Zechariah 1:3

Unto them] i.e. the people. The Lord of hosts] a frequent phrase in Zechariah. Probably the original idea was of Jehovah as the leader of Israel's armies, then of sun, moon, and stars, the hosts of heaven, then of angelic hosts. The title expresses God's supreme power and majesty.

4. Zechariah evidently knows the works of the earlier prophets: cp. Amos passim, Jeremiah 26:5; Jeremiah 35:15, etc.

5, 6. Prophets and people alike die, but the Word of God lives anew in every generation, and from the experience of the past appeals to men to shun those errors of their fathers which brought such dire punishment. Take hold of] RV 'overtake.'

8-17. The First Vision: The horseman among the myrtles. The seven visions have one date, viz. the twenty-fourth day of the month Sebat, RV 'Shebat' (the name is Babylonish), i.e. part of January and February, 519 b.c. The occasion of the visions is the growing impatience of the returned exiles. They could perceive no sign of God's presence, or of His interest in their labours and difficulties. Haggai had assured them that in 'a little while' God would 'shake the kingdoms' and fill His house with glory (Zechariah 2:6). But time passed and there was no sign of this. The people began to lose faith in God. These visions of Zechariah thus came at a most important crisis. To his countrymen they were a bright panorama of hope, revealing the marvellous providence of God, and His love for His people.

The first vision assures them that God knows every detail of their circumstances. His messengers are ever on the alert, bringing tidings to their King from all parts of the earth.