Zec 1:7-15 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Zech 1:7-6:15: 1:7–6:15 These eight visions addressed the Judeans’ fears that prevented them from responding in faith to God’s promises. These visions, which occurred two months after Haggai’s final two messages (Hag 2:10-19 , 20-23 ), suggest that Haggai’s prophecies were being fulfilled. Summary for Zech 1:7-17: 1:7-17 Zechariah’s first vision depicts God’s concern for Jerusalem (1:7-15 ), followed by a response (1:16-17 ) that confirmed God’s intentions to rebuild his Temple and restore the city’s prosperity.

Summary for Zech 1:7-6:15: 1:7–6:15 ^a These eight visions addressed the Judeans’ fears that prevented them from responding in faith to God’s promises. These visions, which occurred two months after Haggai’s final two messages (Hag 2:10-19 ^b, 20-23 ^c), suggest that Haggai’s prophecies were being fulfilled.
Summary for Zech 1:7-17: 1:7-17 ^d Zechariah’s first vision depicts God’s concern for Jerusalem (1:7-15 ^e), followed by a response (1:16-17 ^f) that confirmed God’s intentions to rebuild his Temple and restore the city’s prosperity.
1:8 ^g The vision during the night follows a standard pattern: an introductory statement, a description of the vision, the prophet’s request for an interpretation, and an angelic explanation.

• The myrtle trees were probably in the wooded Kidron valley outside of Jerusalem. The Lord had symbolically returned to the city’s outskirts but had not yet entered Jerusalem because the Temple was still under construction.

• The colors of the red, brown, and white horses are not significant to this vision’s meaning. These angelic riders patrolled the earth (1:10 ^h), showing God’s continuing concern over Jerusalem.
1:10 ⁱ Patrol suggests the angelic riders’ ongoing scrutiny of the earth.
1:11 ^j The man sitting on a red horse among the myrtle trees (1:8 ^k) is called the angel of the Lord (cp. Gen 16:7-13 ^l; Exod 23:23 ^m; 32:34 ⁿ; Judg 13:21-22 ^o).
1:14 ^p My love ... is passionate and strong: This phrase, sometimes translated as “I am very jealous,” reflects intense, single-minded devotion that could produce hatred and envy or zeal and devotion. God is jealous—as the one true and living God, he has exclusive rights to his creatures’ worship (see Exod 20:5 ^q; 34:14 ^r).

• Jerusalem signifies the territories ruled by Judean kings; Mount Zion was the site of the Lord’s Temple.