Zec 1:3-6 | TNotes | STEP | 1:3 the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: God has an infinite number of angelic troops ready to carry out his will (see 2 Kgs 6:17 ; Matt 26:53 ). The phrase was probably meant to be an encouragement to the Judeans. • Return to me: A person who repents makes a complete turnaround—a shift away from sin and self toward loyalty to God and his covenant (see Isa 44:22 ; Mal 3:7 ; see also Pss 80:3-14 ; 85:4-8 ).

a1:3►

b2 Kgs 6:17►

cMatt 26:53►

dIsa 44:22►

eMal 3:7►

fPss 80:3-14►

g85:4-8►

h1:4►

i2 Kgs 17:13-14►

j2 Chr 36:15-16►

k2 Chr 30:7►

l1:6►

mDeut 28:15-68►

‏ Zechariah 1:3-6

1:3 ^a the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: God has an infinite number of angelic troops ready to carry out his will (see 2 Kgs 6:17 ^b; Matt 26:53 ^c). The phrase was probably meant to be an encouragement to the Judeans.

• Return to me: A person who repents makes a complete turnaround—a shift away from sin and self toward loyalty to God and his covenant (see Isa 44:22 ^d; Mal 3:7 ^e; see also Pss 80:3-14 ^f; 85:4-8 ^g).
1:4 ^h Before the Exile, earlier prophets actively called Judah and Israel to repentance. Zechariah especially reflects the prophetic influence of Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

• ancestors who would not listen: The people of Israel (2 Kgs 17:13-14 ⁱ) and Judah (2 Chr 36:15-16 ^j) were taken into exile because they stubbornly refused to heed the word of the Lord (cp. 2 Chr 30:7 ^k).
1:6 ^l everything ... happened: The covenant curses (Deut 28:15-68 ^m) had overtaken their ancestors who refused to obey God.