7 On the twenty-fourth e day of the eleventh e month , which is the month Shebat , in the second year of Darius , the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the prophet , the son of Berechiah , the son of Iddo , as follows : 8 I saw at night , and behold , a man was riding on a red horse , and he was standing among the myrtle trees which were in the ravine , with red , sorrel and white horses behind him. 9 Then I said , "My lord , what are these ?" And the angel who was speaking with me said to me, "I will show you what these are." 10 And the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered and said , "These are those whom the Lord has sent to [1] patrol the earth ." 11 So they answered the angel of the Lord who was standing among the myrtle trees and said , "We have [2]patrolled the earth , and behold , all the earth is [3]peaceful and quiet ." 12 Then the angel of the Lord said , "O Lord of hosts , how long e will You have no compassion for Jerusalem and the cities of Judah , with which You have been indignant these seventy years ?" 13 The Lord answered the angel who was speaking with me with [4]gracious words , comforting words . 14 So the angel who was speaking with me said to me, " Proclaim , saying , 'Thus says the Lord of hosts , "I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and Zion . 15 "But I am very angry with the nations who are at ease ; for while I was only a little angry , they [5] furthered the disaster ." 16 'Therefore thus says the Lord , "I will return to Jerusalem with compassion ; My house will be built in it," declares the Lord of hosts , "and a measuring line will be stretched over Jerusalem ."' 17 "Again , proclaim , saying , 'Thus says the Lord of hosts , "My cities will again overflow with prosperity , and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem .""'
18 [6]Then I lifted up my eyes and looked , and behold , there were four horns . 19 So I said to the angel who was speaking with me, "What are these ?" And he answered me, "These are the horns which have scattered Judah , Israel and Jerusalem ." 20 Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Zechariah 1:7-20
Commentary on Zechariah 1:7-17
(Read Zechariah 1:7-17)
The prophet saw a dark, shady grove, hidden by hills. This represented the low, melancholy condition of the Jewish church. A man like a warrior sat on a red horse, in the midst of this shady myrtle-grove. Though the church was in a low condition, Christ was present in the midst, ready to appear for the relief of his people. Behind him were angels ready to be employed by him, some in acts of judgment, others of mercy, others in mixed events. Would we know something of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, we must apply, not to angels, for they are themselves learners, but to Christ himself. He is ready to teach those humbly desirous to learn the things of God. The nations near Judea enjoyed peace at that time, but the state of the Jews was unsettled, which gave rise to the pleading that followed; but mercy must only be hoped for through Christ. His intercession for his church prevails. The Lord answered the Angel, this Angel of the covenant, with promises of mercy and deliverance. All the good words and comfortable words of the gospel we receive from Jesus Christ, as he received them from the Father, in answer to the prayer of his blood; and his ministers are to preach them to all the world. The earth sat still, and was at rest. It is not uncommon for the enemies of God to be at rest in sin, while his people are enduring correction, harassed by temptation, disquieted by fears of wrath, or groaning under oppression and persecution. Here are predictions which had reference to the revival of the Jews after the captivity, but those events were shadows of what shall take place in the church, after the oppression of the New Testament Babylon is ended.
Commentary on Zechariah 1:18-21
(Read Zechariah 1:18-21)
The enemies of the church threaten to cut off the name of Israel. They are horns, emblems of power, strength, and violence. The prophet saw them so formidable that he began to despair of the safety of every good man, and the success of every good work; but the Lord showed him four workmen empowered to cut off these horns. With an eye of sense we see the power of the enemies of the church; look which way we will, the world shows us that; but it is only with an eye of faith that we see it safe. The Lord shows us that. When God has work to do, he will raise up some to do it, and others to defend it, and to protect those employed in doing it. What cause there is to look up in love and praise to the holy and eternal Spirit, who has the same care over the present and eternal interests of believers, by the holy word bringing the church to know the wonderful things of salvation!