And the word of the LORD of hosts came unto me, saying,
The word of the Lord of hosts here introduces His answer concerning the fast-days kept by the Jews. The declaration that follows states that the four fasts kept because of their calamities shall become to the house of Judah joy and gladness. This change comes because God has turned the captivity, so that the fasts become occasions of cheerful feasting. That turning of sorrow into joy shows that the people had profited by the reproof about fasting given in Zechariah 7:1-7.
The fast of the fourth month recalled that Jerusalem was taken by Nebuchadnezzar in that month, and the fast of the fifth month recalled that the temple was burned in that month. The fast of the seventh month recalled that Gedaliah the governor over the remnant left by Nebuchadnezzar was assassinated in that month, and the fast of the tenth month recalled that the siege of Jerusalem began in that month. The promise that these fasts will become joyful is joined to and conditional on an abiding love of truth and peace. If wickedness is loved instead, the judgments of God will again be received.
The verse belongs to the first eight chapters, which concern the reformation of God's people in the time of Zerubbabel and foreshadow future reformations. Zechariah was a prophet of the restoration who encouraged the rebuilding of the temple and the restoration of Jerusalem. That restoration movement is a type of the last reformation.
The word of the Lord of hosts here introduces His answer concerning the fast-days kept by the Jews. The declaration that follows states that the four fasts kept because of their calamities shall become to the house of Judah joy and gladness. This change comes because God has turned the captivity, so that the fasts become occasions of cheerful feasting. That turning of sorrow into joy shows that the people had profited by the reproof about fasting given in Zechariah 7:1-7.
The fast of the fourth month recalled that Jerusalem was taken by Nebuchadnezzar in that month, and the fast of the fifth month recalled that the temple was burned in that month. The fast of the seventh month recalled that Gedaliah the governor over the remnant left by Nebuchadnezzar was assassinated in that month, and the fast of the tenth month recalled that the siege of Jerusalem began in that month. The promise that these fasts will become joyful is joined to and conditional on an abiding love of truth and peace. If wickedness is loved instead, the judgments of God will again be received.
The verse belongs to the first eight chapters, which concern the reformation of God's people in the time of Zerubbabel and foreshadow future reformations. Zechariah was a prophet of the restoration who encouraged the rebuilding of the temple and the restoration of Jerusalem. That restoration movement is a type of the last reformation.