Zechariah 7
Summary for Zech 7:1-8:23: 7:1–8:23 a These sermons provide a transition between the visions of the present (chs 1–6 b) and those of the near future (chs 9–11 c) and the more distant future (chs 12–14 d). Chapter 7 e discusses fasting over past disasters; chapter 8 f focuses on feasting over future blessings.Summary for Zech 7:1-14: 7:1-14 g Zechariah’s sermons were prompted by delegates from Bethel who posed a practical question (7:2-3 h). Although Zechariah answered the question later (8:18-19 i), he responded first with rhetorical questions that focused on the people’s self-centered motives (7:5-6 j). Zechariah then outlined God’s expectations for Israel (7:8-10 k; see Jer 22:3 l) and recounted what had happened to those who disobeyed previously (Zech 7:11-14 m). 7:1 n of the fourth year of King Darius’s reign: The two sermons of chs 7–8 o came almost two years after the visions of chs 1–6 p.
7:2 q to seek the Lord’s favor (literally to soften the face of the Lord): They were asking God to grant a petition or to rule on a question. Their request was probably accompanied by a sacrifice or offering.
7:3 r The delegation from Bethel posed a practical procedural question.
Summary for Zech 7:4-7: 7:4-7 s Rather than answering the question right away, Zechariah first confronted his hearers with their selfish motives and hypocrisy. The most important issue was whether or not their heart’s desire was really to please God and do his will; if not, it made no difference whether or not they kept a fast.
7:5 t According to Jeremiah, seventy years of exile in Babylon (see Jer 25:11-12 u; 29:10 v) were to make up the Sabbath years of rest for the land that had gone unobserved for nearly 500 years (2 Chr 36:21 w; see Exod 23:10-11 x; Lev 26:34-35 y).
• While the summer fast lamented the destruction of Solomon’s Temple (Zech 7:3 z), the early autumn fast either commemorated the assassination of Gedaliah, governor of Judah (see 2 Kgs 25:22-25 aa; Jer 41:1-3 ab), or it was the Day of Atonement (Lev 23:26-32 ac).
7:7 ad Isn’t this the same message: E.g., see Isa 1:11-20 ae; 58:3-7 af.
7:10 ag Widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor often did not have access to the legal protection afforded the average citizen (cp. Deut 24:14 ah, 17-18 ai). Fasting and social justice should go hand in hand (see Isa 58:6-7 aj).
7:11 ak Your ancestors refused to listen: They ignored God’s commands (see Jer 11:10 al).
• stubbornly turned away (or set a defiant shoulder): The idiom signifies haughty stubbornness (see Neh 9:29 am).
• Put their fingers in their ears places full responsibility upon the people for their obstinacy (cp. Isa 6:10 an). The same expression is used of Pharaoh when he “became stubborn” (or “hardened his heart”) against God and refused to release the Hebrews (Exod 8:32 ao).
7:12 ap To make one’s heart as hard as stone is to steel one’s will against the will of God (see Jer 17:1 aq; cp. Ezek 3:9 ar).
• Instructions (Hebrew torah) refers to God’s laws and commands as taught and interpreted by the prophets.
7:14 as As with a whirlwind, I scattered them: The scattering of the Hebrews among the nations was one of the curses for violating the Mosaic covenant (Deut 28:36-37 at, 64 au).
• The pleasant land was the land of God’s covenant promise (Ps 106:24 av; Jer 3:19 aw).
• Their land became ... desolate through divine judgment on their covenant unfaithfulness and idolatry (Jer 12:10 ax).
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