Zechariah 7:2

when they had sent unto the house of God Rather, And (or now) Bethel sent. "Now they ofBethel had sent." R. V. Having announced the fact and the date of the word of Jehovah coming to him again in Zechariah 7:1, the prophet breaks off, as it were, to state the occasion of its coming in Zechariah 7:2-3 now, why it came was that Bethel sent, &c. Then in Zechariah 7:4 he resumes by repeating the phrase of Zechariah 7:1, "and (as I said) the word of the Lord came unto me," and passes on to the message itself. We have a similar construction, with the repetition of the word "take" Zechariah 6:10-11. It is best to regard Bethel here as a proper name. It was one of the cities to which captives had returned (Ezra 2:1; Ezra 2:28, "every one unto his own city"), and from it the question here proposed emanated.

Sherezer and Regemmelech, and their men It is better to take these, as in A. V. and R. V., to be the deputation, or persons sent. It is possible, however, to render, when Bethel, viz. Sharezer, &c. sent(men). In that case Sharezer and Regem-melech would probably be the chief men of the city, their names being those which were given them in Babylon. For Sharezer comp. Isa 37:38; 2 Kings 19:37. Regemmelech has been supposed to be an official title and to signify, "friend of the king."

to pray before Lit. smooth or stroke the face of, i.e. propitiate or seek the favour of. Comp. chap. Zechariah 8:21-22; Exodus 32:11; Psalms 45:12. It is also used of imploring the favour of man, Job 11:19; Proverbs 19:6.