the Lord who rules over all himself.} how long before you have compassion on Jerusalem and the other cities of Judah that you have been so angry with for these 70 years?” ^{▼▼sn The 70 years refers to the predicted period of Babylonian exile, a period with flexible beginning and ending points depending on the particular circumstances in view (cf. Jer 25:1; 28:1; 29:10; Dan 9:2). Here the end of the 70 years appears to be marked by the completion of the temple in 516 b.c., exactly 70 years after its destruction in 586.}